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: $497 in Kathmandu versus $411 in Siddharthanagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $791 in Kathmandu versus $646 in Siddharthanagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,084 in Kathmandu versus $881 in Siddharthanagar.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 21% more expensive than Siddharthanagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 63% lower, Siddharthanagar 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 NPR 272

$1.80 NPR 274

-0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 NPR 2,861

$11.13 NPR 1,694

68.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.68 NPR 1,017

$6.57 NPR 1,000

1.67%

Cappuccino

$1.92 NPR 292

$1.84 NPR 280

4.35%

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

$0.50 NPR 75.9

$0.35 NPR 53.3

42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 29.05

$0.15 NPR 22.08

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 NPR 396

$2.54 NPR 387

2.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 NPR 566

$3.00 NPR 456

24.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 NPR 136

$0.43 NPR 65.9

106.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 83.8

$0.30 NPR 46.05

83.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 NPR 154

$0.42 NPR 63.6

140.48%

Eggs

$1.79 NPR 272

$1.57 NPR 240

14.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 NPR 1,397

$5.65 NPR 860

62.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 NPR 496

$3.06 NPR 466

6.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.23 NPR 949

$2.27 NPR 345

174.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 NPR 335

$2.18 NPR 331

0.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 NPR 166

$0.67 NPR 102

62.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.07 NPR 163

15.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 97.9

$0.38 NPR 58.6

68.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 72.4

$0.20 NPR 30.21

140.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 109

$0.45 NPR 69.1

60.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 NPR 79.3

$0.50 NPR 75.7

4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.41

$0.25 NPR 38.10

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 NPR 445

$1.41 NPR 215

107.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 NPR 1,202

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 NPR 349

$2.26 NPR 343

1.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 NPR 509

$3.35 NPR 510

-0.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 31.81

$0.20 NPR 30.45

5.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.00 NPR 1,674

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 NPR 341

$2.15 NPR 328

4.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 NPR 162

$1.10 NPR 168

-2.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 NPR 539

$3.73 NPR 568

-5.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 NPR 193

$1.23 NPR 186

3.25%

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

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

$32.1K NPR 4.9M

-2.03%

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

$40.5K NPR 6.2M

$40.3K NPR 6.1M

0.60%

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

$33.35 NPR 5,074

$33.31 NPR 5,070

0.12%

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

$4.74 NPR 722

$4.87 NPR 741

-2.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.57 NPR 1,457

$9.74 NPR 1,482

-1.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.34 NPR 3,400

$18.44 NPR 2,806

21.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.19 NPR 1,095

Cinema Ticket

$3.21 NPR 489

$3.26 NPR 496

-1.53%

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

$92.3 NPR 14.0K

$92.4 NPR 14.1K

-0.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,802 NPR 578.6K

$3,713 NPR 565.0K

2.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.77 NPR 3,769

$24.39 NPR 3,712

1.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.44 NPR 4,328

$27.76 NPR 4,224

2.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.4 NPR 8,734

$58.8 NPR 8,953

-2.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.43 NPR 6,000

$39.80 NPR 6,056

-0.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 NPR 29.7K

$106 NPR 16.1K

84.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.1 NPR 15.1K

$63.8 NPR 9,706

55.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 NPR 52.6K

$208 NPR 31.6K

66.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 NPR 28.0K

$148 NPR 22.5K

24.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,286 NPR 347.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,329 NPR 202.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 NPR 42.4K

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Siddharthanagar: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Kathmandu and $106 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 $156 vs $116 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 21% 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 $616 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: $195 in Kathmandu versus $106 in Siddharthanagar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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 $497 per month in Kathmandu versus $411 in Siddharthanagar – a 21% 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 21% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.