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: $448 in Kirtipur versus $508 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $720 in Kirtipur versus $787 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $991 in Kirtipur versus $1,067 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 66% lower, Kathmandu 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.86 NPR 284

$1.79 NPR 273

3.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.58 NPR 2,836

$19.21 NPR 2,932

-3.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.39 NPR 975

$6.70 NPR 1,022

-4.63%

Cappuccino

$1.85 NPR 283

$1.92 NPR 293

-3.65%

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

$0.54 NPR 81.7

$0.54 NPR 83.1

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 NPR 24.86

$0.19 NPR 29.56

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 NPR 399

$2.53 NPR 386

3.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 NPR 554

$3.54 NPR 540

2.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.71 NPR 109

$0.87 NPR 133

-18.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 NPR 83.0

$0.58 NPR 89.1

-6.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 NPR 141

$0.95 NPR 145

-3.16%

Eggs

$1.80 NPR 275

$1.84 NPR 281

-2.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 NPR 1,411

$9.22 NPR 1,407

0.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 NPR 494

$3.10 NPR 473

4.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.04 NPR 922

$6.04 NPR 921

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 NPR 332

$2.27 NPR 346

-4.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 NPR 168

$1.08 NPR 166

1.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 NPR 183

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 NPR 104

$0.65 NPR 98.9

4.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 NPR 78.1

$0.48 NPR 72.9

6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 NPR 103

$0.67 NPR 102

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 NPR 76.0

$0.50 NPR 75.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.70

$0.27 NPR 41.40

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 NPR 447

$2.94 NPR 448

-0.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.55 NPR 1,304

$8.86 NPR 1,352

-3.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 NPR 358

$2.34 NPR 357

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 NPR 498

$3.27 NPR 499

-0.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 NPR 29.54

$0.21 NPR 31.98

-9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.03 NPR 1,683

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 NPR 329

$2.21 NPR 337

-2.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 NPR 169

$1.06 NPR 162

4.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.70 NPR 564

$3.73 NPR 569

-0.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 NPR 192

$1.24 NPR 189

1.61%

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

$32.6K NPR 5.0M

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

3.70%

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

$40.9K NPR 6.2M

$41.4K NPR 6.3M

-1.23%

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

$32.99 NPR 5,035

$33.18 NPR 5,064

-0.57%

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

$4.78 NPR 729

$4.95 NPR 756

-3.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.90 NPR 1,510

$9.65 NPR 1,473

2.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.15 NPR 2,770

$21.94 NPR 3,349

-17.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.45 NPR 1,137

Cinema Ticket

$3.19 NPR 487

$3.21 NPR 491

-0.62%

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

$36.06 NPR 5,504

$91.0 NPR 13.9K

-60.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,722 NPR 568.1K

$3,763 NPR 574.3K

-1.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.53 NPR 3,743

$24.49 NPR 3,737

0.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.85 NPR 4,251

$28.13 NPR 4,293

-1.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.6 NPR 8,947

$59.2 NPR 9,033

-0.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.62 NPR 6,046

$40.39 NPR 6,164

-1.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 NPR 16.0K

$198 NPR 30.2K

-46.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.8 NPR 9,730

$99.0 NPR 15.1K

-35.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$210 NPR 32.0K

$344 NPR 52.5K

-39.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 NPR 21.7K

$184 NPR 28.0K

-22.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,331 NPR 355.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,317 NPR 201.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 NPR 41.1K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $105 in Kirtipur and $198 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 $154 vs $157 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 13% 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 $673 in Kirtipur and $761 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: $105 in Kirtipur versus $198 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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 $448 per month in Kirtipur versus $508 in Kathmandu – a 13% 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 13% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.