Cost of Living Comparison Between Kirtipur and Kathmandu Cost of Living Comparison Between Kirtipur and Kathmandu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $451 in Kirtipur versus $489 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $722 in Kirtipur versus $778 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $994 in Kirtipur versus $1,067 in Kathmandu.

Living in Kirtipur costs roughly 8% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kirtipur 66% lower, Kathmandu 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.84 NPR 279

$1.80 NPR 272

2.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.73 NPR 2,835

$18.63 NPR 2,820

0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.63 NPR 1,003

$6.52 NPR 987

1.69%

Cappuccino

$1.83 NPR 277

$1.93 NPR 293

-5.18%

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

$0.54 NPR 81.2

$0.50 NPR 76.2

8.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 NPR 23.57

$0.19 NPR 28.82

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 NPR 395

$2.56 NPR 387

1.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 NPR 546

$3.74 NPR 567

-3.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 NPR 114

$0.88 NPR 133

-14.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 83.7

$0.55 NPR 83.4

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 NPR 141

$0.92 NPR 140

1.09%

Eggs

$1.85 NPR 280

$1.83 NPR 276

1.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.90 NPR 1,347

$9.04 NPR 1,369

-1.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 NPR 473

$3.14 NPR 476

-0.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.26 NPR 947

$6.17 NPR 935

1.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 NPR 328

$2.21 NPR 335

-2.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 NPR 167

$1.05 NPR 159

4.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 NPR 188

$1.19 NPR 180

4.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 96.6

$0.70 NPR 106

-8.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 72.3

$0.49 NPR 73.5

-2.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 109

$0.68 NPR 102

5.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 74.1

$0.53 NPR 80.4

-7.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.62

$0.27 NPR 41.06

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 NPR 445

$2.88 NPR 436

2.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.58 NPR 997

$6.43 NPR 974

2.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 NPR 359

$2.35 NPR 356

0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 NPR 502

$3.19 NPR 482

4.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 NPR 27.04

$0.21 NPR 31.79

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.77 NPR 1,631

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 NPR 326

$2.17 NPR 328

-0.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 NPR 159

$1.11 NPR 167

-5.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.69 NPR 558

$3.66 NPR 554

0.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 NPR 191

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

$31.5K NPR 4.8M

$31.7K NPR 4.8M

-0.63%

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

$40.4K NPR 6.1M

-0.02%

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

$33.05 NPR 5,003

$32.45 NPR 4,912

1.85%

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

$4.99 NPR 756

$5.02 NPR 760

-0.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.71 NPR 1,470

$9.58 NPR 1,451

1.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.50 NPR 2,800

$22.46 NPR 3,401

-17.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.16 NPR 1,084

Cinema Ticket

$3.36 NPR 509

$3.23 NPR 490

4.02%

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

$36.32 NPR 5,498

$92.2 NPR 14.0K

-60.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,827 NPR 579.3K

$3,720 NPR 563.1K

2.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.52 NPR 3,712

$24.58 NPR 3,722

-0.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.71 NPR 4,195

$28.21 NPR 4,271

-1.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.1 NPR 8,944

$57.5 NPR 8,698

2.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.90 NPR 6,040

$39.36 NPR 5,958

1.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$104 NPR 15.7K

$195 NPR 29.5K

-46.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.7 NPR 9,801

$102 NPR 15.5K

-36.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$202 NPR 30.6K

$347 NPR 52.5K

-41.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$148 NPR 22.4K

$184 NPR 27.9K

-19.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,349 NPR 355.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,323 NPR 200.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$237 NPR 36.0K

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 Kirtipur: April 25, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $104 in Kirtipur and $195 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Kirtipur vs $19.00 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $150 vs $151 per month, with Kirtipur 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

Kirtipur vs Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kirtipur wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kirtipur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $676 in Kirtipur and $733 in Kathmandu 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: $104 in Kirtipur versus $195 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $451 per month in Kirtipur versus $489 in Kathmandu – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Kirtipur 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, Kirtipur and Kathmandu 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 Kirtipur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.