🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $311 in Siddharthanagar versus $498 in Kathmandu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $480 in Siddharthanagar versus $797 in Kathmandu.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $650 in Siddharthanagar versus $1,097 in Kathmandu.
🌍Living in Siddharthanagar costs roughly 38% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Siddharthanagar77% lower, Kathmandu64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98NPR 304
$1.94NPR 297
2.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.66NPR 1,482
$20.02NPR 3,072
-51.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.99NPR 1,226
$7.97NPR 1,223
0.25%
Cappuccino
$1.54NPR 237
$1.53NPR 234
0.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32NPR 48.45
$0.56NPR 86.2
-42.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17NPR 25.84
$0.14NPR 20.95
21.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.20NPR 491
$3.29NPR 505
-2.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81NPR 431
$3.58NPR 550
-21.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.51NPR 77.8
$0.76NPR 117
-32.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.27NPR 41.58
$0.58NPR 89.4
-53.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.41NPR 62.8
$0.90NPR 139
-54.44%
Eggs
$1.35NPR 207
$1.67NPR 256
-19.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.90NPR 751
$7.44NPR 1,141
-34.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.64NPR 406
$3.35NPR 514
-21.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$2.14NPR 328
$6.02NPR 923
-64.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.10NPR 322
$2.09NPR 321
0.48%
Banana(1kg)
$0.54NPR 82.8
$1.14NPR 175
-52.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.00NPR 153
$1.36NPR 208
-26.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47NPR 72.9
$0.56NPR 86.1
-16.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.27NPR 41.66
$0.42NPR 64.2
-35.71%
Onion(1kg)
$0.31NPR 48.24
$0.50NPR 76.4
-38.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49NPR 74.8
$0.45NPR 68.9
8.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23NPR 35.11
$0.23NPR 35.28
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.59NPR 398
$2.65NPR 407
-2.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.84NPR 1,202
$7.96NPR 1,220
-1.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.25NPR 345
$2.30NPR 352
-2.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04NPR 466
$3.02NPR 463
0.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.20NPR 31.01
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.67NPR 1,483
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.97NPR 302
$1.93NPR 296
2.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35NPR 206
$1.33NPR 204
1.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.30NPR 506
$3.23NPR 496
2.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40NPR 214
$1.37NPR 210
2.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7KNPR 4.6M
$29.1KNPR 4.5M
1.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9KNPR 5.5M
$36.8KNPR 5.6M
-2.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$31.90NPR 4,894
$31.27NPR 4,798
2.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.43NPR 526
$3.45NPR 530
-0.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.95NPR 1,219
$8.05NPR 1,235
-1.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$21.88NPR 3,356
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.99NPR 1,073
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.97NPR 455
$2.93NPR 450
1.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$66.7NPR 10.2K
$66.8NPR 10.2K
-0.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,715NPR 723.3K
$4,792NPR 735.2K
-1.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.57NPR 4,075
$26.66NPR 4,090
-0.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.11NPR 4,312
$28.20NPR 4,326
-0.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.0NPR 9,976
$64.9NPR 9,959
0.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.40NPR 4,510
$29.52NPR 4,529
-0.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$223NPR 34.2K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$101NPR 15.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$435NPR 66.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$205NPR 31.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,281NPR 350.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,342NPR 205.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Siddharthanagar
Kathmandu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$271NPR 41.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.72
9.72
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Siddharthanagar: September 12, 2026
Last update for Kathmandu: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $10.00 in Siddharthanagar vs $20.00 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $108 vs $147 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 60% 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 and in Kathmandu?
You'd need roughly $466 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Siddharthanagar or in 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 $311 per month in Siddharthanagar versus $498 in Kathmandu – a 60% 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 in 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 60% 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