Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepalgunj and Pokhara Cost of Living Comparison Between Nepalgunj and Pokhara

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $171 per month in Nepalgunj vs $492 in Pokhara, rent included.

A couple spends around $285 per month in Nepalgunj vs $751 in Pokhara, rent included.

A family of three spends $398 per month in Nepalgunj vs $1,010 in Pokhara, rent included.

Nepalgunj is about 65% cheaper than Pokhara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Nepalgunj and Pokhara are more affordable than the global median – Nepalgunj 88% lower, Pokhara 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.35 NPR 507

$3.24 NPR 489

3.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.10 NPR 1,225

$13.00 NPR 1,966

-37.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.46 NPR 977

$6.76 NPR 1,023

-4.44%

Cappuccino

$1.66 NPR 251

$0.97 NPR 147

71.13%

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

$0.52 NPR 78.5

$0.49 NPR 74.8

6.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 NPR 20.22

$0.13 NPR 20.30

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 NPR 356

$2.54 NPR 384

-7.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 NPR 511

$3.27 NPR 494

3.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.63 NPR 95.8

$0.75 NPR 114

-16.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 NPR 94.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.54 NPR 81.7

$0.70 NPR 106

-22.86%

Eggs

$0.81 NPR 123

$1.52 NPR 230

-46.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 NPR 914

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 NPR 452

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.64 NPR 852

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 NPR 306

$2.53 NPR 383

-19.76%

Banana (1kg)

$0.64 NPR 97.1

$1.26 NPR 190

-49.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 NPR 102

$1.25 NPR 189

-45.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 NPR 95.0

$0.69 NPR 104

-8.70%

Potato (1kg)

$0.20 NPR 30.05

$0.38 NPR 56.9

-47.37%

Onion (1kg)

$0.25 NPR 37.47

$0.84 NPR 127

-70.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 NPR 55.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 NPR 27.23

$0.29 NPR 44.40

-37.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.70 NPR 408

Wine (Bottle)

$10.73 NPR 1,623

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 NPR 368

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 NPR 554

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 NPR 51.9

$0.20 NPR 30.24

70.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.11 NPR 3,041

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.63 NPR 246

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 NPR 122

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 NPR 404

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 NPR 182

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

$33.0K NPR 5.0M

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

$34.5K NPR 5.2M

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

$66.5 NPR 10.1K

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

$5.33 NPR 806

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.87 NPR 1,039

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.73 NPR 1,472

$19.49 NPR 2,948

-50.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.36 NPR 1,264

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 NPR 403

$2.42 NPR 367

9.92%

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

$48.13 NPR 7,279

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,953 NPR 295.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.85 NPR 3,002

$18.30 NPR 2,767

8.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.69 NPR 4,036

$37.85 NPR 5,725

-29.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$12.94 NPR 1,958

$35.43 NPR 5,359

-63.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$20.06 NPR 3,034

$30.64 NPR 4,634

-34.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$128 NPR 19.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$84.4 NPR 12.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 NPR 36.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 NPR 23.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,846 NPR 279.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$619 NPR 93.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$98.3 NPR 14.9K

$179 NPR 27.1K

-45.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.5

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

Last update for Nepalgunj: August 29, 2026

Last update for Pokhara: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 82% higher in Pokhara, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $8.00 in Nepalgunj versus $13.00 in Pokhara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $35.00 vs $150 – making Nepalgunj the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Pokhara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $171 in Nepalgunj, $492 in Pokhara – roughly 188% apart. Pokhara costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $257 per month in Nepalgunj and $738 in Pokhara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $8.00 in Nepalgunj and $13.00 in Pokhara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $171 in Nepalgunj and $492 in Pokhara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $171 in Nepalgunj and $492 in Pokhara, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Pokhara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $171 in Nepalgunj to $492 in Pokhara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Nepalgunj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pokhara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.