Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepalgunj and Kathmandu

For one person, living is cheaper in Nepalgunj: $173 a month against $488 in Kathmandu, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

23

Cost of Living Index in Kathmandu
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Kathmandu Living Index

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Nepalgunj

🇳🇵 Nepal

$173

/mo nomad

Kathmandu

🇳🇵 Nepal

$488

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nepalgunj and in Kathmandu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nepalgunj and in Kathmandu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $173 in Nepalgunj versus $488 in Kathmandu.

Nepalgunj $173
Kathmandu $488

Estimated couple costs with rent: $289 in Nepalgunj versus $783 in Kathmandu.

Nepalgunj $289
Kathmandu $783

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $405 in Nepalgunj versus $1,077 in Kathmandu.

Nepalgunj $405
Kathmandu $1,077

Living in Nepalgunj costs roughly 65% less than in Kathmandu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nepalgunj 87% lower, Kathmandu 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.24 NPR 492

$1.92 NPR 291

68.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$7.91 NPR 1,201

$20.72 NPR 3,146

-61.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.68 NPR 1,015

$7.02 NPR 1,065

-4.84%

Cappuccino

$1.66 NPR 251

$1.56 NPR 236

6.41%

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

$0.55 NPR 84.0

$0.51 NPR 78.2

7.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 NPR 18.63

$0.14 NPR 20.87

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 NPR 340

$3.11 NPR 472

-27.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 NPR 494

$3.32 NPR 504

-1.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 NPR 96.0

$0.77 NPR 117

-18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 NPR 93.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.51 NPR 76.8

$0.92 NPR 139

-44.57%

Eggs

$0.78 NPR 118

$1.74 NPR 264

-55.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.51 NPR 1,141

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 NPR 471

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.99 NPR 909

Apples (1kg)

$1.94 NPR 295

$2.08 NPR 316

-6.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 98.2

$1.19 NPR 181

-45.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 NPR 104

$1.44 NPR 219

-52.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 105

$0.59 NPR 89.3

16.95%

Potato (1kg)

$0.18 NPR 27.00

$0.39 NPR 58.8

-53.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.27 NPR 41.43

$0.54 NPR 81.8

-50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 74.9

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 NPR 27.25

$0.22 NPR 33.20

-18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 NPR 373

Wine (Bottle)

$7.97 NPR 1,209

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 NPR 349

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 NPR 458

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 NPR 52.0

$0.17 NPR 26.26

100.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.75 NPR 1,481

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.79 NPR 272

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.16 NPR 176

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 NPR 505

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 NPR 210

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

$35.7K NPR 5.4M

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

$35.9K NPR 5.4M

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

$31.31 NPR 4,753

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

$3.58 NPR 544

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.30 NPR 1,411

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.14 NPR 1,539

$24.50 NPR 3,720

-58.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.97 NPR 1,059

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 NPR 403

$2.94 NPR 446

-9.52%

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

$66.9 NPR 10.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,521 NPR 838.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.58 NPR 2,973

$23.85 NPR 3,621

-17.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.84 NPR 3,923

$26.77 NPR 4,064

-3.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$13.22 NPR 2,007

$62.6 NPR 9,510

-78.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.68 NPR 2,987

$29.36 NPR 4,458

-32.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$217 NPR 32.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 NPR 15.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 NPR 65.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 NPR 30.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,336 NPR 354.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,330 NPR 201.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$99.0 NPR 15.0K

$268 NPR 40.6K

-63.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.98

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

Last update for Nepalgunj: October 25, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Nepalgunj

–

Kathmandu

$147 30.2%

Accommodation & Living

Nepalgunj

–

Kathmandu

$104 21.4%

Eating Out

Nepalgunj

–

Kathmandu

$80 16.4%

Clothing & Footwear

Nepalgunj

–

Kathmandu

$64 13.2%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Nepalgunj

–

Kathmandu

$44 9.1%

Sport & Entertainment

Nepalgunj

–

Kathmandu

$30 6.2%

Getting Around

Nepalgunj

–

Kathmandu

$18 3.7%

Cost Breakdown

Kathmandu pays about 2.7 times 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: $8 in Nepalgunj vs $21 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $34 vs $147 per month, with Nepalgunj cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇳🇵 Nepalgunj

🇳🇵 Kathmandu

🕒 Local time

18:09 6:09 PM

Same time as Nepalgunj

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

72,503

975,000 Capital

💱 Currency

Nepalese Rupee NPR रु

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 NPR = 6.59 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.9 EUR

1,000 NPR = 6.59 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.9 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Nepalgunj Kathmandu 370 km

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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 65% 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, salaries run 63% lower in Nepalgunj. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

All in, you’ll spend $173 per month in Nepalgunj versus $488 in Kathmandu – Nepalgunj is about 65% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.

Supermarket bills run roughly 327% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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.

It comes down to priorities – Nepalgunj wins on affordability, Kathmandu on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.