Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepalgunj and Butwal Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepalgunj and Butwal

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $398 in Nepalgunj versus $358 in Butwal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $666 in Nepalgunj versus $622 in Butwal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $935 in Nepalgunj versus $886 in Butwal.

Living in Nepalgunj is roughly 11% more expensive than in Butwal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nepalgunj 70% lower, Butwal 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.83 NPR 280

$1.84 NPR 280

-0.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.77 NPR 2,864

$19.04 NPR 2,906

-1.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 NPR 1,025

$6.38 NPR 974

5.17%

Cappuccino

$1.53 NPR 234

$1.50 NPR 229

2.00%

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

$0.50 NPR 76.9

$0.53 NPR 81.1

-5.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 28.80

$0.12 NPR 18.73

58.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 NPR 406

$2.62 NPR 400

1.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 NPR 543

$1.97 NPR 300

80.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 NPR 114

$0.72 NPR 110

4.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 83.9

$0.49 NPR 74.7

12.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 NPR 125

$0.83 NPR 126

-1.20%

Eggs

$1.71 NPR 260

$1.43 NPR 219

19.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.52 NPR 1,148

$9.11 NPR 1,390

-17.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 NPR 475

$3.09 NPR 471

0.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.99 NPR 914

$6.17 NPR 942

-2.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 NPR 344

$2.26 NPR 346

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 NPR 160

$0.87 NPR 132

20.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 NPR 184

$1.19 NPR 181

1.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 107

$0.64 NPR 98.4

9.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 73.6

$0.48 NPR 73.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 98.4

$0.67 NPR 103

-4.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 81.3

$0.49 NPR 74.7

8.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.30

$0.25 NPR 37.72

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 NPR 440

$2.96 NPR 452

-2.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.43 NPR 982

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 NPR 348

$2.35 NPR 358

-2.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 NPR 487

$2.13 NPR 326

49.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 32.28

$0.19 NPR 29.76

10.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.15 NPR 1,397

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 NPR 337

$1.87 NPR 286

18.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 NPR 126

$0.74 NPR 114

10.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 NPR 549

$2.94 NPR 449

22.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.28 NPR 195

-3.13%

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

$32.5K NPR 5.0M

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

1.43%

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

$41.1K NPR 6.3M

$27.0K NPR 4.1M

52.29%

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

$26.27 NPR 4,009

$14.64 NPR 2,235

79.44%

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

$4.85 NPR 741

$4.97 NPR 758

-2.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.92 NPR 1,514

$9.76 NPR 1,490

1.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.12 NPR 2,766

$14.46 NPR 2,207

25.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.02 NPR 1,682

Cinema Ticket

$2.67 NPR 408

$3.04 NPR 463

-12.17%

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

$71.8 NPR 11.0K

$24.19 NPR 3,692

196.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,789 NPR 425.6K

$882 NPR 134.6K

216.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.61 NPR 3,756

$24.98 NPR 3,813

-1.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.58 NPR 4,209

$27.46 NPR 4,191

0.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.64 NPR 6,814

$37.07 NPR 5,658

20.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.35 NPR 4,480

$23.85 NPR 3,640

23.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$107 NPR 16.3K

$52.0 NPR 7,930

105.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.4 NPR 9,670

$30.77 NPR 4,696

105.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 NPR 31.8K

$146 NPR 22.3K

42.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 NPR 22.2K

$111 NPR 16.9K

31.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.0K NPR 2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$97.6 NPR 14.9K

$123 NPR 18.8K

-20.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

0.67%

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

Last update for Nepalgunj: July 27, 2026

Last update for Butwal: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $107 in Nepalgunj and $52.0 in Butwal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Butwal pays 27% 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 $19.00 in Butwal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $131 vs $144 per month, with Nepalgunj 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 Butwal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Butwal wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Nepalgunj. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Butwal the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 27% lower in Butwal. 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: $107 in Nepalgunj versus $52.0 in Butwal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $71.8 in Nepalgunj versus $24.19 in Butwal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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

Either city works on $800 a month, though Butwal 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 Butwal gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Nepalgunj. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.