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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $393 per month in Nepalgunj vs $329 in Dharan, rent included.

A couple spends around $653 per month in Nepalgunj vs $559 in Dharan, rent included.

A family of three spends $914 per month in Nepalgunj vs $788 in Dharan, rent included.

Nepalgunj costs about 19% more than Dharan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nepalgunj and Dharan are more affordable than the global median – Nepalgunj 71% lower, Dharan 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.77 NPR 268

$2.14 NPR 324

-17.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.55 NPR 2,807

$19.03 NPR 2,879

-2.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.66 NPR 1,008

$6.66 NPR 1,007

Cappuccino

$1.54 NPR 233

$1.77 NPR 267

-12.99%

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

$0.51 NPR 76.6

$0.35 NPR 53.1

45.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 NPR 22.65

$0.13 NPR 19.45

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 NPR 394

$2.64 NPR 399

-1.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.54 NPR 535

$3.58 NPR 542

-1.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 NPR 113

$0.66 NPR 101

13.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 NPR 84.7

$0.37 NPR 56.3

51.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 NPR 118

$0.76 NPR 115

2.63%

Eggs

$1.66 NPR 251

$1.50 NPR 227

10.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.50 NPR 1,135

$7.33 NPR 1,109

2.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 NPR 487

$2.99 NPR 452

7.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.25 NPR 945

$5.07 NPR 767

23.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.20 NPR 332

$2.04 NPR 309

7.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 NPR 166

$0.54 NPR 81.1

103.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 NPR 190

$0.63 NPR 96.0

98.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 NPR 103

$0.41 NPR 62.8

65.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 NPR 69.0

$0.30 NPR 45.46

53.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.63 NPR 95.5

$0.53 NPR 80.9

18.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 79.6

$0.50 NPR 75.3

6.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.40

$0.23 NPR 34.44

8.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.83 NPR 429

$2.94 NPR 445

-3.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.01 NPR 455

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 NPR 344

$2.30 NPR 348

-1.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 NPR 498

$3.32 NPR 502

-0.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 NPR 32.96

$0.23 NPR 34.54

-4.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 NPR 338

$2.13 NPR 323

4.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.77 NPR 117

$0.78 NPR 118

-1.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 NPR 540

$3.70 NPR 560

-3.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 NPR 184

$1.38 NPR 209

-12.32%

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

$31.5K NPR 4.8M

$31.7K NPR 4.8M

-0.76%

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

$41.0K NPR 6.2M

$40.6K NPR 6.1M

0.94%

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

$26.22 NPR 3,968

$26.15 NPR 3,957

0.27%

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

$4.83 NPR 730

$4.98 NPR 753

-3.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.77 NPR 1,479

$11.71 NPR 1,772

-16.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.00 NPR 2,723

$12.81 NPR 1,938

40.52%

Cinema Ticket

$2.80 NPR 424

$2.85 NPR 431

-1.75%

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

$73.9 NPR 11.2K

$21.99 NPR 3,328

236.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,696 NPR 407.9K

$2,709 NPR 409.9K

-0.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.29 NPR 3,827

$12.98 NPR 1,964

94.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.14 NPR 4,258

$27.60 NPR 4,175

1.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.73 NPR 6,768

$29.57 NPR 4,474

51.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.28 NPR 4,279

$33.19 NPR 5,021

-14.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$105 NPR 15.8K

$39.47 NPR 5,972

165.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.2 NPR 9,713

$20.35 NPR 3,078

215.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$210 NPR 31.8K

$88.1 NPR 13.3K

138.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 NPR 21.5K

$53.9 NPR 8,161

163.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$99.1 NPR 15.0K

$182 NPR 27.5K

-45.53%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Dharan: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $105 in Nepalgunj versus $39.47 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 84% 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 – $132 in Nepalgunj vs $120 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 19% 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 $589 per month in Nepalgunj and $494 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 9% 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 $393 in Nepalgunj and $329 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.