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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Pokhara costs about 188% more than Nepalgunj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.24 NPR 489

$3.35 NPR 507

-3.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.00 NPR 1,966

$8.10 NPR 1,225

60.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.76 NPR 1,023

$6.46 NPR 977

4.64%

Cappuccino

$0.97 NPR 147

$1.66 NPR 251

-41.57%

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

$0.49 NPR 74.8

$0.52 NPR 78.5

-5.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 NPR 20.30

$0.13 NPR 20.22

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.54 NPR 384

$2.35 NPR 356

8.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 NPR 494

$3.38 NPR 511

-3.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.75 NPR 114

$0.63 NPR 95.8

19.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 NPR 94.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 NPR 106

$0.54 NPR 81.7

29.63%

Eggs

$1.52 NPR 230

$0.81 NPR 123

87.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 NPR 914

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 NPR 452

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.64 NPR 852

Apples (1kg)

$2.53 NPR 383

$2.03 NPR 306

24.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 NPR 190

$0.64 NPR 97.1

96.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 NPR 189

$0.68 NPR 102

83.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 NPR 104

$0.63 NPR 95.0

9.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 NPR 56.9

$0.20 NPR 30.05

90.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.84 NPR 127

$0.25 NPR 37.47

236.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.37 NPR 55.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 NPR 44.40

$0.18 NPR 27.23

61.11%

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)

$0.20 NPR 30.24

$0.34 NPR 51.9

-41.18%

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)

$19.49 NPR 2,948

$9.73 NPR 1,472

100.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.36 NPR 1,264

Cinema Ticket

$2.42 NPR 367

$2.66 NPR 403

-9.02%

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)

$18.30 NPR 2,767

$19.85 NPR 3,002

-7.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.85 NPR 5,725

$26.69 NPR 4,036

41.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.43 NPR 5,359

$12.94 NPR 1,958

173.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$30.64 NPR 4,634

$20.06 NPR 3,034

52.74%

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)

$179 NPR 27.1K

$98.3 NPR 14.9K

82.44%

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 Pokhara: August 31, 2026

Last update for Nepalgunj: August 29, 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 $13.00 in Pokhara versus $8.00 in Nepalgunj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $150 vs $35.00 – 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

Pokhara vs Nepalgunj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $492 in Pokhara and $171 in Nepalgunj. 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 $492 in Pokhara and $171 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 $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.