Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Janakpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Janakpur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $484 per month in Kathmandu vs $292 in Janakpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $773 per month in Kathmandu vs $511 in Janakpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,063 per month in Kathmandu vs $730 in Janakpur, rent included.

Kathmandu costs about 66% more than Janakpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kathmandu and Janakpur are more affordable than the global median – Kathmandu 65% lower, Janakpur 79% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 NPR 294

$1.92 NPR 290

1.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.08 NPR 3,038

$11.38 NPR 1,722

76.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 NPR 1,020

$6.75 NPR 1,021

-0.15%

Cappuccino

$1.54 NPR 234

$1.56 NPR 235

-1.28%

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

$0.56 NPR 84.4

$0.56 NPR 85.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 NPR 23.03

$0.14 NPR 21.35

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 NPR 489

$2.02 NPR 306

59.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 NPR 556

$1.61 NPR 243

127.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 NPR 115

$0.60 NPR 91.4

26.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 NPR 95.2

$0.34 NPR 51.8

85.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 NPR 130

Eggs

$1.69 NPR 256

$1.70 NPR 257

-0.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 NPR 1,098

$3.32 NPR 502

118.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 NPR 515

$2.31 NPR 349

47.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.21 NPR 788

$5.23 NPR 792

-0.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 NPR 313

$1.68 NPR 254

23.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 NPR 174

$0.69 NPR 105

66.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.41 NPR 213

$0.96 NPR 146

46.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 NPR 86.7

$0.53 NPR 80.5

7.55%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 NPR 58.1

$0.31 NPR 47.39

22.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 NPR 78.0

$0.51 NPR 76.6

1.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 74.6

$0.21 NPR 31.07

133.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.98

$0.17 NPR 25.35

47.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 NPR 408

$2.32 NPR 351

16.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 NPR 1,201

$7.97 NPR 1,205

-0.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 NPR 337

$1.48 NPR 224

50.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 NPR 454

$1.99 NPR 301

50.75%

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

$0.69 NPR 104

192.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 NPR 203

$1.33 NPR 201

0.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 NPR 503

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 NPR 213

$1.03 NPR 155

36.89%

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

$29.4K NPR 4.5M

$23.2K NPR 3.5M

27.00%

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

$36.6K NPR 5.5M

$26.0K NPR 3.9M

40.66%

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

$31.68 NPR 4,793

$13.38 NPR 2,024

136.77%

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

$3.38 NPR 511

$3.38 NPR 512

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.12 NPR 1,228

$3.86 NPR 583

110.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.51 NPR 3,406

$13.19 NPR 1,996

70.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.01 NPR 1,060

$6.76 NPR 1,023

3.70%

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 NPR 451

$3.03 NPR 458

-1.65%

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

$67.1 NPR 10.1K

$32.29 NPR 4,885

107.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,824 NPR 729.7K

$4,902 NPR 741.5K

-1.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.37 NPR 3,990

$26.62 NPR 4,027

-0.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.67 NPR 4,337

$16.23 NPR 2,455

76.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 NPR 9,967

$39.12 NPR 5,918

68.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.44 NPR 4,605

$23.03 NPR 3,484

32.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 NPR 33.4K

$51.9 NPR 7,850

325.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 NPR 15.7K

$22.78 NPR 3,446

356.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 NPR 66.4K

$129 NPR 19.6K

239.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 NPR 30.9K

$99.3 NPR 15.0K

105.36%

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

$333 NPR 50.4K

-17.57%

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 Janakpur: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $221 in Kathmandu versus $51.9 in Janakpur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 21% higher in Janakpur, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Kathmandu versus $11.00 in Janakpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $144 vs $108 – making Janakpur the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Janakpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $484 in Kathmandu, $292 in Janakpur – roughly 66% apart. Kathmandu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $725 per month in Kathmandu and $438 in Janakpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Janakpur, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $484 in Kathmandu and $292 in Janakpur. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $67.1 per month in Kathmandu and $32.29 in Janakpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $484 in Kathmandu and $292 in Janakpur, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Janakpur – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Janakpur. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kathmandu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.