Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepal and Pakistan Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepal and Pakistan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $265 per month in Nepal vs $454 in Pakistan, rent included.

A couple spends around $435 per month in Nepal vs $683 in Pakistan, rent included.

A family of three spends $605 per month in Nepal vs $912 in Pakistan, rent included.

The cost of living in Nepal is roughly 42% lower than in Pakistan on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Nepal and Pakistan are more affordable than the global median – Nepal 81% lower, Pakistan 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nepal
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.00 NPR 306
$2.16 PKR 598
-7.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.22 NPR 2,489
$14.02 PKR 3,885
15.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.53 NPR 1,001
$5.27 PKR 1,461
23.91%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.15 PKR 596
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.09 PKR 1,134
-
Cappuccino
$1.36 NPR 209
$1.94 PKR 538
-29.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 NPR 73.1
$0.39 PKR 107
23.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 NPR 23.98
$0.22 PKR 60.8
-27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 NPR 349
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 NPR 509
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nepal
Pakistan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.68 NPR 104
$0.87 PKR 242
-21.84%
White Bread (500g)
$0.49 NPR 75.6
$0.63 PKR 174
-22.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 NPR 111
$1.17 PKR 323
-38.46%
Eggs
$1.53 NPR 235
$1.19 PKR 329
28.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.33 NPR 971
$5.67 PKR 1,571
11.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.89 NPR 443
$2.80 PKR 775
3.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.43 NPR 832
$5.02 PKR 1,392
8.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.05 NPR 314
$1.13 PKR 314
81.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.02 NPR 157
$0.68 PKR 189
50.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.13 NPR 173
$0.86 PKR 238
31.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.52 NPR 79.4
$0.59 PKR 162
-11.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 NPR 54.0
$0.31 PKR 87.2
12.90%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 NPR 83.3
$0.39 PKR 107
38.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 NPR 62.4
$0.37 PKR 104
10.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 NPR 38.60
$0.41 PKR 112
-39.02%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$2.02 PKR 560
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.13 PKR 314
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.40 PKR 665
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57 NPR 394
$2.16 PKR 598
18.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.26 NPR 1,114
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 NPR 345
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 NPR 447
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nepal
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 NPR 30.94
$0.16 PKR 43.45
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.08 NPR 1,547
$10.21 PKR 2,828
-1.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.65 NPR 254
$0.86 PKR 239
91.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.21 NPR 185
$0.57 PKR 157
112.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.32 NPR 509
$2.13 PKR 589
55.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 NPR 191
$1.17 PKR 324
6.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K NPR 4.6M
$18.4K PKR 5.1M
61.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K NPR 5.4M
$25.2K PKR 7.0M
38.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nepal
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.12 NPR 4,927
$112 PKR 30.9K
-71.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.08 NPR 626
$5.33 PKR 1,475
-23.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.33 NPR 1,124
$15.94 PKR 4,416
-54.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nepal
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.67 NPR 2,864
$16.12 PKR 4,467
15.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.25 NPR 959
$10.90 PKR 3,018
-42.66%
Cinema Ticket
$2.65 NPR 406
$4.29 PKR 1,189
-38.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nepal
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$49.18 NPR 7,544
$42.45 PKR 11.8K
15.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,929 NPR 449.2K
$1,378 PKR 381.6K
112.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nepal
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.27 NPR 3,262
$16.34 PKR 4,526
30.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.68 NPR 4,400
$23.18 PKR 6,420
23.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.39 NPR 7,270
$79.2 PKR 21.9K
-40.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.48 NPR 3,909
$34.65 PKR 9,599
-26.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nepal
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 NPR 20.4K
$137 PKR 37.9K
-3.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$67.6 NPR 10.4K
$77.4 PKR 21.5K
-12.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$286 NPR 43.9K
$307 PKR 85.1K
-6.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$151 NPR 23.2K
$171 PKR 47.3K
-11.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,097 NPR 321.7K
$1,022 PKR 283.1K
105.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,172 NPR 179.8K
$533 PKR 147.7K
119.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nepal
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$210 NPR 32.2K
$188 PKR 52.0K
11.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.47
13.96
-25.00%

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

Last update for Nepal: September 12, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $32.00 in Nepal vs $124 in Pakistan. For reference, capital cities sit at $223 in Kathmandu and $278 in Islamabad.

Average salary: $202 in Nepal vs $182 in Pakistan. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 288% higher in Pakistan.

Public transport is 200% more expensive in Pakistan.

Salaries are 11% higher in Nepal, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Nepal.

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
Nepal vs Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is cheaper: Nepal or Pakistan?
Nepal is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 76% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Is rent more expensive in Nepal or in Pakistan?
Housing costs more in Pakistan, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Pakistan consistently has higher rents.
How do daily expenses compare in Nepal vs Pakistan?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Nepal, contributing to the overall 76% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Can you live in both Nepal and Pakistan on $800 per month?
$800 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Nepal, but in Pakistan it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Which country is better for expats: Nepal or Pakistan?
Nepal is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

Nepal vs other spots: cost of living compared