😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $501 in Kathmandu versus $457 in Setif.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $782 in Kathmandu versus $772 in Setif.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,063 in Kathmandu versus $1,087 in Setif.
😐Living in Kathmandu is roughly 10% more expensive than Setif, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu63% lower, Setif66% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78NPR 266
$2.26DZD 298
-21.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.20NPR 2,862
$15.94DZD 2,108
20.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.65NPR 991
$3.92DZD 519
69.64%
Cappuccino
$1.90NPR 284
$0.69DZD 91.5
175.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49NPR 73.8
$0.61DZD 80.9
-19.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15NPR 22.74
$0.23DZD 30.52
-34.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55NPR 380
$1.49DZD 197
71.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62NPR 540
$2.12DZD 281
70.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89NPR 132
$0.74DZD 98.1
20.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.54NPR 80.8
$0.14DZD 18.65
285.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94NPR 139
$1.07DZD 142
-12.15%
Eggs
$1.77NPR 264
$1.86DZD 246
-4.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.22NPR 1,375
$6.51DZD 861
41.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12NPR 465
$5.22DZD 690
-40.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.05NPR 902
$14.39DZD 1,904
-57.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18NPR 326
$2.81DZD 372
-22.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09NPR 162
$2.81DZD 372
-61.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25NPR 187
$1.50DZD 199
-16.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.65NPR 96.4
$0.77DZD 101
-15.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49NPR 72.8
$0.52DZD 69.0
-5.77%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72NPR 107
$0.50DZD 65.8
44.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50NPR 74.0
$0.45DZD 59.8
11.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25NPR 36.92
$0.30DZD 39.86
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85NPR 425
$2.67DZD 353
6.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.66NPR 993
$5.60DZD 741
18.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34NPR 350
$1.34DZD 178
74.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35NPR 499
$2.05DZD 271
63.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23NPR 34.39
$0.15DZD 19.61
53.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.79NPR 1,608
$5.67DZD 750
90.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.21NPR 329
$0.66DZD 86.9
234.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07NPR 159
$0.34DZD 44.38
214.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.67NPR 546
$5.09DZD 674
-27.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26NPR 188
$0.34DZD 44.83
270.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KNPR 4.7M
$29.4KDZD 3.9M
7.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.2KNPR 6.1M
$21.0KDZD 2.8M
96.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.83NPR 4,894
$38.13DZD 5,045
-13.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.00NPR 746
$9.22DZD 1,221
-45.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.86NPR 1,469
$13.11DZD 1,735
-24.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.99NPR 3,277
$18.06DZD 2,390
21.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.17NPR 1,069
$5.73DZD 758
25.13%
Cinema Ticket
$3.32NPR 494
$5.83DZD 771
-43.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.0NPR 13.9K
$95.6DZD 12.7K
-2.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,703NPR 552.0K
$3,540DZD 468.4K
4.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.62NPR 3,670
$24.68DZD 3,266
-0.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.47NPR 4,095
$27.71DZD 3,666
-0.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.3NPR 8,688
$44.72DZD 5,917
30.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.32NPR 6,010
$56.2DZD 7,441
-28.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$192NPR 28.6K
$76.6DZD 10.1K
150.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$99.7NPR 14.9K
$56.5DZD 7,477
76.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$347NPR 51.8K
$181DZD 24.0K
91.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$189NPR 28.2K
$154DZD 20.3K
23.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,382NPR 355.1K
$976DZD 129.2K
144.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,359NPR 202.6K
$399DZD 52.9K
240.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$241NPR 36.0K
$311DZD 41.1K
-22.35%
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: April 14, 2026
Last update for Setif: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $192 in Kathmandu and $77 in Setif. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Setif pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $19 in Kathmandu vs $16 in Setif. Groceries flip the comparison at $152 vs $180, 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 29% 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: $192 in Kathmandu versus $76.6 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 $501 per month in Kathmandu versus $457 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.