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: $508 in Kathmandu versus $448 in Kirtipur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $787 in Kathmandu versus $720 in Kirtipur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Kathmandu versus $991 in Kirtipur.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 13% more expensive than in Kirtipur, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 62% lower, Kirtipur 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 NPR 273

$1.86 NPR 284

-3.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.21 NPR 2,932

$18.58 NPR 2,836

3.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.70 NPR 1,022

$6.39 NPR 975

4.85%

Cappuccino

$1.92 NPR 293

$1.85 NPR 283

3.78%

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

$0.54 NPR 83.1

$0.54 NPR 81.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 29.56

$0.16 NPR 24.86

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 NPR 386

$2.61 NPR 399

-3.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 NPR 540

$3.63 NPR 554

-2.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 NPR 133

$0.71 NPR 109

22.54%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 NPR 89.1

$0.54 NPR 83.0

7.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 NPR 145

$0.92 NPR 141

3.26%

Eggs

$1.84 NPR 281

$1.80 NPR 275

2.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 NPR 1,407

$9.24 NPR 1,411

-0.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 NPR 473

$3.24 NPR 494

-4.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.04 NPR 921

$6.04 NPR 922

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 NPR 346

$2.17 NPR 332

4.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 NPR 166

$1.10 NPR 168

-1.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 NPR 183

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 98.9

$0.68 NPR 104

-4.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 72.9

$0.51 NPR 78.1

-5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 NPR 102

$0.67 NPR 103

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 NPR 75.6

$0.50 NPR 76.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.40

$0.25 NPR 37.70

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 NPR 448

$2.93 NPR 447

0.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.86 NPR 1,352

$8.55 NPR 1,304

3.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 NPR 357

$2.34 NPR 358

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 NPR 499

$3.26 NPR 498

0.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 31.98

$0.19 NPR 29.54

10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.03 NPR 1,683

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 NPR 337

$2.15 NPR 329

2.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 NPR 162

$1.11 NPR 169

-4.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 NPR 569

$3.70 NPR 564

0.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.26 NPR 192

-1.59%

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

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

$32.6K NPR 5.0M

-3.57%

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

$41.4K NPR 6.3M

$40.9K NPR 6.2M

1.25%

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

$33.18 NPR 5,064

$32.99 NPR 5,035

0.58%

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

$4.95 NPR 756

$4.78 NPR 729

3.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.65 NPR 1,473

$9.90 NPR 1,510

-2.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.94 NPR 3,349

$18.15 NPR 2,770

20.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.45 NPR 1,137

Cinema Ticket

$3.21 NPR 491

$3.19 NPR 487

0.63%

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

$91.0 NPR 13.9K

$36.06 NPR 5,504

152.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,763 NPR 574.3K

$3,722 NPR 568.1K

1.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.49 NPR 3,737

$24.53 NPR 3,743

-0.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 NPR 4,293

$27.85 NPR 4,251

1.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.2 NPR 9,033

$58.6 NPR 8,947

0.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.39 NPR 6,164

$39.62 NPR 6,046

1.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 NPR 30.2K

$105 NPR 16.0K

88.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 NPR 15.1K

$63.8 NPR 9,730

55.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 NPR 52.5K

$210 NPR 32.0K

63.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 NPR 28.0K

$142 NPR 21.7K

29.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,331 NPR 355.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,317 NPR 201.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 NPR 41.1K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Kirtipur: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Kathmandu and $105 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 $157 vs $154, 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 13% 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 $761 in Kathmandu and $673 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: $198 in Kathmandu versus $105 in Kirtipur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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 $508 per month in Kathmandu versus $448 in Kirtipur – a 13% 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 13% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.