Cost of Living Comparison Between Pokhara and Kathmandu Cost of Living Comparison Between Pokhara and Kathmandu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $477 in Pokhara versus $508 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $747 in Pokhara versus $787 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,017 in Pokhara versus $1,067 in Kathmandu.

Living in Pokhara costs roughly 6% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pokhara 64% lower, Kathmandu 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 NPR 273

$1.79 NPR 274

-0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.29 NPR 2,190

$19.21 NPR 2,943

-25.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 NPR 986

$6.70 NPR 1,026

-3.88%

Cappuccino

$1.04 NPR 159

$1.92 NPR 294

-45.83%

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

$0.50 NPR 76.4

$0.54 NPR 83.4

-7.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 NPR 25.25

$0.19 NPR 29.67

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 NPR 387

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.55 NPR 543

$3.54 NPR 542

0.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 NPR 119

$0.87 NPR 133

-11.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 NPR 84.9

$0.58 NPR 89.4

-5.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 NPR 122

$0.95 NPR 145

-15.79%

Eggs

$1.67 NPR 256

$1.84 NPR 282

-9.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 NPR 974

$9.22 NPR 1,412

-31.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 NPR 478

$3.10 NPR 475

0.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.19 NPR 948

$6.04 NPR 925

2.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 NPR 350

$2.27 NPR 348

0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 NPR 160

$1.08 NPR 166

-3.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 NPR 185

$1.20 NPR 184

0.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 106

$0.65 NPR 99.3

6.15%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 NPR 65.7

$0.48 NPR 73.2

-10.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.67 NPR 102

$0.67 NPR 103

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 NPR 61.8

$0.50 NPR 75.8

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 38.24

$0.27 NPR 41.55

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 NPR 442

$2.94 NPR 450

-1.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.56 NPR 1,618

$8.86 NPR 1,357

19.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 NPR 360

$2.34 NPR 359

0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 NPR 491

$3.27 NPR 501

-1.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 NPR 38.45

$0.21 NPR 32.10

19.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.99 NPR 3,369

$11.03 NPR 1,689

99.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.20 NPR 338

$2.21 NPR 339

-0.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 NPR 125

$1.06 NPR 163

-22.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 NPR 551

$3.73 NPR 571

-3.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 NPR 189

$1.24 NPR 189

-0.81%

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

$32.5K NPR 5.0M

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

3.42%

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

$38.4K NPR 5.9M

$41.4K NPR 6.3M

-7.16%

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

$32.79 NPR 5,023

$33.18 NPR 5,083

-1.18%

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

$4.99 NPR 764

$4.95 NPR 759

0.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.57 NPR 1,160

$9.65 NPR 1,478

-21.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.15 NPR 3,393

$21.94 NPR 3,362

0.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.21 NPR 1,411

$7.45 NPR 1,142

23.62%

Cinema Ticket

$2.76 NPR 423

$3.21 NPR 492

-14.02%

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

$52.7 NPR 8,067

$91.0 NPR 13.9K

-42.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,161 NPR 331.1K

$3,763 NPR 576.5K

-42.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.28 NPR 3,107

$24.49 NPR 3,751

-17.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.00 NPR 4,289

$28.13 NPR 4,309

-0.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.77 NPR 6,245

$59.2 NPR 9,066

-31.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.16 NPR 5,234

$40.39 NPR 6,187

-15.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 NPR 21.4K

$198 NPR 30.3K

-29.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$93.4 NPR 14.3K

$99.0 NPR 15.2K

-5.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 NPR 40.3K

$344 NPR 52.7K

-23.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 NPR 26.9K

$184 NPR 28.1K

-4.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,797 NPR 275.3K

$2,331 NPR 357.0K

-22.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$616 NPR 94.4K

$1,317 NPR 201.7K

-53.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$176 NPR 27.0K

$269 NPR 41.2K

-34.41%

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 Pokhara: July 26, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $140 in Pokhara and $198 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kathmandu pays 52% 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: $14.00 in Pokhara vs $19.00 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $149 vs $157 per month, with Pokhara 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

Pokhara vs Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pokhara wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pokhara the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 52% 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: $140 in Pokhara versus $198 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Pokhara – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $19.00 in Kathmandu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $477 per month in Pokhara versus $508 in Kathmandu – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Pokhara gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Pokhara delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $477 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pokhara hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Pokhara and Kathmandu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pokhara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.