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: $436 in Kirtipur versus $497 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $712 in Kirtipur versus $791 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Kirtipur versus $1,084 in Kathmandu.

Living in Kirtipur costs roughly 12% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kirtipur 68% lower, Kathmandu 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.77 NPR 269

$1.79 NPR 272

-1.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.62 NPR 2,834

$18.80 NPR 2,861

-0.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.39 NPR 973

$6.68 NPR 1,017

-4.34%

Cappuccino

$1.93 NPR 293

$1.92 NPR 292

0.52%

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

$0.51 NPR 77.0

$0.50 NPR 75.9

2.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 NPR 25.28

$0.19 NPR 29.05

-10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 NPR 388

$2.60 NPR 396

-1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 NPR 565

$3.72 NPR 566

-0.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 NPR 107

$0.89 NPR 136

-21.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 NPR 85.2

$0.55 NPR 83.8

1.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 NPR 141

$1.01 NPR 154

-7.92%

Eggs

$1.77 NPR 269

$1.79 NPR 272

-1.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.97 NPR 1,364

$9.18 NPR 1,397

-2.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 NPR 478

$3.26 NPR 496

-3.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.03 NPR 918

$6.23 NPR 949

-3.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 NPR 344

$2.20 NPR 335

2.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 NPR 160

$1.09 NPR 166

-3.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 NPR 188

$1.24 NPR 189

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 106

$0.64 NPR 97.9

9.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 72.5

$0.48 NPR 72.4

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 NPR 103

$0.72 NPR 109

-6.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 75.0

$0.52 NPR 79.3

-5.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.99

$0.27 NPR 41.41

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 NPR 433

$2.93 NPR 445

-2.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.96 NPR 1,211

$7.90 NPR 1,202

0.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 NPR 344

$2.29 NPR 349

-1.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 NPR 504

$3.34 NPR 509

-0.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 NPR 28.48

$0.21 NPR 31.81

-9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.00 NPR 1,674

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 NPR 337

$2.24 NPR 341

-1.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 NPR 167

$1.07 NPR 162

2.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.66 NPR 557

$3.54 NPR 539

3.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 NPR 192

$1.27 NPR 193

-0.79%

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

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

2.05%

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

$40.6K NPR 6.2M

$40.5K NPR 6.2M

0.28%

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

$33.34 NPR 5,073

$33.35 NPR 5,074

-0.03%

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

$4.82 NPR 734

$4.74 NPR 722

1.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.89 NPR 1,506

$9.57 NPR 1,457

3.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.51 NPR 2,816

$22.34 NPR 3,400

-17.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.19 NPR 1,095

Cinema Ticket

$3.20 NPR 488

$3.21 NPR 489

-0.31%

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

$36.09 NPR 5,492

$92.3 NPR 14.0K

-60.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,735 NPR 568.4K

$3,802 NPR 578.6K

-1.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.19 NPR 3,833

$24.77 NPR 3,769

1.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.44 NPR 4,176

$28.44 NPR 4,328

-3.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.6 NPR 8,769

$57.4 NPR 8,734

0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.34 NPR 6,139

$39.43 NPR 6,000

2.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$103 NPR 15.7K

$195 NPR 29.7K

-47.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.4 NPR 9,802

$99.1 NPR 15.1K

-35.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 NPR 30.9K

$346 NPR 52.6K

-41.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 NPR 21.9K

$184 NPR 28.0K

-21.67%

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 Kirtipur: June 7, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $103 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 $152 vs $156 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 14% 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 $654 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $103 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 3% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $436 per month in Kirtipur versus $497 in Kathmandu – a 14% 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 14% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.