Cost of Living Comparison Between Tulsipur and Kathmandu Cost of Living Comparison Between Tulsipur and Kathmandu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Tulsipur versus $489 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $661 in Tulsipur versus $778 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $916 in Tulsipur versus $1,067 in Kathmandu.

Living in Tulsipur costs roughly 17% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.87 NPR 283
$1.80 NPR 271
3.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.97 NPR 2,861
$18.63 NPR 2,810
1.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.73 NPR 1,015
$6.52 NPR 983
3.22%
Cappuccino
$1.48 NPR 224
$1.93 NPR 292
-23.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 NPR 82.0
$0.50 NPR 76.0
8.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 NPR 27.67
$0.19 NPR 28.72
-5.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.57 NPR 388
$2.56 NPR 385
0.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 NPR 561
$3.74 NPR 565
-0.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.80 NPR 121
$0.88 NPR 133
-9.09%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 NPR 87.8
$0.55 NPR 83.1
5.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 NPR 122
$0.92 NPR 139
-11.96%
Eggs
$1.66 NPR 250
$1.83 NPR 276
-9.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.47 NPR 1,128
$9.04 NPR 1,364
-17.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.22 NPR 485
$3.14 NPR 474
2.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.96 NPR 899
$6.17 NPR 931
-3.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 NPR 343
$2.21 NPR 334
2.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 NPR 166
$1.05 NPR 158
4.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.24 NPR 187
$1.19 NPR 179
4.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.64 NPR 96.2
$0.70 NPR 106
-8.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.46 NPR 68.7
$0.49 NPR 73.2
-6.12%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 NPR 96.1
$0.68 NPR 102
-5.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50 NPR 75.0
$0.53 NPR 80.1
-5.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 NPR 40.98
$0.27 NPR 40.92
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 NPR 441
$2.88 NPR 435
1.39%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.43 NPR 971
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 NPR 354
$2.35 NPR 354
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 NPR 500
$3.19 NPR 481
3.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 NPR 33.23
$0.21 NPR 31.67
4.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$10.77 NPR 1,625
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 NPR 322
$2.17 NPR 327
-1.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 NPR 124
$1.11 NPR 167
-26.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.73 NPR 562
$3.66 NPR 552
1.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 NPR 191
$1.26 NPR 190
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K NPR 4.9M
$31.7K NPR 4.8M
1.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6K NPR 6.1M
$40.4K NPR 6.1M
0.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$26.85 NPR 4,051
$32.45 NPR 4,895
-17.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.93 NPR 743
$5.02 NPR 758
-1.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.81 NPR 1,479
$9.58 NPR 1,446
2.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.23 NPR 2,750
$22.46 NPR 3,389
-18.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.16 NPR 1,080
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.67 NPR 403
$3.23 NPR 488
-17.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$71.7 NPR 10.8K
$92.2 NPR 13.9K
-22.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,709 NPR 408.7K
$3,720 NPR 561.1K
-27.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.58 NPR 3,708
$24.58 NPR 3,708
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.17 NPR 4,249
$28.21 NPR 4,256
-0.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.76 NPR 6,903
$57.5 NPR 8,667
-20.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.04 NPR 4,381
$39.36 NPR 5,937
-26.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$107 NPR 16.1K
$195 NPR 29.3K
-45.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$63.5 NPR 9,576
$102 NPR 15.4K
-38.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$209 NPR 31.5K
$347 NPR 52.3K
-39.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$144 NPR 21.8K
$184 NPR 27.8K
-21.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,349 NPR 354.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,323 NPR 199.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$237 NPR 35.8K
-
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 Tulsipur: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $107 in Tulsipur and $195 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19 in Tulsipur vs $19 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $133 vs $151 per month, with Tulsipur 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
Tulsipur vs Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tulsipur or Kathmandu?
Tulsipur wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tulsipur the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tulsipur vs Kathmandu?
You'd need roughly $609 in Tulsipur 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tulsipur vs Kathmandu?
Rent for a central apartment: $107 in Tulsipur versus $195 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tulsipur or Kathmandu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% 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 Tulsipur compared to Kathmandu?
All in, you'll spend $406 per month in Tulsipur versus $489 in Kathmandu – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Tulsipur or Kathmandu?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Tulsipur 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: Tulsipur 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 Tulsipur gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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