Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Gaighat Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Gaighat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $484 in Kathmandu versus $301 in Gaighat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $773 in Kathmandu versus $498 in Gaighat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,063 in Kathmandu versus $694 in Gaighat.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 60% more expensive than in Gaighat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 65% lower, Gaighat 78% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 NPR 294

$1.99 NPR 301

-2.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.08 NPR 3,038

$20.08 NPR 3,037

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 NPR 1,020

$6.43 NPR 973

4.82%

Cappuccino

$1.54 NPR 234

$1.54 NPR 233

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 NPR 84.4

$0.56 NPR 84.5

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 NPR 23.03

$0.16 NPR 24.54

-6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 NPR 489

$3.36 NPR 509

-3.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 NPR 556

$3.60 NPR 545

1.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 NPR 115

$0.52 NPR 78.2

46.15%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 NPR 95.2

$0.22 NPR 33.12

186.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 NPR 130

$0.32 NPR 48.41

168.75%

Eggs

$1.69 NPR 256

$1.01 NPR 152

67.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 NPR 1,098

$7.55 NPR 1,142

-3.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 NPR 515

$2.00 NPR 303

70.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.21 NPR 788

$2.69 NPR 406

93.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 NPR 313

$1.68 NPR 255

23.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 NPR 174

$1.13 NPR 171

1.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.41 NPR 213

$0.69 NPR 104

104.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 NPR 86.7

$0.34 NPR 52.1

67.65%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 NPR 58.1

$0.32 NPR 47.86

18.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 NPR 78.0

$0.31 NPR 47.65

67.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 74.6

$0.49 NPR 74.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.98

$0.14 NPR 21.01

78.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 NPR 408

$2.01 NPR 305

34.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 NPR 1,201

$3.95 NPR 598

101.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 NPR 337

$1.35 NPR 204

65.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 NPR 454

$2.88 NPR 436

4.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 NPR 29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.11 NPR 1,529

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 NPR 305

$2.03 NPR 307

-0.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 NPR 203

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 NPR 503

$3.32 NPR 502

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 NPR 213

$1.36 NPR 206

3.68%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.4K NPR 4.5M

$29.9K NPR 4.5M

-1.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.6K NPR 5.5M

0.03%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$31.68 NPR 4,793

$31.24 NPR 4,726

1.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.38 NPR 511

$3.32 NPR 502

1.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.12 NPR 1,228

$7.81 NPR 1,182

3.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.51 NPR 3,406

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.01 NPR 1,060

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 NPR 451

$2.90 NPR 439

2.76%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$67.1 NPR 10.1K

$66.2 NPR 10.0K

1.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,824 NPR 729.7K

$4,774 NPR 722.3K

1.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.37 NPR 3,990

$26.66 NPR 4,033

-1.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.67 NPR 4,337

$28.86 NPR 4,366

-0.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 NPR 9,967

$67.2 NPR 10.2K

-1.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.44 NPR 4,605

$29.40 NPR 4,448

3.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 NPR 33.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 NPR 15.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 NPR 66.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 NPR 30.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,289 NPR 346.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,332 NPR 201.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 NPR 41.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.72

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kathmandu: August 29, 2026

Last update for Gaighat: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Kathmandu vs $20.00 in Gaighat. Groceries flip the comparison at $144 vs $99.0, with Gaighat cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Kathmandu vs Gaighat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kathmandu and Gaighat differ by about 60% in total monthly costs ($484 vs $301 including rent). Gaighat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $725 in Kathmandu and $452 in Gaighat to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $484 per month in Kathmandu versus $301 in Gaighat – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Gaighat gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Kathmandu and Gaighat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Gaighat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.