🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $457 in Setif versus $501 in Kathmandu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $772 in Setif versus $782 in Kathmandu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,087 in Setif versus $1,063 in Kathmandu.
🙂Living in Setif costs roughly 9% 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
$2.26DZD 298
$1.78NPR 266
26.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.94DZD 2,108
$19.20NPR 2,862
-16.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.92DZD 519
$6.65NPR 991
-41.05%
Cappuccino
$0.69DZD 91.5
$1.90NPR 284
-63.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61DZD 80.9
$0.49NPR 73.8
24.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23DZD 30.52
$0.15NPR 22.74
53.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.49DZD 197
$2.55NPR 380
-41.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12DZD 281
$3.62NPR 540
-41.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74DZD 98.1
$0.89NPR 132
-16.85%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14DZD 18.65
$0.54NPR 80.8
-74.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07DZD 142
$0.94NPR 139
13.83%
Eggs
$1.86DZD 246
$1.77NPR 264
5.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.51DZD 861
$9.22NPR 1,375
-29.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.22DZD 690
$3.12NPR 465
67.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.39DZD 1,904
$6.05NPR 902
137.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.81DZD 372
$2.18NPR 326
28.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81DZD 372
$1.09NPR 162
157.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50DZD 199
$1.25NPR 187
20.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.77DZD 101
$0.65NPR 96.4
18.46%
Potato(1kg)
$0.52DZD 69.0
$0.49NPR 72.8
6.12%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50DZD 65.8
$0.72NPR 107
-30.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45DZD 59.8
$0.50NPR 74.0
-10.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 39.86
$0.25NPR 36.92
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.67DZD 353
$2.85NPR 425
-6.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.60DZD 741
$6.66NPR 993
-15.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34DZD 178
$2.34NPR 350
-42.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05DZD 271
$3.35NPR 499
-38.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.15DZD 19.61
$0.23NPR 34.39
-34.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.67DZD 750
$10.79NPR 1,608
-47.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.66DZD 86.9
$2.21NPR 329
-70.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34DZD 44.38
$1.07NPR 159
-68.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.09DZD 674
$3.67NPR 546
38.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.34DZD 44.83
$1.26NPR 188
-73.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4KDZD 3.9M
$31.7KNPR 4.7M
-7.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KDZD 2.8M
$41.2KNPR 6.1M
-49.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.13DZD 5,045
$32.83NPR 4,894
16.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.22DZD 1,221
$5.00NPR 746
84.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.11DZD 1,735
$9.86NPR 1,469
32.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.06DZD 2,390
$21.99NPR 3,277
-17.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.73DZD 758
$7.17NPR 1,069
-20.08%
Cinema Ticket
$5.83DZD 771
$3.32NPR 494
75.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.6DZD 12.7K
$93.0NPR 13.9K
2.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,540DZD 468.4K
$3,703NPR 552.0K
-4.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.68DZD 3,266
$24.62NPR 3,670
0.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.71DZD 3,666
$27.47NPR 4,095
0.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.72DZD 5,917
$58.3NPR 8,688
-23.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.2DZD 7,441
$40.32NPR 6,010
39.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.6DZD 10.1K
$192NPR 28.6K
-60.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$56.5DZD 7,477
$99.7NPR 14.9K
-43.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$181DZD 24.0K
$347NPR 51.8K
-47.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$154DZD 20.3K
$189NPR 28.2K
-18.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$976DZD 129.2K
$2,382NPR 355.1K
-59.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$399DZD 52.9K
$1,359NPR 202.6K
-70.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Setif
Kathmandu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$311DZD 41.1K
$241NPR 36.0K
28.79%
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: April 13, 2026
Last update for Kathmandu: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $77 in Setif and $192 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Setif pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $16 in Setif vs $19 in Kathmandu. Groceries flip the comparison at $180 vs $152, 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 10% 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 29% 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: $76.6 in Setif versus $192 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 $501 in Kathmandu – a 10% 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 10% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.