😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $497 in Kathmandu versus $453 in Setif.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $791 in Kathmandu versus $756 in Setif.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,084 in Kathmandu versus $1,059 in Setif.
😐Living in Kathmandu is roughly 10% more expensive than Setif, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu63% lower, Setif66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.79NPR 272
$2.37DZD 314
-24.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80NPR 2,861
$16.43DZD 2,177
14.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.68NPR 1,017
$3.90DZD 516
71.28%
Cappuccino
$1.92NPR 292
$0.63DZD 83.1
204.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50NPR 75.9
$0.57DZD 75.1
-12.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19NPR 29.05
$0.21DZD 27.81
-9.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.60NPR 396
$1.47DZD 195
76.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72NPR 566
$2.17DZD 288
71.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89NPR 136
$0.71DZD 93.9
25.35%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55NPR 83.8
$0.16DZD 20.65
243.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01NPR 154
$1.07DZD 142
-5.61%
Eggs
$1.79NPR 272
$1.86DZD 247
-3.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18NPR 1,397
$6.47DZD 857
41.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.26NPR 496
$5.12DZD 678
-36.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.23NPR 949
$14.02DZD 1,858
-55.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20NPR 335
$2.71DZD 359
-18.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09NPR 166
$2.94DZD 390
-62.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24NPR 189
$1.46DZD 194
-15.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64NPR 97.9
$0.80DZD 107
-20.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48NPR 72.4
$0.56DZD 74.8
-14.29%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72NPR 109
$0.50DZD 66.6
44.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52NPR 79.3
$0.45DZD 60.1
15.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27NPR 41.41
$0.28DZD 37.09
-3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93NPR 445
$2.77DZD 368
5.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90NPR 1,202
$5.39DZD 714
46.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29NPR 349
$1.34DZD 178
70.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34NPR 509
$2.05DZD 271
62.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21NPR 31.81
$0.16DZD 21.80
31.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.00NPR 1,674
$5.88DZD 779
87.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.24NPR 341
$0.71DZD 93.6
215.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07NPR 162
$0.36DZD 47.77
197.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.54NPR 539
$5.15DZD 683
-31.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27NPR 193
$0.34DZD 44.69
273.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KNPR 4.8M
$29.0KDZD 3.8M
8.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5KNPR 6.2M
$20.8KDZD 2.8M
94.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.35NPR 5,074
$38.66DZD 5,124
-13.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.74NPR 722
$9.45DZD 1,252
-49.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.57NPR 1,457
$13.38DZD 1,774
-28.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.34NPR 3,400
$17.93DZD 2,377
24.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.19NPR 1,095
$5.63DZD 746
27.71%
Cinema Ticket
$3.21NPR 489
$5.64DZD 747
-43.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.3NPR 14.0K
$94.7DZD 12.5K
-2.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,802NPR 578.6K
$3,606DZD 478.0K
5.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.77NPR 3,769
$24.08DZD 3,191
2.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.44NPR 4,328
$27.30DZD 3,618
4.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.4NPR 8,734
$44.38DZD 5,882
29.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.43NPR 6,000
$56.4DZD 7,473
-30.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195NPR 29.7K
$75.5DZD 10.0K
158.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$99.1NPR 15.1K
$55.1DZD 7,301
79.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$346NPR 52.6K
$178DZD 23.6K
94.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$184NPR 28.0K
$152DZD 20.2K
20.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,286NPR 347.9K
$941DZD 124.7K
142.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,329NPR 202.2K
$392DZD 52.0K
238.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$278NPR 42.4K
$298DZD 39.6K
-6.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.08
5.42
122.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kathmandu: June 6, 2026
Last update for Setif: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Kathmandu and $75.5 in Setif. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Setif pays 7% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Kathmandu vs $16.00 in Setif. Groceries flip the comparison at $156 vs $178, with Kathmandu 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 Setif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kathmandu or Setif?
Setif wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Setif the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kathmandu or Setif?
On paper, Setif earns 7% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kathmandu vs Setif?
Rent for a central apartment: $195 in Kathmandu versus $75.5 in Setif. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kathmandu vs Setif?
Dining out is cheaper in Setif – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $19.00 in Kathmandu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kathmandu compared to Setif?
All in, you'll spend $497 per month in Kathmandu versus $453 in Setif – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Kathmandu or Setif?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Setif gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kathmandu or Setif?
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.
How safe is Kathmandu compared to Setif?
Safety-wise, Kathmandu and Setif are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Setif gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.