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: $402 in Siddharthanagar versus $508 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $641 in Siddharthanagar versus $787 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $881 in Siddharthanagar versus $1,067 in Kathmandu.

Living in Siddharthanagar costs roughly 21% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Siddharthanagar 70% lower, Kathmandu 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.84 NPR 282

$1.79 NPR 274

2.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.94 NPR 1,675

$19.21 NPR 2,941

-43.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.62 NPR 1,014

$6.70 NPR 1,026

-1.19%

Cappuccino

$1.84 NPR 282

$1.92 NPR 294

-4.17%

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

$0.35 NPR 52.9

$0.54 NPR 83.3

-35.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 NPR 26.60

$0.19 NPR 29.65

-10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.61 NPR 400

$2.53 NPR 387

3.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 NPR 475

$3.54 NPR 542

-12.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.44 NPR 67.3

$0.87 NPR 133

-49.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.30 NPR 46.29

$0.58 NPR 89.4

-48.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.42 NPR 63.8

$0.95 NPR 145

-55.79%

Eggs

$1.65 NPR 253

$1.84 NPR 282

-10.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.56 NPR 852

$9.22 NPR 1,411

-39.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.10 NPR 475

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.37 NPR 363

$6.04 NPR 924

-60.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 NPR 346

$2.27 NPR 347

-0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$0.68 NPR 105

$1.08 NPR 166

-37.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 NPR 164

$1.20 NPR 183

-10.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.39 NPR 59.5

$0.65 NPR 99.2

-40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.19 NPR 29.66

$0.48 NPR 73.2

-60.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 NPR 69.5

$0.67 NPR 102

-32.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 74.7

$0.50 NPR 75.8

-2.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 38.54

$0.27 NPR 41.54

-7.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 NPR 208

$2.94 NPR 450

-53.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.57 NPR 1,312

$8.86 NPR 1,356

-3.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 NPR 360

$2.34 NPR 359

0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 NPR 498

$3.27 NPR 500

-0.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 NPR 33.26

$0.21 NPR 32.09

4.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.03 NPR 1,689

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.13 NPR 327

$2.21 NPR 338

-3.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 NPR 162

$1.06 NPR 163

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 NPR 541

$3.73 NPR 571

-5.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 NPR 193

$1.24 NPR 189

1.61%

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

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

$31.4K NPR 4.8M

1.94%

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

$41.3K NPR 6.3M

$41.4K NPR 6.3M

-0.21%

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

$33.47 NPR 5,125

$33.18 NPR 5,080

0.87%

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

$4.90 NPR 750

$4.95 NPR 759

-1.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.52 NPR 1,458

$9.65 NPR 1,478

-1.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.36 NPR 2,811

$21.94 NPR 3,360

-16.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.45 NPR 1,141

Cinema Ticket

$3.31 NPR 507

$3.21 NPR 492

3.12%

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

$92.1 NPR 14.1K

$91.0 NPR 13.9K

1.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,738 NPR 572.4K

$3,763 NPR 576.2K

-0.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.13 NPR 3,847

$24.49 NPR 3,750

2.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.34 NPR 4,339

$28.13 NPR 4,307

0.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.3 NPR 8,770

$59.2 NPR 9,062

-3.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.45 NPR 6,041

$40.39 NPR 6,184

-2.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$107 NPR 16.3K

$198 NPR 30.3K

-46.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$62.8 NPR 9,612

$99.0 NPR 15.2K

-36.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$204 NPR 31.2K

$344 NPR 52.7K

-40.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 NPR 22.1K

$184 NPR 28.1K

-21.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,331 NPR 356.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,317 NPR 201.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 NPR 41.2K

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $107 in Siddharthanagar and $198 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 $118 vs $157 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 26% 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 $603 in Siddharthanagar and $761 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: $107 in Siddharthanagar versus $198 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $402 per month in Siddharthanagar versus $508 in Kathmandu – a 26% 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 26% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.