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: $497 in Kathmandu versus $397 in Tulsipur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $791 in Kathmandu versus $663 in Tulsipur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,084 in Kathmandu versus $930 in Tulsipur.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 25% more expensive than Tulsipur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 63% lower, Tulsipur 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 NPR 272

$1.78 NPR 272

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 NPR 2,861

$18.81 NPR 2,862

-0.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.68 NPR 1,017

$6.51 NPR 990

2.61%

Cappuccino

$1.92 NPR 292

$1.48 NPR 225

29.73%

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

$0.50 NPR 75.9

$0.54 NPR 81.5

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 29.05

$0.15 NPR 23.33

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 NPR 396

$2.55 NPR 388

1.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 NPR 566

$3.61 NPR 549

3.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 NPR 136

$0.73 NPR 112

21.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 83.8

$0.60 NPR 91.1

-8.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 NPR 154

$0.76 NPR 116

32.89%

Eggs

$1.79 NPR 272

$1.71 NPR 260

4.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 NPR 1,397

$7.63 NPR 1,161

20.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 NPR 496

$3.20 NPR 487

1.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.23 NPR 949

$6.09 NPR 926

2.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 NPR 335

$2.18 NPR 332

0.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 NPR 166

$1.08 NPR 165

0.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.21 NPR 184

2.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 97.9

$0.70 NPR 106

-8.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 72.4

$0.45 NPR 68.1

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 109

$0.63 NPR 96.5

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 NPR 79.3

$0.50 NPR 76.0

4.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.41

$0.27 NPR 41.46

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 NPR 445

$2.96 NPR 451

-1.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 NPR 1,202

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.29 NPR 349

$2.28 NPR 347

0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.34 NPR 509

$3.25 NPR 495

2.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 31.81

$0.19 NPR 29.46

10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.00 NPR 1,674

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 NPR 341

$2.14 NPR 325

4.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.07 NPR 162

$0.83 NPR 126

28.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 NPR 539

$3.69 NPR 561

-4.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 NPR 193

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

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

$32.2K NPR 4.9M

-2.50%

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

$40.5K NPR 6.2M

$40.1K NPR 6.1M

1.10%

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

$33.35 NPR 5,074

$26.66 NPR 4,057

25.09%

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

$4.74 NPR 722

$4.84 NPR 736

-2.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.57 NPR 1,457

$9.66 NPR 1,471

-0.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.34 NPR 3,400

$18.50 NPR 2,814

20.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.19 NPR 1,095

Cinema Ticket

$3.21 NPR 489

$2.69 NPR 409

19.33%

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

$92.3 NPR 14.0K

$73.3 NPR 11.2K

25.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,802 NPR 578.6K

$2,775 NPR 422.2K

37.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.77 NPR 3,769

$25.25 NPR 3,842

-1.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.44 NPR 4,328

$27.85 NPR 4,238

2.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.4 NPR 8,734

$45.25 NPR 6,886

26.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.43 NPR 6,000

$28.68 NPR 4,365

37.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 NPR 29.7K

$103 NPR 15.7K

88.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.1 NPR 15.1K

$63.3 NPR 9,629

56.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$346 NPR 52.6K

$210 NPR 32.0K

64.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 NPR 28.0K

$146 NPR 22.2K

26.30%

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 Tulsipur: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Kathmandu and $103 in Tulsipur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Kathmandu vs $19.00 in Tulsipur. Groceries flip the comparison at $156 vs $132, 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 25% 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 $746 in Kathmandu and $595 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 $103 in Tulsipur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% 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 $397 in Tulsipur – a 25% 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 25% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.