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: $361 in Kirtipur versus $498 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $591 in Kirtipur versus $797 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $822 in Kirtipur versus $1,097 in Kathmandu.

Living in Kirtipur costs roughly 27% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kirtipur 74% lower, Kathmandu 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.99 NPR 306

$1.94 NPR 297

2.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.44 NPR 3,136

$20.02 NPR 3,072

2.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 NPR 1,216

$7.97 NPR 1,223

-0.63%

Cappuccino

$1.54 NPR 237

$1.53 NPR 234

0.65%

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

$0.56 NPR 85.6

$0.56 NPR 86.2

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 NPR 25.78

$0.14 NPR 20.95

21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 NPR 504

$3.29 NPR 505

-0.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 NPR 562

$3.58 NPR 550

2.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.67 NPR 103

$0.76 NPR 117

-11.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 NPR 98.0

$0.58 NPR 89.4

10.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 NPR 141

$0.90 NPR 139

2.22%

Eggs

$1.62 NPR 248

$1.67 NPR 256

-2.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.47 NPR 1,145

$7.44 NPR 1,141

0.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 NPR 503

$3.35 NPR 514

-2.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.78 NPR 886

$6.02 NPR 923

-3.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 NPR 320

$2.09 NPR 321

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 NPR 168

$1.14 NPR 175

-4.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 NPR 207

$1.36 NPR 208

-0.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 NPR 86.6

$0.56 NPR 86.1

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 NPR 58.7

$0.42 NPR 64.2

-9.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 NPR 81.8

$0.50 NPR 76.4

6.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 74.7

$0.45 NPR 68.9

8.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 NPR 35.03

$0.23 NPR 35.28

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.69 NPR 413

$2.65 NPR 407

1.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.84 NPR 1,203

$7.96 NPR 1,220

-1.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 NPR 338

$2.30 NPR 352

-3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 NPR 467

$3.02 NPR 463

0.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 NPR 31.01

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.67 NPR 1,483

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.93 NPR 296

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 NPR 197

$1.33 NPR 204

-3.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 NPR 504

$3.23 NPR 496

1.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 NPR 204

$1.37 NPR 210

-2.92%

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

$30.0K NPR 4.6M

$29.1K NPR 4.5M

2.84%

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

$36.6K NPR 5.6M

$36.8K NPR 5.6M

-0.50%

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

$31.30 NPR 4,802

$31.27 NPR 4,798

0.10%

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

$3.33 NPR 510

$3.45 NPR 530

-3.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.91 NPR 1,213

$8.05 NPR 1,235

-1.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.88 NPR 3,356

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.99 NPR 1,073

Cinema Ticket

$2.96 NPR 454

$2.93 NPR 450

1.02%

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

$67.5 NPR 10.3K

$66.8 NPR 10.2K

0.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,741 NPR 727.4K

$4,792 NPR 735.2K

-1.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.49 NPR 4,064

$26.66 NPR 4,090

-0.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.47 NPR 4,367

$28.20 NPR 4,326

0.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 NPR 10.2K

$64.9 NPR 9,959

2.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.52 NPR 4,528

$29.52 NPR 4,529

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$223 NPR 34.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$101 NPR 15.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 NPR 66.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$205 NPR 31.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,281 NPR 350.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,342 NPR 205.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$271 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 Kirtipur: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Kirtipur vs $20.00 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $144 vs $147 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 38% 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 $542 in Kirtipur and $746 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $361 per month in Kirtipur versus $498 in Kathmandu – a 38% 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 38% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.