Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepalgunj and Kathmandu Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepalgunj and Kathmandu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $402 in Nepalgunj versus $497 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $668 in Nepalgunj versus $791 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $935 in Nepalgunj versus $1,084 in Kathmandu.

Living in Nepalgunj costs roughly 19% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nepalgunj 70% lower, Kathmandu 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.77 NPR 269

$1.79 NPR 272

-1.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.12 NPR 2,910

$18.80 NPR 2,861

1.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.38 NPR 971

$6.68 NPR 1,017

-4.49%

Cappuccino

$1.54 NPR 235

$1.92 NPR 292

-19.79%

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

$0.50 NPR 75.7

$0.50 NPR 75.9

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 NPR 23.11

$0.19 NPR 29.05

-21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 NPR 405

$2.60 NPR 396

2.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 NPR 543

$3.72 NPR 566

-4.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 NPR 114

$0.89 NPR 136

-15.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 83.4

$0.55 NPR 83.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 NPR 118

$1.01 NPR 154

-22.77%

Eggs

$1.65 NPR 252

$1.79 NPR 272

-7.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.58 NPR 1,153

$9.18 NPR 1,397

-17.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.09 NPR 471

$3.26 NPR 496

-5.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.15 NPR 936

$6.23 NPR 949

-1.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 NPR 342

$2.20 NPR 335

2.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 NPR 165

$1.09 NPR 166

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 NPR 181

$1.24 NPR 189

-4.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 98.6

$0.64 NPR 97.9

1.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.45 NPR 68.1

$0.48 NPR 72.4

-6.25%

Onion (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 98.4

$0.72 NPR 109

-9.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 74.3

$0.52 NPR 79.3

-5.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.37

$0.27 NPR 41.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 NPR 435

$2.93 NPR 445

-2.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 NPR 1,202

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 NPR 346

$2.29 NPR 349

-0.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 NPR 513

$3.34 NPR 509

0.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 NPR 26.93

$0.21 NPR 31.81

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.00 NPR 1,674

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 NPR 327

$2.24 NPR 341

-4.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 NPR 125

$1.07 NPR 162

-23.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.56 NPR 542

$3.54 NPR 539

0.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 NPR 186

$1.27 NPR 193

-3.94%

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

$32.2K NPR 4.9M

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

2.52%

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

$40.4K NPR 6.1M

$40.5K NPR 6.2M

-0.29%

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

$26.06 NPR 3,965

$33.35 NPR 5,074

-21.86%

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

$5.01 NPR 762

$4.74 NPR 722

5.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.92 NPR 1,509

$9.57 NPR 1,457

3.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.30 NPR 2,785

$22.34 NPR 3,400

-18.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.19 NPR 1,095

Cinema Ticket

$2.69 NPR 410

$3.21 NPR 489

-16.20%

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

$71.9 NPR 10.9K

$92.3 NPR 14.0K

-22.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,748 NPR 418.1K

$3,802 NPR 578.6K

-27.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.56 NPR 3,737

$24.77 NPR 3,769

-0.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.29 NPR 4,153

$28.44 NPR 4,328

-4.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.32 NPR 6,896

$57.4 NPR 8,734

-21.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.71 NPR 4,369

$39.43 NPR 6,000

-27.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$103 NPR 15.7K

$195 NPR 29.7K

-47.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.1 NPR 9,757

$99.1 NPR 15.1K

-35.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 NPR 31.0K

$346 NPR 52.6K

-41.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 NPR 22.2K

$184 NPR 28.0K

-20.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,286 NPR 347.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,329 NPR 202.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$97.2 NPR 14.8K

$278 NPR 42.4K

-65.09%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $103 in Nepalgunj and $195 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kathmandu pays 186% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Nepalgunj vs $19.00 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $131 vs $156 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 Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Nepalgunj wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nepalgunj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Kathmandu earns 186% less. 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: $103 in Nepalgunj versus $195 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $402 per month in Nepalgunj versus $497 in Kathmandu – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Nepalgunj 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 Nepalgunj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.