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: $501 in Kathmandu versus $396 in Nepalgunj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $782 in Kathmandu versus $651 in Nepalgunj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,063 in Kathmandu versus $906 in Nepalgunj.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 26% more expensive than Nepalgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 63% lower, Nepalgunj 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 NPR 266

$1.77 NPR 263

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.20 NPR 2,862

$19.04 NPR 2,838

0.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.65 NPR 991

$6.47 NPR 964

2.78%

Cappuccino

$1.90 NPR 284

$1.49 NPR 222

27.52%

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

$0.49 NPR 73.8

$0.54 NPR 80.7

-9.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 NPR 22.74

$0.18 NPR 27.44

-16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 NPR 380

$2.66 NPR 396

-4.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 NPR 540

$3.60 NPR 536

0.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 NPR 132

$0.79 NPR 118

12.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 NPR 80.8

$0.55 NPR 81.7

-1.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 NPR 139

$0.77 NPR 115

22.08%

Eggs

$1.77 NPR 264

$1.68 NPR 250

5.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 NPR 1,375

$7.52 NPR 1,121

22.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 NPR 465

$3.22 NPR 480

-3.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.05 NPR 902

$6.11 NPR 911

-0.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 NPR 326

$2.29 NPR 341

-4.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 NPR 162

$1.04 NPR 155

4.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 NPR 187

$1.19 NPR 178

5.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 96.4

$0.69 NPR 103

-5.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 72.8

$0.48 NPR 71.8

2.08%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 107

$0.68 NPR 102

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 NPR 74.0

$0.50 NPR 74.5

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 36.92

$0.27 NPR 40.40

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 NPR 425

$2.92 NPR 436

-2.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.66 NPR 993

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 NPR 350

$2.26 NPR 337

3.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 NPR 499

$3.21 NPR 478

4.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 NPR 34.39

$0.17 NPR 25.62

35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.79 NPR 1,608

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 NPR 329

$2.16 NPR 323

2.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 NPR 159

$0.76 NPR 114

40.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.67 NPR 546

$3.58 NPR 534

2.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 NPR 188

$1.23 NPR 183

2.44%

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

$31.7K NPR 4.7M

$32.4K NPR 4.8M

-2.24%

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

$41.2K NPR 6.1M

$40.6K NPR 6.1M

1.36%

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

$32.83 NPR 4,894

$27.04 NPR 4,030

21.41%

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

$5.00 NPR 746

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.86 NPR 1,469

$9.51 NPR 1,417

3.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.99 NPR 3,277

$18.25 NPR 2,721

20.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.17 NPR 1,069

Cinema Ticket

$3.32 NPR 494

$2.78 NPR 414

19.42%

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

$93.0 NPR 13.9K

$72.6 NPR 10.8K

28.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,703 NPR 552.0K

$2,754 NPR 410.6K

34.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.62 NPR 3,670

$25.34 NPR 3,778

-2.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.47 NPR 4,095

$27.90 NPR 4,159

-1.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.3 NPR 8,688

$44.79 NPR 6,676

30.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.32 NPR 6,010

$29.27 NPR 4,363

37.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 NPR 28.6K

$104 NPR 15.5K

84.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.7 NPR 14.9K

$63.2 NPR 9,423

57.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 NPR 51.8K

$209 NPR 31.2K

66.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$189 NPR 28.2K

$144 NPR 21.5K

30.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,382 NPR 355.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,359 NPR 202.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$241 NPR 36.0K

$101 NPR 15.1K

138.15%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Nepalgunj: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $192 in Kathmandu and $104 in Nepalgunj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kathmandu pays 138% 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 in Kathmandu vs $19 in Nepalgunj. Groceries flip the comparison at $152 vs $132, 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 26% 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.

Kathmandu pays 138% more on average, 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: $192 in Kathmandu versus $104 in Nepalgunj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $501 per month in Kathmandu versus $396 in Nepalgunj – a 26% 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 26% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.