Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Setif Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Setif

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Kathmandu 63% lower, Setif 66% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.79 NPR 272
$2.37 DZD 314
-24.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 NPR 2,861
$16.43 DZD 2,177
14.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.68 NPR 1,017
$3.90 DZD 516
71.28%
Cappuccino
$1.92 NPR 292
$0.63 DZD 83.1
204.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 NPR 75.9
$0.57 DZD 75.1
-12.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 NPR 29.05
$0.21 DZD 27.81
-9.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.60 NPR 396
$1.47 DZD 195
76.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 NPR 566
$2.17 DZD 288
71.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 NPR 136
$0.71 DZD 93.9
25.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 NPR 83.8
$0.16 DZD 20.65
243.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 NPR 154
$1.07 DZD 142
-5.61%
Eggs
$1.79 NPR 272
$1.86 DZD 247
-3.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.18 NPR 1,397
$6.47 DZD 857
41.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.26 NPR 496
$5.12 DZD 678
-36.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.23 NPR 949
$14.02 DZD 1,858
-55.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.20 NPR 335
$2.71 DZD 359
-18.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 NPR 166
$2.94 DZD 390
-62.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.24 NPR 189
$1.46 DZD 194
-15.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.64 NPR 97.9
$0.80 DZD 107
-20.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 NPR 72.4
$0.56 DZD 74.8
-14.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 NPR 109
$0.50 DZD 66.6
44.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 NPR 79.3
$0.45 DZD 60.1
15.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 NPR 41.41
$0.28 DZD 37.09
-3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93 NPR 445
$2.77 DZD 368
5.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.90 NPR 1,202
$5.39 DZD 714
46.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 NPR 349
$1.34 DZD 178
70.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 NPR 509
$2.05 DZD 271
62.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 NPR 31.81
$0.16 DZD 21.80
31.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.00 NPR 1,674
$5.88 DZD 779
87.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.24 NPR 341
$0.71 DZD 93.6
215.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.07 NPR 162
$0.36 DZD 47.77
197.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 NPR 539
$5.15 DZD 683
-31.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 NPR 193
$0.34 DZD 44.69
273.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4K NPR 4.8M
$29.0K DZD 3.8M
8.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5K NPR 6.2M
$20.8K DZD 2.8M
94.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.35 NPR 5,074
$38.66 DZD 5,124
-13.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.74 NPR 722
$9.45 DZD 1,252
-49.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.57 NPR 1,457
$13.38 DZD 1,774
-28.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.34 NPR 3,400
$17.93 DZD 2,377
24.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.19 NPR 1,095
$5.63 DZD 746
27.71%
Cinema Ticket
$3.21 NPR 489
$5.64 DZD 747
-43.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.3 NPR 14.0K
$94.7 DZD 12.5K
-2.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,802 NPR 578.6K
$3,606 DZD 478.0K
5.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.77 NPR 3,769
$24.08 DZD 3,191
2.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.44 NPR 4,328
$27.30 DZD 3,618
4.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.4 NPR 8,734
$44.38 DZD 5,882
29.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.43 NPR 6,000
$56.4 DZD 7,473
-30.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$195 NPR 29.7K
$75.5 DZD 10.0K
158.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$99.1 NPR 15.1K
$55.1 DZD 7,301
79.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$346 NPR 52.6K
$178 DZD 23.6K
94.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$184 NPR 28.0K
$152 DZD 20.2K
20.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,286 NPR 347.9K
$941 DZD 124.7K
142.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,329 NPR 202.2K
$392 DZD 52.0K
238.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kathmandu
Setif
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$278 NPR 42.4K
$298 DZD 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.

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