Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepalgunj and Biratnagar Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepalgunj and Biratnagar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $404 in Nepalgunj versus $376 in Biratnagar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $669 in Nepalgunj versus $625 in Biratnagar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $934 in Nepalgunj versus $875 in Biratnagar.

Living in Nepalgunj is roughly 7% more expensive than in Biratnagar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nepalgunj 70% lower, Biratnagar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.85 NPR 284

$1.68 NPR 259

10.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.88 NPR 2,901

$18.18 NPR 2,792

3.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.45 NPR 991

$8.43 NPR 1,295

-23.49%

Cappuccino

$1.54 NPR 237

$1.52 NPR 233

1.32%

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

$0.50 NPR 76.8

$0.34 NPR 52.7

47.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 NPR 25.62

$0.15 NPR 23.35

13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 NPR 390

$1.68 NPR 258

51.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 NPR 575

$2.58 NPR 396

45.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.74 NPR 114

$0.63 NPR 96.7

17.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.54 NPR 83.5

$0.39 NPR 60.3

38.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 NPR 126

$0.66 NPR 102

24.24%

Eggs

$1.71 NPR 263

$1.36 NPR 208

25.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.61 NPR 1,168

$5.06 NPR 777

50.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 NPR 490

$3.01 NPR 463

5.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.23 NPR 957

$3.55 NPR 546

75.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 NPR 347

$2.12 NPR 326

6.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 NPR 168

$0.86 NPR 132

26.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.24 NPR 190

$1.49 NPR 229

-16.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 106

$0.55 NPR 84.0

25.45%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 NPR 75.0

$0.40 NPR 62.0

22.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 NPR 104

$0.51 NPR 78.6

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 81.3

$0.49 NPR 75.1

8.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.81

$0.34 NPR 52.5

-20.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 NPR 439

$2.96 NPR 455

-3.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 NPR 364

$2.24 NPR 344

5.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 NPR 509

$3.20 NPR 492

3.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 NPR 28.73

$0.18 NPR 27.83

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.93 NPR 1,986

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 NPR 343

$2.23 NPR 342

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 NPR 125

$0.82 NPR 127

-1.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.73 NPR 574

$2.49 NPR 383

49.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 NPR 196

$1.26 NPR 193

1.59%

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

$32.2K NPR 4.9M

$32.5K NPR 5.0M

-1.13%

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

$40.0K NPR 6.1M

$40.6K NPR 6.2M

-1.56%

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

$26.88 NPR 4,129

$26.01 NPR 3,996

3.34%

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

$4.82 NPR 740

$4.53 NPR 695

6.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.35 NPR 1,436

$10.23 NPR 1,571

-8.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.50 NPR 2,842

$18.46 NPR 2,836

0.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.23 NPR 342

Cinema Ticket

$2.65 NPR 407

$3.37 NPR 518

-21.36%

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

$72.6 NPR 11.1K

$52.6 NPR 8,085

37.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,689 NPR 413.1K

$1,940 NPR 297.9K

38.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.10 NPR 3,855

$25.11 NPR 3,857

-0.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.84 NPR 4,277

$36.46 NPR 5,600

-23.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.34 NPR 7,119

$27.75 NPR 4,263

66.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.94 NPR 4,446

$33.18 NPR 5,096

-12.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 NPR 16.1K

-0.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.3 NPR 9,876

$57.9 NPR 8,900

10.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$207 NPR 31.9K

$207 NPR 31.8K

0.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 NPR 22.4K

$146 NPR 22.5K

-0.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$395 NPR 60.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$259 NPR 39.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$99.0 NPR 15.2K

$164 NPR 25.2K

-39.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

-13.71%

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

Last update for Nepalgunj: July 13, 2026

Last update for Biratnagar: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $105 in Nepalgunj and $105 in Biratnagar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Biratnagar pays 65% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Nepalgunj vs $18.00 in Biratnagar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $133 vs $110 per month, with Biratnagar 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

Nepalgunj vs Biratnagar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Biratnagar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 65% lower in Biratnagar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $105 in Nepalgunj versus $105 in Biratnagar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $72.6 in Nepalgunj versus $52.6 in Biratnagar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Biratnagar – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $19.00 in Nepalgunj. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Biratnagar 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.

Expats usually find Biratnagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Nepalgunj. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.