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: $497 in Kathmandu versus $402 in Nepalgunj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $791 in Kathmandu versus $668 in Nepalgunj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,084 in Kathmandu versus $935 in Nepalgunj.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 24% more expensive than Nepalgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 63% lower, Nepalgunj 70% 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

$19.12 NPR 2,910

-1.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.68 NPR 1,017

$6.38 NPR 971

4.70%

Cappuccino

$1.92 NPR 292

$1.54 NPR 235

24.68%

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

$0.50 NPR 75.9

$0.50 NPR 75.7

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 29.05

$0.15 NPR 23.11

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 NPR 396

$2.66 NPR 405

-2.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 NPR 566

$3.57 NPR 543

4.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 NPR 136

$0.75 NPR 114

18.67%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 83.8

$0.55 NPR 83.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 NPR 154

$0.78 NPR 118

29.49%

Eggs

$1.79 NPR 272

$1.65 NPR 252

8.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 NPR 1,397

$7.58 NPR 1,153

21.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 NPR 496

$3.09 NPR 471

5.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.23 NPR 949

$6.15 NPR 936

1.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 NPR 335

$2.25 NPR 342

-2.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 NPR 166

$1.09 NPR 165

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.19 NPR 181

4.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 97.9

$0.65 NPR 98.6

-1.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 72.4

$0.45 NPR 68.1

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 109

$0.65 NPR 98.4

10.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 NPR 79.3

$0.49 NPR 74.3

6.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.41

$0.27 NPR 41.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 NPR 445

$2.86 NPR 435

2.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 NPR 1,202

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 NPR 349

$2.27 NPR 346

0.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 NPR 509

$3.37 NPR 513

-0.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 31.81

$0.18 NPR 26.93

16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.00 NPR 1,674

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 NPR 341

$2.15 NPR 327

4.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 NPR 162

$0.82 NPR 125

30.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 NPR 539

$3.56 NPR 542

-0.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 NPR 193

$1.22 NPR 186

4.10%

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

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

$32.2K NPR 4.9M

-2.46%

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

$40.5K NPR 6.2M

$40.4K NPR 6.1M

0.29%

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

$33.35 NPR 5,074

$26.06 NPR 3,965

27.97%

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

$4.74 NPR 722

$5.01 NPR 762

-5.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.57 NPR 1,457

$9.92 NPR 1,509

-3.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.34 NPR 3,400

$18.30 NPR 2,785

22.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.19 NPR 1,095

Cinema Ticket

$3.21 NPR 489

$2.69 NPR 410

19.33%

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

$92.3 NPR 14.0K

$71.9 NPR 10.9K

28.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,802 NPR 578.6K

$2,748 NPR 418.1K

38.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.77 NPR 3,769

$24.56 NPR 3,737

0.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.44 NPR 4,328

$27.29 NPR 4,153

4.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.4 NPR 8,734

$45.32 NPR 6,896

26.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.43 NPR 6,000

$28.71 NPR 4,369

37.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 NPR 29.7K

$103 NPR 15.7K

89.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.1 NPR 15.1K

$64.1 NPR 9,757

54.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 NPR 52.6K

$203 NPR 31.0K

69.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 NPR 28.0K

$146 NPR 22.2K

26.16%

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

$97.2 NPR 14.8K

186.46%

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 Nepalgunj: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Kathmandu and $103 in Nepalgunj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kathmandu pays 186% 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 $156 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 24% 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 186% 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: $195 in Kathmandu versus $103 in Nepalgunj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% 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 $402 in Nepalgunj – a 24% 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 24% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.