Cost of Living Comparison Between Siddharthanagar and Kathmandu Cost of Living Comparison Between Siddharthanagar and Kathmandu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $396 in Siddharthanagar versus $489 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $622 in Siddharthanagar versus $778 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $849 in Siddharthanagar versus $1,067 in Kathmandu.

Living in Siddharthanagar costs roughly 19% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Siddharthanagar 70% lower, Kathmandu 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 NPR 271

$1.80 NPR 272

-0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.11 NPR 1,682

$18.63 NPR 2,820

-40.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.60 NPR 998

$6.52 NPR 987

1.23%

Cappuccino

$1.84 NPR 278

$1.93 NPR 293

-4.66%

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

$0.34 NPR 52.2

$0.50 NPR 76.2

-32.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 NPR 21.99

$0.19 NPR 28.82

-21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 NPR 383

$2.56 NPR 387

-1.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 NPR 454

$3.74 NPR 567

-19.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.41 NPR 61.8

$0.88 NPR 133

-53.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 NPR 45.66

$0.55 NPR 83.4

-45.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.41 NPR 62.3

$0.92 NPR 140

-55.43%

Eggs

$1.65 NPR 250

$1.83 NPR 276

-9.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.48 NPR 830

$9.04 NPR 1,369

-39.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 NPR 447

$3.14 NPR 476

-6.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.39 NPR 361

$6.17 NPR 935

-61.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 NPR 335

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 NPR 104

$1.05 NPR 159

-35.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 NPR 170

$1.19 NPR 180

-5.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.42 NPR 63.3

$0.70 NPR 106

-40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.17 NPR 26.49

$0.49 NPR 73.5

-65.31%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 NPR 69.6

$0.68 NPR 102

-32.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 NPR 79.6

$0.53 NPR 80.4

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 37.95

$0.27 NPR 41.06

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.37 NPR 207

$2.88 NPR 436

-52.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.64 NPR 1,006

$6.43 NPR 974

3.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.33 NPR 352

$2.35 NPR 356

-0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 NPR 492

$3.19 NPR 482

1.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.18 NPR 27.38

$0.21 NPR 31.79

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.77 NPR 1,631

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 NPR 338

$2.17 NPR 328

2.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 NPR 159

$1.11 NPR 167

-5.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.62 NPR 549

$3.66 NPR 554

-1.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 NPR 186

$1.26 NPR 191

-2.38%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.9K NPR 4.8M

$31.7K NPR 4.8M

0.52%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$41.4K NPR 6.3M

$40.4K NPR 6.1M

2.31%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$33.09 NPR 5,010

$32.45 NPR 4,912

1.97%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.77 NPR 722

$5.02 NPR 760

-4.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.56 NPR 1,448

$9.58 NPR 1,451

-0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.01 NPR 2,727

$22.46 NPR 3,401

-19.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.16 NPR 1,084

Cinema Ticket

$3.25 NPR 492

$3.23 NPR 490

0.62%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$90.5 NPR 13.7K

$92.2 NPR 14.0K

-1.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,794 NPR 574.3K

$3,720 NPR 563.1K

1.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.13 NPR 3,804

$24.58 NPR 3,722

2.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.60 NPR 4,179

$28.21 NPR 4,271

-2.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.8 NPR 8,751

$57.5 NPR 8,698

0.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.20 NPR 5,935

$39.36 NPR 5,958

-0.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 NPR 16.1K

$195 NPR 29.5K

-45.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.7 NPR 9,787

$102 NPR 15.5K

-36.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$205 NPR 31.1K

$347 NPR 52.5K

-40.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 NPR 22.3K

$184 NPR 27.9K

-20.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,349 NPR 355.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,323 NPR 200.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$237 NPR 36.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Siddharthanagar: April 28, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: April 27, 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 $113 vs $151 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

Siddharthanagar wins on cost – living expenses run 24% 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.

You'd need roughly $593 in Siddharthanagar and $733 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.

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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $396 per month in Siddharthanagar versus $489 in Kathmandu – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Siddharthanagar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.