Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Waling Cost of Living Comparison Between Kathmandu and Waling

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $484 in Kathmandu versus $324 in Waling.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $773 in Kathmandu versus $541 in Waling.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,063 in Kathmandu versus $757 in Waling.

Living in Kathmandu is roughly 49% more expensive than in Waling, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kathmandu 65% lower, Waling 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 NPR 294

$1.95 NPR 296

-0.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.08 NPR 3,038

$20.39 NPR 3,085

-1.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.74 NPR 1,020

$6.54 NPR 989

3.06%

Cappuccino

$1.54 NPR 234

$1.60 NPR 242

-3.75%

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

$0.56 NPR 84.4

$0.55 NPR 83.6

1.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 NPR 23.03

$0.16 NPR 24.70

-6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 NPR 489

$3.36 NPR 509

-3.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 NPR 556

$3.70 NPR 560

-0.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 NPR 115

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 NPR 95.2

$0.48 NPR 72.8

31.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 NPR 130

$0.93 NPR 140

-7.53%

Eggs

$1.69 NPR 256

$1.29 NPR 195

31.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 NPR 1,098

$6.46 NPR 978

12.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.40 NPR 515

$2.60 NPR 393

30.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.21 NPR 788

$3.31 NPR 500

57.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 NPR 313

$2.10 NPR 318

-1.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.15 NPR 174

$0.76 NPR 115

51.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.41 NPR 213

$1.33 NPR 202

6.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 NPR 86.7

$0.58 NPR 87.9

-1.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 NPR 58.1

$0.38 NPR 56.9

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 NPR 78.0

$0.37 NPR 56.1

40.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 74.6

$0.46 NPR 69.4

6.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.98

$0.22 NPR 32.82

13.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 NPR 408

$2.66 NPR 403

1.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 NPR 1,201

$5.18 NPR 784

53.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 NPR 337

$2.31 NPR 349

-3.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 NPR 454

$2.94 NPR 445

2.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 NPR 29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.11 NPR 1,529

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.02 NPR 305

$1.99 NPR 301

1.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 NPR 203

$1.28 NPR 194

4.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 NPR 503

$3.22 NPR 487

3.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 NPR 213

$1.39 NPR 210

1.44%

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

$29.4K NPR 4.5M

$29.5K NPR 4.5M

-0.28%

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

$36.6K NPR 5.5M

$36.2K NPR 5.5M

1.06%

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

$31.68 NPR 4,793

$32.28 NPR 4,884

-1.86%

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

$3.38 NPR 511

$3.31 NPR 501

2.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.12 NPR 1,228

$7.78 NPR 1,178

4.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.51 NPR 3,406

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.01 NPR 1,060

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 NPR 451

$3.03 NPR 458

-1.65%

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

$67.1 NPR 10.1K

$67.4 NPR 10.2K

-0.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,824 NPR 729.7K

$4,826 NPR 730.1K

-0.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.37 NPR 3,990

$26.42 NPR 3,997

-0.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.67 NPR 4,337

$28.16 NPR 4,260

1.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 NPR 9,967

$66.2 NPR 10.0K

-0.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.44 NPR 4,605

$29.65 NPR 4,485

2.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 NPR 33.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 NPR 15.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 NPR 66.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 NPR 30.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,289 NPR 346.3K

$1,080 NPR 163.4K

111.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,332 NPR 201.5K

$1,254 NPR 189.7K

6.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 NPR 41.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.72

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

Last update for Kathmandu: August 29, 2026

Last update for Waling: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Kathmandu vs $20.00 in Waling. Groceries flip the comparison at $144 vs $121, with Waling 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 Waling: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waling wins on cost – living expenses run 49% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Waling the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $725 in Kathmandu and $487 in Waling 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.

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 $484 per month in Kathmandu versus $324 in Waling – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Waling 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.

Safety-wise, Kathmandu and Waling are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Waling gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.