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: $508 in Kathmandu versus $393 in Tulsipur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $787 in Kathmandu versus $650 in Tulsipur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,067 in Kathmandu versus $907 in Tulsipur.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 29% more expensive than in Tulsipur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 NPR 274

$1.84 NPR 283

-2.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.21 NPR 2,943

$18.70 NPR 2,865

2.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.70 NPR 1,026

$6.58 NPR 1,008

1.82%

Cappuccino

$1.92 NPR 294

$1.48 NPR 227

29.73%

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

$0.54 NPR 83.4

$0.50 NPR 76.7

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 29.67

$0.15 NPR 23.61

26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 NPR 387

$2.63 NPR 403

-3.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 NPR 542

$3.68 NPR 564

-3.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 NPR 133

$0.79 NPR 121

10.13%

White Bread (500g)

$0.58 NPR 89.4

$0.55 NPR 84.7

5.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 NPR 145

$0.80 NPR 123

18.75%

Eggs

$1.84 NPR 282

$1.71 NPR 262

7.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.22 NPR 1,412

$7.62 NPR 1,167

21.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 NPR 475

$3.20 NPR 491

-3.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.04 NPR 925

$6.01 NPR 921

0.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 NPR 348

$2.21 NPR 338

2.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 NPR 166

$1.05 NPR 161

2.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 NPR 184

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 99.3

$0.68 NPR 104

-4.41%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 73.2

$0.49 NPR 74.6

-2.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 NPR 103

$0.68 NPR 105

-1.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 NPR 75.8

$0.49 NPR 75.4

2.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.55

$0.27 NPR 41.77

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 NPR 450

$2.88 NPR 441

2.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.86 NPR 1,357

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 NPR 359

$2.29 NPR 351

2.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 NPR 501

$3.36 NPR 515

-2.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 32.10

$0.19 NPR 29.32

10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.03 NPR 1,689

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 NPR 339

$2.22 NPR 340

-0.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 NPR 163

$0.75 NPR 116

41.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 NPR 571

$3.58 NPR 548

4.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.27 NPR 194

-2.36%

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

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

-1.82%

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

$41.4K NPR 6.3M

$41.1K NPR 6.3M

0.69%

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

$33.18 NPR 5,083

$26.90 NPR 4,120

23.35%

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

$4.95 NPR 759

$5.02 NPR 769

-1.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.65 NPR 1,478

$9.69 NPR 1,485

-0.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.94 NPR 3,362

$18.05 NPR 2,765

21.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.45 NPR 1,142

Cinema Ticket

$3.21 NPR 492

$2.74 NPR 420

17.15%

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

$91.0 NPR 13.9K

$73.4 NPR 11.2K

23.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,763 NPR 576.5K

$2,710 NPR 415.1K

38.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.49 NPR 3,751

$24.85 NPR 3,807

-1.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.13 NPR 4,309

$27.44 NPR 4,203

2.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.2 NPR 9,066

$46.33 NPR 7,098

27.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.39 NPR 6,187

$28.58 NPR 4,378

41.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 NPR 30.3K

$103 NPR 15.8K

92.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.0 NPR 15.2K

$64.2 NPR 9,829

54.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$344 NPR 52.7K

$210 NPR 32.1K

64.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 NPR 28.1K

$143 NPR 21.8K

28.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,331 NPR 357.0K

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 Tulsipur: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $198 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 $157 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 29% 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 $761 in Kathmandu and $590 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: $198 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 19% 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 $393 in Tulsipur – a 29% 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 29% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.