Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Nepalgunj

For one person, living is cheaper in Nepalgunj: $173 a month against $488 in Kathmandu, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Kathmandu
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Kathmandu Living Index

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Kathmandu

🇳🇵 Nepal

$488

/mo nomad

Nepalgunj

🇳🇵 Nepal

$173

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kathmandu and in Nepalgunj

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kathmandu and in Nepalgunj actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $488 in Kathmandu versus $173 in Nepalgunj.

Kathmandu $488
Nepalgunj $173

Estimated couple costs with rent: $783 in Kathmandu versus $289 in Nepalgunj.

Kathmandu $783
Nepalgunj $289

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,077 in Kathmandu versus $405 in Nepalgunj.

Kathmandu $1,077
Nepalgunj $405

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 182% more expensive than in Nepalgunj, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 64% lower, Nepalgunj 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.92 NPR 292

$3.24 NPR 494

-40.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.72 NPR 3,154

$7.91 NPR 1,204

161.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.02 NPR 1,068

$6.68 NPR 1,017

5.09%

Cappuccino

$1.56 NPR 237

$1.66 NPR 252

-6.02%

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

$0.51 NPR 78.4

$0.55 NPR 84.2

-7.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 NPR 20.92

$0.12 NPR 18.68

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.11 NPR 473

$2.24 NPR 341

38.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 NPR 505

$3.26 NPR 496

1.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 NPR 118

$0.63 NPR 96.2

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 NPR 94.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 NPR 140

$0.51 NPR 77.0

80.39%

Eggs

$1.74 NPR 265

$0.78 NPR 118

123.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 NPR 1,144

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 NPR 472

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.99 NPR 911

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 NPR 317

$1.94 NPR 295

7.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 NPR 182

$0.65 NPR 98.5

83.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.44 NPR 220

$0.68 NPR 104

111.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.59 NPR 89.5

$0.69 NPR 105

-14.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 NPR 59.0

$0.18 NPR 27.07

116.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 NPR 82.0

$0.27 NPR 41.54

100.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 75.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 NPR 33.28

$0.18 NPR 27.32

22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 NPR 374

Wine (Bottle)

$7.97 NPR 1,212

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 NPR 350

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 NPR 459

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 NPR 26.33

$0.34 NPR 52.1

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.75 NPR 1,485

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 NPR 273

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.16 NPR 176

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 NPR 507

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 NPR 211

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

$35.7K NPR 5.4M

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

$35.9K NPR 5.5M

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

$31.31 NPR 4,765

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

$3.58 NPR 546

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.30 NPR 1,415

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.50 NPR 3,729

$10.14 NPR 1,543

141.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.97 NPR 1,061

Cinema Ticket

$2.94 NPR 447

$2.66 NPR 404

10.53%

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

$66.9 NPR 10.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,521 NPR 840.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$23.85 NPR 3,630

$19.58 NPR 2,980

21.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 NPR 4,074

$25.84 NPR 3,933

3.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.6 NPR 9,534

$13.22 NPR 2,012

373.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.36 NPR 4,469

$19.68 NPR 2,995

49.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$217 NPR 33.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 NPR 15.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 NPR 65.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 NPR 30.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,336 NPR 355.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,330 NPR 202.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 NPR 40.7K

$99.0 NPR 15.1K

170.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.98

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kathmandu: October 24, 2026

Last update for Nepalgunj: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Kathmandu

$147 30.2%

Nepalgunj

–

Accommodation & Living

Kathmandu

$104 21.4%

Nepalgunj

–

Eating Out

Kathmandu

$80 16.4%

Nepalgunj

–

Clothing & Footwear

Kathmandu

$64 13.2%

Nepalgunj

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Kathmandu

$44 9.1%

Nepalgunj

–

Sport & Entertainment

Kathmandu

$30 6.2%

Nepalgunj

–

Getting Around

Kathmandu

$18 3.7%

Nepalgunj

–

Cost Breakdown

Kathmandu pays about 2.7 times 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: $21 in Kathmandu vs $8 in Nepalgunj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $147 vs $34 per month, with Nepalgunj cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇳🇵 Kathmandu

🇳🇵 Nepalgunj

🕒 Local time

23:45 11:45 PM

Same time as Kathmandu

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

975,000 Capital

72,503

💱 Currency

Nepalese Rupee NPR रु

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 NPR = 6.57 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.9 EUR

1,000 NPR = 6.57 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.9 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Kathmandu Nepalgunj 370 km

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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 65% 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 in Kathmandu is about 2.7 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

All in, you’ll spend $488 per month in Kathmandu versus $173 in Nepalgunj – a 182% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 327% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Nepalgunj wins on affordability, Kathmandu on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.