Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Siddharthanagar Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Siddharthanagar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $498 in Kathmandu versus $311 in Siddharthanagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $797 in Kathmandu versus $480 in Siddharthanagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,097 in Kathmandu versus $650 in Siddharthanagar.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 60% more expensive than in Siddharthanagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 64% lower, Siddharthanagar 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 NPR 297

$1.98 NPR 304

-2.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.02 NPR 3,072

$9.66 NPR 1,482

107.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.97 NPR 1,223

$7.99 NPR 1,226

-0.25%

Cappuccino

$1.53 NPR 234

$1.54 NPR 237

-0.65%

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

$0.56 NPR 86.2

$0.32 NPR 48.45

75.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 NPR 20.95

$0.17 NPR 25.84

-17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.29 NPR 505

$3.20 NPR 491

2.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 NPR 550

$2.81 NPR 431

27.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 NPR 117

$0.51 NPR 77.8

49.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 NPR 89.4

$0.27 NPR 41.58

114.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 NPR 139

$0.41 NPR 62.8

119.51%

Eggs

$1.67 NPR 256

$1.35 NPR 207

23.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.44 NPR 1,141

$4.90 NPR 751

51.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.35 NPR 514

$2.64 NPR 406

26.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.02 NPR 923

$2.14 NPR 328

181.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 NPR 321

$2.10 NPR 322

-0.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 NPR 175

$0.54 NPR 82.8

111.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 NPR 208

$1.00 NPR 153

36.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 NPR 86.1

$0.47 NPR 72.9

19.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 NPR 64.2

$0.27 NPR 41.66

55.56%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 NPR 76.4

$0.31 NPR 48.24

61.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 NPR 68.9

$0.49 NPR 74.8

-8.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 NPR 35.28

$0.23 NPR 35.11

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 NPR 407

$2.59 NPR 398

2.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.96 NPR 1,220

$7.84 NPR 1,202

1.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 NPR 352

$2.25 NPR 345

2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 NPR 463

$3.04 NPR 466

-0.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 NPR 31.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.67 NPR 1,483

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 NPR 296

$1.97 NPR 302

-2.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.33 NPR 204

$1.35 NPR 206

-1.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 NPR 496

$3.30 NPR 506

-2.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 NPR 210

$1.40 NPR 214

-2.14%

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

$29.1K NPR 4.5M

$29.7K NPR 4.6M

-1.91%

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

$36.8K NPR 5.6M

$35.9K NPR 5.5M

2.59%

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

$31.27 NPR 4,798

$31.90 NPR 4,894

-1.97%

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

$3.45 NPR 530

$3.43 NPR 526

0.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.05 NPR 1,235

$7.95 NPR 1,219

1.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.88 NPR 3,356

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.99 NPR 1,073

Cinema Ticket

$2.93 NPR 450

$2.97 NPR 455

-1.35%

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

$66.8 NPR 10.2K

$66.7 NPR 10.2K

0.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,792 NPR 735.2K

$4,715 NPR 723.3K

1.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.66 NPR 4,090

$26.57 NPR 4,075

0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.20 NPR 4,326

$28.11 NPR 4,312

0.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.9 NPR 9,959

$65.0 NPR 9,976

-0.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.52 NPR 4,529

$29.40 NPR 4,510

0.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$223 NPR 34.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 NPR 15.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 NPR 66.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 NPR 31.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,281 NPR 350.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,342 NPR 205.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$271 NPR 41.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.72

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

Last update for Kathmandu: September 15, 2026

Last update for Siddharthanagar: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Kathmandu vs $10.00 in Siddharthanagar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $147 vs $108 per month, with Siddharthanagar cheaper across the board.

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 Siddharthanagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Siddharthanagar wins on cost – living expenses run 60% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Siddharthanagar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $746 in Kathmandu and $466 in Siddharthanagar to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $498 per month in Kathmandu versus $311 in Siddharthanagar – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Siddharthanagar 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 Siddharthanagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.