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: $508 in Kathmandu versus $402 in Siddharthanagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $787 in Kathmandu versus $641 in Siddharthanagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Kathmandu versus $881 in Siddharthanagar.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 26% more expensive than in Siddharthanagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 62% lower, Siddharthanagar 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 NPR 274

$1.84 NPR 282

-2.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.21 NPR 2,941

$10.94 NPR 1,675

75.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.70 NPR 1,026

$6.62 NPR 1,014

1.21%

Cappuccino

$1.92 NPR 294

$1.84 NPR 282

4.35%

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

$0.54 NPR 83.3

$0.35 NPR 52.9

54.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 29.65

$0.17 NPR 26.60

11.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 NPR 387

$2.61 NPR 400

-3.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 NPR 542

$3.10 NPR 475

14.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 NPR 133

$0.44 NPR 67.3

97.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 NPR 89.4

$0.30 NPR 46.29

93.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 NPR 145

$0.42 NPR 63.8

126.19%

Eggs

$1.84 NPR 282

$1.65 NPR 253

11.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 NPR 1,411

$5.56 NPR 852

65.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 NPR 475

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.04 NPR 924

$2.37 NPR 363

154.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 NPR 347

$2.26 NPR 346

0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 NPR 166

$0.68 NPR 105

58.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 NPR 183

$1.07 NPR 164

12.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 99.2

$0.39 NPR 59.5

66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 73.2

$0.19 NPR 29.66

152.63%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 NPR 102

$0.45 NPR 69.5

48.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 NPR 75.8

$0.49 NPR 74.7

2.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.54

$0.25 NPR 38.54

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 NPR 450

$1.36 NPR 208

116.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.86 NPR 1,356

$8.57 NPR 1,312

3.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 NPR 359

$2.35 NPR 360

-0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 NPR 500

$3.26 NPR 498

0.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 32.09

$0.22 NPR 33.26

-4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.03 NPR 1,689

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 NPR 338

$2.13 NPR 327

3.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 NPR 163

$1.06 NPR 162

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 NPR 571

$3.53 NPR 541

5.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.26 NPR 193

-1.59%

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

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

-1.90%

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

$41.4K NPR 6.3M

$41.3K NPR 6.3M

0.21%

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

$33.18 NPR 5,080

$33.47 NPR 5,125

-0.87%

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

$4.95 NPR 759

$4.90 NPR 750

1.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.65 NPR 1,478

$9.52 NPR 1,458

1.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.94 NPR 3,360

$18.36 NPR 2,811

19.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.45 NPR 1,141

Cinema Ticket

$3.21 NPR 492

$3.31 NPR 507

-3.02%

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

$91.0 NPR 13.9K

$92.1 NPR 14.1K

-1.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,763 NPR 576.2K

$3,738 NPR 572.4K

0.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.49 NPR 3,750

$25.13 NPR 3,847

-2.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 NPR 4,307

$28.34 NPR 4,339

-0.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.2 NPR 9,062

$57.3 NPR 8,770

3.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.39 NPR 6,184

$39.45 NPR 6,041

2.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 NPR 30.3K

$107 NPR 16.3K

85.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 NPR 15.2K

$62.8 NPR 9,612

57.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 NPR 52.7K

$204 NPR 31.2K

68.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 NPR 28.1K

$144 NPR 22.1K

27.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,331 NPR 356.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,317 NPR 201.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 NPR 41.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

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

Last update for Kathmandu: July 25, 2026

Last update for Siddharthanagar: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 in Kathmandu and $107 in Siddharthanagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Kathmandu vs $11.00 in Siddharthanagar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $157 vs $118 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 26% 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 $761 in Kathmandu and $603 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $198 in Kathmandu versus $107 in Siddharthanagar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $508 per month in Kathmandu versus $402 in Siddharthanagar – a 26% 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 26% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.