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: $497 in Kathmandu versus $436 in Kirtipur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $791 in Kathmandu versus $712 in Kirtipur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,084 in Kathmandu versus $988 in Kirtipur.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 14% more expensive than Kirtipur, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 63% lower, Kirtipur 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 NPR 272

$1.77 NPR 269

1.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 NPR 2,861

$18.62 NPR 2,834

0.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.68 NPR 1,017

$6.39 NPR 973

4.54%

Cappuccino

$1.92 NPR 292

$1.93 NPR 293

-0.52%

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

$0.50 NPR 75.9

$0.51 NPR 77.0

-1.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 29.05

$0.17 NPR 25.28

11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 NPR 396

$2.55 NPR 388

1.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 NPR 566

$3.71 NPR 565

0.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 NPR 136

$0.70 NPR 107

27.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 83.8

$0.56 NPR 85.2

-1.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 NPR 154

$0.93 NPR 141

8.60%

Eggs

$1.79 NPR 272

$1.77 NPR 269

1.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 NPR 1,397

$8.97 NPR 1,364

2.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 NPR 496

$3.14 NPR 478

3.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.23 NPR 949

$6.03 NPR 918

3.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 NPR 335

$2.26 NPR 344

-2.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 NPR 166

$1.05 NPR 160

3.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.24 NPR 188

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 97.9

$0.70 NPR 106

-8.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 72.4

$0.48 NPR 72.5

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 109

$0.67 NPR 103

7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 NPR 79.3

$0.49 NPR 75.0

6.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.41

$0.25 NPR 37.99

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 NPR 445

$2.85 NPR 433

2.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 NPR 1,202

$7.96 NPR 1,211

-0.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 NPR 349

$2.26 NPR 344

1.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 NPR 509

$3.31 NPR 504

0.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 31.81

$0.19 NPR 28.48

10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.00 NPR 1,674

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 NPR 341

$2.21 NPR 337

1.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 NPR 162

$1.10 NPR 167

-2.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 NPR 539

$3.66 NPR 557

-3.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 NPR 193

$1.26 NPR 192

0.79%

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

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

-2.01%

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

$40.5K NPR 6.2M

$40.6K NPR 6.2M

-0.28%

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

$33.35 NPR 5,074

$33.34 NPR 5,073

0.03%

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

$4.74 NPR 722

$4.82 NPR 734

-1.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.57 NPR 1,457

$9.89 NPR 1,506

-3.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.34 NPR 3,400

$18.51 NPR 2,816

20.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.19 NPR 1,095

Cinema Ticket

$3.21 NPR 489

$3.20 NPR 488

0.31%

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

$92.3 NPR 14.0K

$36.09 NPR 5,492

155.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,802 NPR 578.6K

$3,735 NPR 568.4K

1.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.77 NPR 3,769

$25.19 NPR 3,833

-1.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.44 NPR 4,328

$27.44 NPR 4,176

3.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.4 NPR 8,734

$57.6 NPR 8,769

-0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.43 NPR 6,000

$40.34 NPR 6,139

-2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 NPR 29.7K

$103 NPR 15.7K

89.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.1 NPR 15.1K

$64.4 NPR 9,802

53.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 NPR 52.6K

$203 NPR 30.9K

70.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 NPR 28.0K

$144 NPR 21.9K

27.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,286 NPR 347.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,329 NPR 202.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 NPR 42.4K

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Kirtipur: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Kathmandu and $103 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 $156 vs $152, 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 14% 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 $654 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 $103 in Kirtipur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $497 per month in Kathmandu versus $436 in Kirtipur – a 14% 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 14% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.