🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $411 in Siddharthanagar versus $497 in Kathmandu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $646 in Siddharthanagar versus $791 in Kathmandu.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $881 in Siddharthanagar versus $1,084 in Kathmandu.
🙂Living in Siddharthanagar costs roughly 17% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Siddharthanagar69% lower, Kathmandu63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.80NPR 274
$1.79NPR 272
0.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.13NPR 1,694
$18.80NPR 2,861
-40.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.57NPR 1,000
$6.68NPR 1,017
-1.65%
Cappuccino
$1.84NPR 280
$1.92NPR 292
-4.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35NPR 53.3
$0.50NPR 75.9
-30.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15NPR 22.08
$0.19NPR 29.05
-21.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.54NPR 387
$2.60NPR 396
-2.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00NPR 456
$3.72NPR 566
-19.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.43NPR 65.9
$0.89NPR 136
-51.69%
White Bread(500g)
$0.30NPR 46.05
$0.55NPR 83.8
-45.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.42NPR 63.6
$1.01NPR 154
-58.42%
Eggs
$1.57NPR 240
$1.79NPR 272
-12.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.65NPR 860
$9.18NPR 1,397
-38.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.06NPR 466
$3.26NPR 496
-6.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.27NPR 345
$6.23NPR 949
-63.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18NPR 331
$2.20NPR 335
-0.91%
Banana(1kg)
$0.67NPR 102
$1.09NPR 166
-38.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.07NPR 163
$1.24NPR 189
-13.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.38NPR 58.6
$0.64NPR 97.9
-40.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.20NPR 30.21
$0.48NPR 72.4
-58.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.45NPR 69.1
$0.72NPR 109
-37.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50NPR 75.7
$0.52NPR 79.3
-3.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25NPR 38.10
$0.27NPR 41.41
-7.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.41NPR 215
$2.93NPR 445
-51.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90NPR 1,202
$7.90NPR 1,202
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26NPR 343
$2.29NPR 349
-1.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35NPR 510
$3.34NPR 509
0.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20NPR 30.45
$0.21NPR 31.81
-4.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.00NPR 1,674
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.15NPR 328
$2.24NPR 341
-4.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10NPR 168
$1.07NPR 162
2.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.73NPR 568
$3.54NPR 539
5.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23NPR 186
$1.27NPR 193
-3.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.1KNPR 4.9M
$31.4KNPR 4.8M
2.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3KNPR 6.1M
$40.5KNPR 6.2M
-0.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.31NPR 5,070
$33.35NPR 5,074
-0.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.87NPR 741
$4.74NPR 722
2.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.74NPR 1,482
$9.57NPR 1,457
1.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.44NPR 2,806
$22.34NPR 3,400
-17.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.19NPR 1,095
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.26NPR 496
$3.21NPR 489
1.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.4NPR 14.1K
$92.3NPR 14.0K
0.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,713NPR 565.0K
$3,802NPR 578.6K
-2.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.39NPR 3,712
$24.77NPR 3,769
-1.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.76NPR 4,224
$28.44NPR 4,328
-2.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.8NPR 8,953
$57.4NPR 8,734
2.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.80NPR 6,056
$39.43NPR 6,000
0.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$106NPR 16.1K
$195NPR 29.7K
-45.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$63.8NPR 9,706
$99.1NPR 15.1K
-35.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$208NPR 31.6K
$346NPR 52.6K
-39.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$148NPR 22.5K
$184NPR 28.0K
-19.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,286NPR 347.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,329NPR 202.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$278NPR 42.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.08
12.08
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Siddharthanagar: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kathmandu: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $106 in Siddharthanagar and $195 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Siddharthanagar vs $19.00 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $116 vs $156 per month, with Siddharthanagar 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
Siddharthanagar vs Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Siddharthanagar or Kathmandu?
Siddharthanagar wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Siddharthanagar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Siddharthanagar vs Kathmandu?
You'd need roughly $616 in Siddharthanagar and $746 in Kathmandu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Siddharthanagar vs Kathmandu?
Rent for a central apartment: $106 in Siddharthanagar versus $195 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Siddharthanagar or Kathmandu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Siddharthanagar compared to Kathmandu?
All in, you'll spend $411 per month in Siddharthanagar versus $497 in Kathmandu – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Siddharthanagar or Kathmandu?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Siddharthanagar 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: Siddharthanagar 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Siddharthanagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Siddharthanagar vs other spots: cost of living compared