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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $479 per month in Pokhara vs $393 in Nepalgunj, rent included.

A couple spends around $747 per month in Pokhara vs $665 in Nepalgunj, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,015 per month in Pokhara vs $937 in Nepalgunj, rent included.

Pokhara costs about 22% more than Nepalgunj, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Pokhara and Nepalgunj are more affordable than the global median – Pokhara 64% lower, Nepalgunj 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 NPR 272

$1.83 NPR 279

-2.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.31 NPR 2,178

$18.98 NPR 2,889

-24.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.46 NPR 983

$6.67 NPR 1,015

-3.15%

Cappuccino

$1.08 NPR 164

$1.56 NPR 238

-30.77%

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

$0.54 NPR 82.4

$0.54 NPR 82.1

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 NPR 24.32

$0.17 NPR 25.36

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.65 NPR 404

$2.57 NPR 390

3.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 NPR 565

$3.58 NPR 545

3.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.77 NPR 118

$0.73 NPR 112

5.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 NPR 89.6

$0.58 NPR 89.0

1.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 NPR 120

$0.82 NPR 125

-3.66%

Eggs

$1.63 NPR 249

$1.67 NPR 254

-2.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.71 NPR 1,022

$7.51 NPR 1,144

-10.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 NPR 478

$3.12 NPR 475

0.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.09 NPR 928

$6.21 NPR 945

-1.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 NPR 337

$2.27 NPR 346

-2.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 NPR 161

$1.09 NPR 166

-2.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.20 NPR 183

$1.19 NPR 182

0.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 105

$0.70 NPR 106

-1.43%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 NPR 64.8

$0.48 NPR 73.5

-10.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.72 NPR 109

$0.67 NPR 103

7.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 NPR 62.3

$0.49 NPR 74.1

-16.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.27 NPR 41.46

$0.27 NPR 41.44

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 NPR 452

$2.84 NPR 432

4.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.84 NPR 1,651

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 NPR 350

$2.37 NPR 361

-2.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 NPR 497

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 NPR 34.75

$0.20 NPR 29.91

15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.77 NPR 3,314

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.16 NPR 329

$2.19 NPR 333

-1.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.84 NPR 129

$0.83 NPR 126

1.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.71 NPR 565

$3.73 NPR 567

-0.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 NPR 186

$1.23 NPR 188

-0.81%

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

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

$31.5K NPR 4.8M

1.58%

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

$38.6K NPR 5.9M

$41.3K NPR 6.3M

-6.54%

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

$33.60 NPR 5,114

$26.82 NPR 4,082

25.28%

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

$4.86 NPR 740

$4.78 NPR 727

1.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.53 NPR 1,146

$9.50 NPR 1,446

-20.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.26 NPR 3,389

$18.44 NPR 2,806

20.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.08 NPR 1,382

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 NPR 405

$2.76 NPR 420

-3.62%

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

$54.7 NPR 8,330

$71.2 NPR 10.8K

-23.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,162 NPR 329.1K

$2,764 NPR 420.7K

-21.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.27 NPR 3,085

$24.38 NPR 3,710

-16.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.83 NPR 4,235

$27.57 NPR 4,196

0.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$39.93 NPR 6,078

$45.17 NPR 6,875

-11.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.39 NPR 5,235

$28.72 NPR 4,372

19.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$142 NPR 21.5K

$104 NPR 15.8K

36.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.8 NPR 14.4K

$64.0 NPR 9,740

48.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$265 NPR 40.3K

$203 NPR 30.8K

30.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 NPR 26.8K

$145 NPR 22.1K

21.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,857 NPR 282.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$629 NPR 95.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 NPR 27.6K

$98.3 NPR 15.0K

84.31%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Nepalgunj: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $142 in Pokhara versus $104 in Nepalgunj. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 84% 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 $14.00 in Pokhara versus $19.00 in Nepalgunj. Groceries tell a different story – $150 in Pokhara vs $132 in Nepalgunj – so Nepalgunj wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Nepalgunj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $479 in Pokhara, $393 in Nepalgunj – roughly 22% apart. Pokhara costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $719 per month in Pokhara and $590 in Nepalgunj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nepalgunj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Pokhara and $19.00 in Nepalgunj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Pokhara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $479 in Pokhara and $393 in Nepalgunj, 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 $393 in Nepalgunj to $479 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.