Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Tulsipur Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Tulsipur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $489 in Kathmandu versus $406 in Tulsipur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $778 in Kathmandu versus $661 in Tulsipur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Kathmandu versus $916 in Tulsipur.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 20% more expensive than Tulsipur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 64% lower, Tulsipur 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.80 NPR 271

$1.87 NPR 283

-3.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.63 NPR 2,810

$18.97 NPR 2,861

-1.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.52 NPR 983

$6.73 NPR 1,015

-3.12%

Cappuccino

$1.93 NPR 292

$1.48 NPR 224

30.41%

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

$0.50 NPR 76.0

$0.54 NPR 82.0

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 28.72

$0.18 NPR 27.67

5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 NPR 385

$2.57 NPR 388

-0.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.74 NPR 565

$3.72 NPR 561

0.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.88 NPR 133

$0.80 NPR 121

10.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 83.1

$0.58 NPR 87.8

-5.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 NPR 139

$0.81 NPR 122

13.58%

Eggs

$1.83 NPR 276

$1.66 NPR 250

10.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.04 NPR 1,364

$7.47 NPR 1,128

21.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 NPR 474

$3.22 NPR 485

-2.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.17 NPR 931

$5.96 NPR 899

3.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 NPR 334

$2.27 NPR 343

-2.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 NPR 158

$1.10 NPR 166

-4.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 NPR 179

$1.24 NPR 187

-4.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 106

$0.64 NPR 96.2

9.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 73.2

$0.46 NPR 68.7

6.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 NPR 102

$0.64 NPR 96.1

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 80.1

$0.50 NPR 75.0

6.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 40.92

$0.27 NPR 40.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 NPR 435

$2.92 NPR 441

-1.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.43 NPR 971

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 NPR 354

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 NPR 481

$3.31 NPR 500

-3.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 31.67

$0.22 NPR 33.23

-4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.77 NPR 1,625

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 NPR 327

$2.13 NPR 322

1.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 NPR 167

$0.82 NPR 124

35.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.66 NPR 552

$3.73 NPR 562

-1.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 NPR 190

$1.26 NPR 191

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

$31.7K NPR 4.8M

$32.3K NPR 4.9M

-1.95%

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

$40.4K NPR 6.1M

$40.6K NPR 6.1M

-0.45%

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

$32.45 NPR 4,895

$26.85 NPR 4,051

20.86%

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

$5.02 NPR 758

$4.93 NPR 743

1.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.58 NPR 1,446

$9.81 NPR 1,479

-2.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.46 NPR 3,389

$18.23 NPR 2,750

23.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.16 NPR 1,080

Cinema Ticket

$3.23 NPR 488

$2.67 NPR 403

20.97%

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

$92.2 NPR 13.9K

$71.7 NPR 10.8K

28.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,720 NPR 561.1K

$2,709 NPR 408.7K

37.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.58 NPR 3,708

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.21 NPR 4,256

$28.17 NPR 4,249

0.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.5 NPR 8,667

$45.76 NPR 6,903

25.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.36 NPR 5,937

$29.04 NPR 4,381

35.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 NPR 29.3K

$107 NPR 16.1K

82.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$102 NPR 15.4K

$63.5 NPR 9,576

61.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$347 NPR 52.3K

$209 NPR 31.5K

65.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 NPR 27.8K

$144 NPR 21.8K

27.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,349 NPR 354.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,323 NPR 199.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$237 NPR 35.8K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tulsipur: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Kathmandu and $107 in Tulsipur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19 in Kathmandu vs $19 in Tulsipur. Groceries flip the comparison at $151 vs $133, with Tulsipur 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 Tulsipur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tulsipur wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tulsipur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $733 in Kathmandu and $609 in Tulsipur 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 $107 in Tulsipur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $489 per month in Kathmandu versus $406 in Tulsipur – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Tulsipur 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 Tulsipur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.