🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $457 in Setif versus $495 in Kathmandu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $772 in Setif versus $789 in Kathmandu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,086 in Setif versus $1,083 in Kathmandu.
🙂Living in Setif costs roughly 8% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Setif66% lower, Kathmandu63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28DZD 303
$1.87NPR 283
21.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.36DZD 2,170
$19.02NPR 2,878
-13.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.00DZD 531
$6.56NPR 993
-39.02%
Cappuccino
$0.64DZD 84.6
$1.82NPR 276
-64.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56DZD 74.4
$0.54NPR 81.6
3.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23DZD 30.60
$0.17NPR 25.60
35.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.43DZD 189
$2.63NPR 398
-45.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14DZD 284
$3.68NPR 557
-41.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73DZD 97.2
$0.81NPR 122
-9.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.17DZD 22.05
$0.55NPR 83.3
-69.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07DZD 143
$0.98NPR 148
9.18%
Eggs
$1.79DZD 238
$1.79NPR 271
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.67DZD 885
$9.02NPR 1,365
-26.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.34DZD 708
$3.22NPR 487
65.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.54DZD 1,929
$6.09NPR 921
138.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77DZD 367
$2.28NPR 345
21.49%
Banana(1kg)
$2.93DZD 388
$1.10NPR 166
166.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44DZD 191
$1.25NPR 190
15.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.77DZD 102
$0.64NPR 97.1
20.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56DZD 74.1
$0.52NPR 79.3
7.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49DZD 65.4
$0.67NPR 102
-26.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49DZD 65.1
$0.49NPR 74.1
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 39.84
$0.25NPR 37.69
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.73DZD 362
$2.93NPR 444
-6.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.55DZD 736
$7.71NPR 1,167
-28.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29DZD 171
$2.29NPR 346
-43.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11DZD 279
$3.33NPR 503
-36.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15DZD 20.41
$0.23NPR 34.93
-34.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.66DZD 751
$10.72NPR 1,622
-47.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.67DZD 88.2
$2.21NPR 335
-69.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33DZD 44.29
$1.10NPR 167
-70.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.01DZD 664
$3.67NPR 556
36.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.33DZD 44.21
$1.28NPR 193
-74.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1KDZD 3.9M
$31.6KNPR 4.8M
-8.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6KDZD 2.7M
$39.9KNPR 6.0M
-48.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.44DZD 5,231
$32.60NPR 4,932
20.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.40DZD 1,247
$5.00NPR 756
88.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.36DZD 1,772
$9.76NPR 1,477
36.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.95DZD 2,380
$22.54NPR 3,411
-20.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.77DZD 765
$7.20NPR 1,089
-19.86%
Cinema Ticket
$5.77DZD 765
$3.30NPR 500
74.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.5DZD 12.4K
$89.6NPR 13.6K
4.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,612DZD 478.9K
$3,831NPR 579.7K
-5.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.56DZD 3,256
$24.39NPR 3,690
0.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.24DZD 3,612
$28.03NPR 4,241
-2.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$43.59DZD 5,780
$58.5NPR 8,846
-25.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.7DZD 7,381
$40.36NPR 6,107
37.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$74.3DZD 9,858
$194NPR 29.4K
-61.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$56.4DZD 7,478
$103NPR 15.5K
-45.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$177DZD 23.4K
$336NPR 50.9K
-47.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$154DZD 20.4K
$187NPR 28.2K
-17.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$955DZD 126.6K
$2,336NPR 353.4K
-59.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$389DZD 51.5K
$1,334NPR 201.9K
-70.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$307DZD 40.6K
$279NPR 42.2K
9.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.42
12.08
-55.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Setif: June 16, 2026
Last update for Kathmandu: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $74.3 in Setif and $194 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Setif pays 10% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Setif vs $19.00 in Kathmandu. Groceries flip the comparison at $182 vs $154, with Kathmandu cheaper for home cooking.
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
Setif vs Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Setif or Kathmandu?
Setif wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Setif the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Setif or Kathmandu?
Setif pays 10% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Setif vs Kathmandu?
Rent for a central apartment: $74.3 in Setif versus $194 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Setif vs Kathmandu?
Dining out is cheaper in Setif – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $19.00 in Kathmandu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Setif compared to Kathmandu?
All in, you'll spend $457 per month in Setif versus $495 in Kathmandu – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Setif or Kathmandu?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Setif gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Setif or Kathmandu?
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.
How safe is Setif compared to Kathmandu?
Safety-wise, Setif 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Setif gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.