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: $396 in Nepalgunj versus $501 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $651 in Nepalgunj versus $782 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $906 in Nepalgunj versus $1,063 in Kathmandu.

Living in Nepalgunj costs roughly 21% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nepalgunj 71% lower, Kathmandu 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.77 NPR 263

$1.78 NPR 266

-0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.04 NPR 2,838

$19.20 NPR 2,862

-0.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 NPR 964

$6.65 NPR 991

-2.71%

Cappuccino

$1.49 NPR 222

$1.90 NPR 284

-21.58%

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

$0.54 NPR 80.7

$0.49 NPR 73.8

10.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 NPR 27.44

$0.15 NPR 22.74

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 NPR 396

$2.55 NPR 380

4.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 NPR 536

$3.62 NPR 540

-0.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 NPR 118

$0.89 NPR 132

-11.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 81.7

$0.54 NPR 80.8

1.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 NPR 115

$0.94 NPR 139

-18.09%

Eggs

$1.68 NPR 250

$1.77 NPR 264

-5.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.52 NPR 1,121

$9.22 NPR 1,375

-18.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 NPR 480

$3.12 NPR 465

3.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.11 NPR 911

$6.05 NPR 902

0.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 NPR 341

$2.18 NPR 326

5.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 NPR 155

$1.09 NPR 162

-4.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 NPR 178

$1.25 NPR 187

-4.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 103

$0.65 NPR 96.4

6.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 NPR 71.8

$0.49 NPR 72.8

-2.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.68 NPR 102

$0.72 NPR 107

-5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 NPR 74.5

$0.50 NPR 74.0

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 40.40

$0.25 NPR 36.92

8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.92 NPR 436

$2.85 NPR 425

2.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.66 NPR 993

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.26 NPR 337

$2.34 NPR 350

-3.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 NPR 478

$3.35 NPR 499

-4.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 NPR 25.62

$0.23 NPR 34.39

-26.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.79 NPR 1,608

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 NPR 323

$2.21 NPR 329

-2.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 NPR 114

$1.07 NPR 159

-28.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 NPR 534

$3.67 NPR 546

-2.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 NPR 183

$1.26 NPR 188

-2.38%

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

$32.4K NPR 4.8M

$31.7K NPR 4.7M

2.29%

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

$40.6K NPR 6.1M

$41.2K NPR 6.1M

-1.34%

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

$27.04 NPR 4,030

$32.83 NPR 4,894

-17.64%

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

$5.00 NPR 746

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.51 NPR 1,417

$9.86 NPR 1,469

-3.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.25 NPR 2,721

$21.99 NPR 3,277

-17.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.17 NPR 1,069

Cinema Ticket

$2.78 NPR 414

$3.32 NPR 494

-16.27%

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

$72.6 NPR 10.8K

$93.0 NPR 13.9K

-21.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,754 NPR 410.6K

$3,703 NPR 552.0K

-25.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.34 NPR 3,778

$24.62 NPR 3,670

2.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.90 NPR 4,159

$27.47 NPR 4,095

1.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.79 NPR 6,676

$58.3 NPR 8,688

-23.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.27 NPR 4,363

$40.32 NPR 6,010

-27.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$104 NPR 15.5K

$192 NPR 28.6K

-45.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.2 NPR 9,423

$99.7 NPR 14.9K

-36.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$209 NPR 31.2K

$347 NPR 51.8K

-39.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 NPR 21.5K

$189 NPR 28.2K

-23.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,382 NPR 355.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,359 NPR 202.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$101 NPR 15.1K

$241 NPR 36.0K

-58.01%

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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: April 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $104 in Nepalgunj and $192 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kathmandu pays 138% 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 in Nepalgunj vs $19 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $132 vs $152 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 26% 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 138% 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: $104 in Nepalgunj versus $192 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $396 per month in Nepalgunj versus $501 in Kathmandu – a 26% 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 26% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.