Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepalgunj and Dharan Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepalgunj and Dharan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $398 per month in Nepalgunj vs $332 in Dharan, rent included.

A couple spends around $666 per month in Nepalgunj vs $560 in Dharan, rent included.

A family of three spends $935 per month in Nepalgunj vs $788 in Dharan, rent included.

Nepalgunj costs about 20% more than Dharan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nepalgunj and Dharan are more affordable than the global median – Nepalgunj 70% lower, Dharan 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.83 NPR 280

$2.13 NPR 326

-14.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.77 NPR 2,864

$18.61 NPR 2,840

0.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 NPR 1,025

$6.41 NPR 978

4.68%

Cappuccino

$1.53 NPR 234

$1.84 NPR 280

-16.85%

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

$0.50 NPR 76.9

$0.36 NPR 54.4

38.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 28.80

$0.16 NPR 23.66

18.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 NPR 406

$2.55 NPR 389

4.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 NPR 543

$3.68 NPR 562

-3.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 NPR 114

$0.66 NPR 100

13.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 83.9

$0.37 NPR 56.5

48.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 NPR 125

$0.76 NPR 115

7.89%

Eggs

$1.71 NPR 260

$1.57 NPR 240

8.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.52 NPR 1,148

$7.23 NPR 1,104

4.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 NPR 475

$2.98 NPR 455

4.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.99 NPR 914

$5.12 NPR 781

16.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 NPR 344

$1.99 NPR 304

13.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 NPR 160

$0.54 NPR 81.8

94.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 NPR 184

$0.68 NPR 104

77.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 107

$0.39 NPR 59.5

79.49%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 73.6

$0.30 NPR 46.43

60.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 98.4

$0.53 NPR 80.2

20.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 81.3

$0.52 NPR 79.6

1.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.30

$0.18 NPR 27.45

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 NPR 440

$2.93 NPR 447

-1.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.85 NPR 435

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 NPR 348

$2.29 NPR 350

-0.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 NPR 487

$3.32 NPR 507

-3.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 32.28

$0.19 NPR 28.40

10.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 NPR 337

$2.22 NPR 338

-0.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 NPR 126

$0.81 NPR 124

1.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 NPR 549

$3.70 NPR 565

-2.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 NPR 189

$1.33 NPR 202

-6.77%

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

$32.5K NPR 5.0M

$31.7K NPR 4.8M

2.60%

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

$41.1K NPR 6.3M

$40.1K NPR 6.1M

2.64%

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

$26.27 NPR 4,009

$26.37 NPR 4,025

-0.38%

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

$4.85 NPR 741

$4.82 NPR 736

0.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.92 NPR 1,514

$11.52 NPR 1,759

-13.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.12 NPR 2,766

$12.86 NPR 1,962

40.90%

Cinema Ticket

$2.67 NPR 408

$2.83 NPR 432

-5.65%

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

$71.8 NPR 11.0K

$21.97 NPR 3,354

226.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,789 NPR 425.6K

$2,715 NPR 414.3K

2.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.61 NPR 3,756

$12.60 NPR 1,923

95.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.58 NPR 4,209

$27.37 NPR 4,177

0.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.64 NPR 6,814

$29.45 NPR 4,495

51.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.35 NPR 4,480

$33.13 NPR 5,057

-11.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$107 NPR 16.3K

$40.44 NPR 6,172

164.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.4 NPR 9,670

$20.36 NPR 3,107

211.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 NPR 31.8K

$87.5 NPR 13.3K

138.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 NPR 22.2K

$54.0 NPR 8,238

169.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$97.6 NPR 14.9K

$132 NPR 20.1K

-26.04%

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 Nepalgunj: July 27, 2026

Last update for Dharan: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $107 in Nepalgunj versus $40.44 in Dharan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 35% higher in Dharan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Nepalgunj versus $19.00 in Dharan. Groceries tell a different story – $131 in Nepalgunj vs $119 in Dharan – so Dharan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Dharan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nepalgunj costs about 20% more than Dharan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $597 per month in Nepalgunj and $498 in Dharan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dharan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Nepalgunj and $19.00 in Dharan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Nepalgunj, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $398 in Nepalgunj and $332 in Dharan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Dharan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dharan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nepalgunj makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.