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: $489 in Kathmandu versus $451 in Kirtipur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $778 in Kathmandu versus $722 in Kirtipur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Kathmandu versus $994 in Kirtipur.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 8% more expensive than Kirtipur, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 64% lower, Kirtipur 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.80 NPR 273

$1.84 NPR 280

-2.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.63 NPR 2,830

$18.73 NPR 2,845

-0.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.52 NPR 990

$6.63 NPR 1,007

-1.66%

Cappuccino

$1.93 NPR 294

$1.83 NPR 278

5.46%

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

$0.50 NPR 76.5

$0.54 NPR 81.4

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 28.92

$0.16 NPR 23.65

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 NPR 388

$2.61 NPR 397

-1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 NPR 569

$3.61 NPR 548

3.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 NPR 134

$0.75 NPR 115

17.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 83.7

$0.55 NPR 83.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 NPR 140

$0.93 NPR 142

-1.08%

Eggs

$1.83 NPR 277

$1.85 NPR 281

-1.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.04 NPR 1,374

$8.90 NPR 1,352

1.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 NPR 478

$3.12 NPR 475

0.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.17 NPR 938

$6.26 NPR 951

-1.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 NPR 336

$2.16 NPR 329

2.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 NPR 159

$1.10 NPR 167

-4.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 NPR 181

$1.24 NPR 189

-4.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 107

$0.64 NPR 97.0

9.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 73.7

$0.48 NPR 72.6

2.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 NPR 103

$0.72 NPR 109

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 80.7

$0.49 NPR 74.3

8.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.20

$0.25 NPR 37.75

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 NPR 438

$2.94 NPR 446

-2.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.43 NPR 977

$6.58 NPR 1,000

-2.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 NPR 357

$2.37 NPR 360

-0.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 NPR 484

$3.32 NPR 504

-3.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 31.90

$0.18 NPR 27.14

16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.77 NPR 1,637

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 NPR 330

$2.15 NPR 327

0.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 NPR 168

$1.05 NPR 159

5.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.66 NPR 556

$3.69 NPR 560

-0.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 NPR 192

$1.26 NPR 191

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

$31.7K NPR 4.8M

$31.5K NPR 4.8M

0.64%

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

$40.4K NPR 6.1M

0.02%

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

$32.45 NPR 4,929

$33.05 NPR 5,020

-1.82%

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

$5.02 NPR 763

$4.99 NPR 759

0.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.58 NPR 1,456

$9.71 NPR 1,475

-1.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.46 NPR 3,412

$18.50 NPR 2,810

21.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.16 NPR 1,088

Cinema Ticket

$3.23 NPR 491

$3.36 NPR 510

-3.87%

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

$92.2 NPR 14.0K

$36.32 NPR 5,517

153.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,720 NPR 565.1K

$3,827 NPR 581.3K

-2.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.58 NPR 3,734

$24.52 NPR 3,725

0.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.21 NPR 4,286

$27.71 NPR 4,209

1.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.5 NPR 8,728

$59.1 NPR 8,975

-2.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.36 NPR 5,979

$39.90 NPR 6,060

-1.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 NPR 29.6K

$104 NPR 15.8K

87.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$102 NPR 15.6K

$64.7 NPR 9,835

58.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 NPR 52.6K

$202 NPR 30.7K

71.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 NPR 28.0K

$148 NPR 22.5K

24.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,349 NPR 356.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,323 NPR 201.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$237 NPR 36.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

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

Last update for Kathmandu: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kirtipur: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Kathmandu and $104 in Kirtipur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Kathmandu vs $19.00 in Kirtipur. Groceries flip the comparison at $151 vs $150, 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 8% 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 $733 in Kathmandu and $676 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $195 in Kathmandu versus $104 in Kirtipur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $489 per month in Kathmandu versus $451 in Kirtipur – a 8% 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 8% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.