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: $398 in Nepalgunj versus $508 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $666 in Nepalgunj versus $787 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $935 in Nepalgunj versus $1,067 in Kathmandu.

Living in Nepalgunj costs roughly 22% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nepalgunj 70% lower, Kathmandu 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.83 NPR 280

$1.79 NPR 273

2.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.77 NPR 2,864

$19.21 NPR 2,932

-2.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 NPR 1,025

$6.70 NPR 1,022

0.15%

Cappuccino

$1.53 NPR 234

$1.92 NPR 293

-20.31%

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

$0.50 NPR 76.9

$0.54 NPR 83.1

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 NPR 28.80

$0.19 NPR 29.56

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 NPR 406

$2.53 NPR 386

5.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 NPR 543

$3.54 NPR 540

0.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 NPR 114

$0.87 NPR 133

-13.79%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 83.9

$0.58 NPR 89.1

-5.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 NPR 125

$0.95 NPR 145

-13.68%

Eggs

$1.71 NPR 260

$1.84 NPR 281

-7.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.52 NPR 1,148

$9.22 NPR 1,407

-18.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 NPR 475

$3.10 NPR 473

0.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.99 NPR 914

$6.04 NPR 921

-0.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 NPR 344

$2.27 NPR 346

-0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 NPR 160

$1.08 NPR 166

-2.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 NPR 184

$1.20 NPR 183

0.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 107

$0.65 NPR 98.9

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 73.6

$0.48 NPR 72.9

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 98.4

$0.67 NPR 102

-4.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 81.3

$0.50 NPR 75.6

6.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.30

$0.27 NPR 41.40

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 NPR 440

$2.94 NPR 448

-2.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.86 NPR 1,352

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 NPR 348

$2.34 NPR 357

-2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 NPR 487

$3.27 NPR 499

-2.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 32.28

$0.21 NPR 31.98

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.03 NPR 1,683

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 NPR 337

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 NPR 126

$1.06 NPR 162

-22.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 NPR 549

$3.73 NPR 569

-3.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 NPR 189

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

$32.5K NPR 5.0M

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

3.47%

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

$41.1K NPR 6.3M

$41.4K NPR 6.3M

-0.58%

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

$26.27 NPR 4,009

$33.18 NPR 5,064

-20.83%

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

$4.85 NPR 741

$4.95 NPR 756

-2.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.92 NPR 1,514

$9.65 NPR 1,473

2.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.12 NPR 2,766

$21.94 NPR 3,349

-17.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.45 NPR 1,137

Cinema Ticket

$2.67 NPR 408

$3.21 NPR 491

-16.82%

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

$71.8 NPR 11.0K

$91.0 NPR 13.9K

-21.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,789 NPR 425.6K

$3,763 NPR 574.3K

-25.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.61 NPR 3,756

$24.49 NPR 3,737

0.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.58 NPR 4,209

$28.13 NPR 4,293

-1.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.64 NPR 6,814

$59.2 NPR 9,033

-24.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.35 NPR 4,480

$40.39 NPR 6,164

-27.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$107 NPR 16.3K

$198 NPR 30.2K

-45.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.4 NPR 9,670

$99.0 NPR 15.1K

-35.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 NPR 31.8K

$344 NPR 52.5K

-39.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 NPR 22.2K

$184 NPR 28.0K

-20.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,331 NPR 355.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,317 NPR 201.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$97.6 NPR 14.9K

$269 NPR 41.1K

-63.72%

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 Kathmandu: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $107 in Nepalgunj and $198 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kathmandu pays 176% 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 $157 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 27% 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 176% lower in Kathmandu. 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 $198 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $398 per month in Nepalgunj versus $508 in Kathmandu – a 27% 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 27% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.