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: $397 in Tulsipur versus $497 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $663 in Tulsipur versus $791 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $930 in Tulsipur versus $1,084 in Kathmandu.

Living in Tulsipur costs roughly 20% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tulsipur 70% lower, Kathmandu 63% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78 NPR 272
$1.79 NPR 272
-0.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81 NPR 2,862
$18.80 NPR 2,861
0.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.51 NPR 990
$6.68 NPR 1,017
-2.54%
Cappuccino
$1.48 NPR 225
$1.92 NPR 292
-22.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 NPR 81.5
$0.50 NPR 75.9
8.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 NPR 23.33
$0.19 NPR 29.05
-21.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 NPR 388
$2.60 NPR 396
-1.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61 NPR 549
$3.72 NPR 566
-2.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.73 NPR 112
$0.89 NPR 136
-17.98%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 NPR 91.1
$0.55 NPR 83.8
9.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.76 NPR 116
$1.01 NPR 154
-24.75%
Eggs
$1.71 NPR 260
$1.79 NPR 272
-4.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.63 NPR 1,161
$9.18 NPR 1,397
-16.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.20 NPR 487
$3.26 NPR 496
-1.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.09 NPR 926
$6.23 NPR 949
-2.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 NPR 332
$2.20 NPR 335
-0.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 NPR 165
$1.09 NPR 166
-0.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.21 NPR 184
$1.24 NPR 189
-2.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 NPR 106
$0.64 NPR 97.9
9.37%
Potato (1kg)
$0.45 NPR 68.1
$0.48 NPR 72.4
-6.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.63 NPR 96.5
$0.72 NPR 109
-12.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50 NPR 76.0
$0.52 NPR 79.3
-3.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 NPR 41.46
$0.27 NPR 41.41
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96 NPR 451
$2.93 NPR 445
1.02%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.90 NPR 1,202
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28 NPR 347
$2.29 NPR 349
-0.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 NPR 495
$3.34 NPR 509
-2.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 NPR 29.46
$0.21 NPR 31.81
-9.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.00 NPR 1,674
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.14 NPR 325
$2.24 NPR 341
-4.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 NPR 126
$1.07 NPR 162
-22.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 NPR 561
$3.54 NPR 539
4.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 NPR 193
$1.27 NPR 193
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K NPR 4.9M
$31.4K NPR 4.8M
2.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1K NPR 6.1M
$40.5K NPR 6.2M
-1.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$26.66 NPR 4,057
$33.35 NPR 5,074
-20.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.84 NPR 736
$4.74 NPR 722
2.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.66 NPR 1,471
$9.57 NPR 1,457
0.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.50 NPR 2,814
$22.34 NPR 3,400
-17.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.19 NPR 1,095
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.69 NPR 409
$3.21 NPR 489
-16.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$73.3 NPR 11.2K
$92.3 NPR 14.0K
-20.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,775 NPR 422.2K
$3,802 NPR 578.6K
-27.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.25 NPR 3,842
$24.77 NPR 3,769
1.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.85 NPR 4,238
$28.44 NPR 4,328
-2.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.25 NPR 6,886
$57.4 NPR 8,734
-21.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.68 NPR 4,365
$39.43 NPR 6,000
-27.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$103 NPR 15.7K
$195 NPR 29.7K
-47.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$63.3 NPR 9,629
$99.1 NPR 15.1K
-36.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$210 NPR 32.0K
$346 NPR 52.6K
-39.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$146 NPR 22.2K
$184 NPR 28.0K
-20.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,286 NPR 347.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,329 NPR 202.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$278 NPR 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 Tulsipur: June 8, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $103 in Tulsipur and $195 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Tulsipur vs $19.00 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $132 vs $156 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 25% 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 $595 in Tulsipur 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 Tulsipur vs Kathmandu?
Rent for a central apartment: $103 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 18% 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 $397 per month in Tulsipur versus $497 in Kathmandu – a 25% 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 25% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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