Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Kirtipur Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Kirtipur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $498 in Kathmandu versus $361 in Kirtipur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $797 in Kathmandu versus $591 in Kirtipur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,097 in Kathmandu versus $822 in Kirtipur.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 38% more expensive than in Kirtipur, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 64% lower, Kirtipur 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 NPR 297

$1.99 NPR 306

-2.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.02 NPR 3,072

$20.44 NPR 3,136

-2.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.97 NPR 1,223

$7.92 NPR 1,216

0.63%

Cappuccino

$1.53 NPR 234

$1.54 NPR 237

-0.65%

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

$0.56 NPR 86.2

$0.56 NPR 85.6

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 NPR 20.95

$0.17 NPR 25.78

-17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 NPR 505

$3.28 NPR 504

0.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 NPR 550

$3.66 NPR 562

-2.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 NPR 117

$0.67 NPR 103

13.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 NPR 89.4

$0.64 NPR 98.0

-9.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 NPR 139

$0.92 NPR 141

-2.17%

Eggs

$1.67 NPR 256

$1.62 NPR 248

3.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 NPR 1,141

$7.47 NPR 1,145

-0.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.35 NPR 514

$3.28 NPR 503

2.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.02 NPR 923

$5.78 NPR 886

4.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 NPR 321

$2.09 NPR 320

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 NPR 175

$1.09 NPR 168

4.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 NPR 208

$1.35 NPR 207

0.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 NPR 86.1

$0.56 NPR 86.6

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 NPR 64.2

$0.38 NPR 58.7

10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 NPR 76.4

$0.53 NPR 81.8

-5.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 NPR 68.9

$0.49 NPR 74.7

-8.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 NPR 35.28

$0.23 NPR 35.03

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 NPR 407

$2.69 NPR 413

-1.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.96 NPR 1,220

$7.84 NPR 1,203

1.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 NPR 352

$2.21 NPR 338

4.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 NPR 463

$3.04 NPR 467

-0.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 NPR 31.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.67 NPR 1,483

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 NPR 296

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 NPR 204

$1.28 NPR 197

3.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 NPR 496

$3.29 NPR 504

-1.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 NPR 210

$1.33 NPR 204

3.01%

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

$29.1K NPR 4.5M

$30.0K NPR 4.6M

-2.76%

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

$36.8K NPR 5.6M

$36.6K NPR 5.6M

0.50%

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

$31.27 NPR 4,798

$31.30 NPR 4,802

-0.10%

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

$3.45 NPR 530

$3.33 NPR 510

3.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.05 NPR 1,235

$7.91 NPR 1,213

1.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.88 NPR 3,356

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.99 NPR 1,073

Cinema Ticket

$2.93 NPR 450

$2.96 NPR 454

-1.01%

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

$66.8 NPR 10.2K

$67.5 NPR 10.3K

-0.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,792 NPR 735.2K

$4,741 NPR 727.4K

1.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.66 NPR 4,090

$26.49 NPR 4,064

0.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.20 NPR 4,326

$28.47 NPR 4,367

-0.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 NPR 9,959

$66.5 NPR 10.2K

-2.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.52 NPR 4,529

$29.52 NPR 4,528

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$223 NPR 34.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 NPR 15.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 NPR 66.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 NPR 31.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,281 NPR 350.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,342 NPR 205.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$271 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: September 15, 2026

Last update for Kirtipur: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Kathmandu vs $20.00 in Kirtipur. Groceries flip the comparison at $147 vs $144, with Kirtipur 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 Kirtipur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kirtipur wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kirtipur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $746 in Kathmandu and $542 in Kirtipur 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 2% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $498 per month in Kathmandu versus $361 in Kirtipur – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kirtipur 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 Kirtipur 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 Kirtipur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.