Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Nepalgunj Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Nepalgunj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $508 in Kathmandu versus $398 in Nepalgunj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $787 in Kathmandu versus $666 in Nepalgunj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Kathmandu versus $935 in Nepalgunj.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 27% more expensive than in Nepalgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 62% lower, Nepalgunj 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 NPR 274

$1.83 NPR 281

-2.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.21 NPR 2,943

$18.77 NPR 2,875

2.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.70 NPR 1,026

$6.71 NPR 1,029

-0.15%

Cappuccino

$1.92 NPR 294

$1.53 NPR 235

25.49%

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

$0.54 NPR 83.4

$0.50 NPR 77.2

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 29.67

$0.19 NPR 28.91

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 NPR 387

$2.66 NPR 408

-4.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 NPR 542

$3.56 NPR 545

-0.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 NPR 133

$0.75 NPR 115

16.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 NPR 89.4

$0.55 NPR 84.2

5.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 NPR 145

$0.82 NPR 126

15.85%

Eggs

$1.84 NPR 282

$1.71 NPR 261

7.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 NPR 1,412

$7.52 NPR 1,153

22.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 NPR 475

$3.11 NPR 477

-0.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.04 NPR 925

$5.99 NPR 918

0.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 NPR 348

$2.26 NPR 346

0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 NPR 166

$1.05 NPR 160

2.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 NPR 184

$1.21 NPR 185

-0.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 99.3

$0.70 NPR 107

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 73.2

$0.48 NPR 73.9

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 NPR 103

$0.64 NPR 98.7

4.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 NPR 75.8

$0.53 NPR 81.6

-5.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.55

$0.27 NPR 41.45

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 NPR 450

$2.88 NPR 442

2.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.86 NPR 1,357

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 NPR 359

$2.28 NPR 349

2.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 NPR 501

$3.19 NPR 488

2.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 32.10

$0.21 NPR 32.40

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.03 NPR 1,689

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 NPR 339

$2.21 NPR 338

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 NPR 163

$0.82 NPR 126

29.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 NPR 571

$3.60 NPR 551

3.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.24 NPR 190

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

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

$32.5K NPR 5.0M

-3.35%

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

$41.4K NPR 6.3M

$41.1K NPR 6.3M

0.58%

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

$33.18 NPR 5,083

$26.27 NPR 4,024

26.30%

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

$4.95 NPR 759

$4.85 NPR 743

2.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.65 NPR 1,478

$9.92 NPR 1,519

-2.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.94 NPR 3,362

$18.12 NPR 2,777

21.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.45 NPR 1,142

Cinema Ticket

$3.21 NPR 492

$2.67 NPR 409

20.22%

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

$91.0 NPR 13.9K

$71.8 NPR 11.0K

26.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,763 NPR 576.5K

$2,789 NPR 427.2K

34.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.49 NPR 3,751

$24.61 NPR 3,770

-0.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 NPR 4,309

$27.58 NPR 4,225

1.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.2 NPR 9,066

$44.64 NPR 6,839

32.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.39 NPR 6,187

$29.35 NPR 4,497

37.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 NPR 30.3K

$107 NPR 16.4K

84.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 NPR 15.2K

$63.4 NPR 9,706

56.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 NPR 52.7K

$208 NPR 31.9K

65.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 NPR 28.1K

$146 NPR 22.3K

26.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,331 NPR 357.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,317 NPR 201.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 NPR 41.2K

$97.6 NPR 15.0K

175.62%

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 Nepalgunj: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Kathmandu and $107 in Nepalgunj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kathmandu pays 176% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Kathmandu vs $19.00 in Nepalgunj. Groceries flip the comparison at $157 vs $131, with Nepalgunj 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 Nepalgunj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nepalgunj wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nepalgunj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 176% higher in Kathmandu, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $198 in Kathmandu versus $107 in Nepalgunj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% 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 $398 in Nepalgunj – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Nepalgunj 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.

Expats usually find Nepalgunj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.