🙂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: Tulsipur70% lower, Kathmandu63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78NPR 272
$1.79NPR 272
-0.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81NPR 2,862
$18.80NPR 2,861
0.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.51NPR 990
$6.68NPR 1,017
-2.54%
Cappuccino
$1.48NPR 225
$1.92NPR 292
-22.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54NPR 81.5
$0.50NPR 75.9
8.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15NPR 23.33
$0.19NPR 29.05
-21.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.55NPR 388
$2.60NPR 396
-1.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61NPR 549
$3.72NPR 566
-2.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.73NPR 112
$0.89NPR 136
-17.98%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60NPR 91.1
$0.55NPR 83.8
9.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.76NPR 116
$1.01NPR 154
-24.75%
Eggs
$1.71NPR 260
$1.79NPR 272
-4.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.63NPR 1,161
$9.18NPR 1,397
-16.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20NPR 487
$3.26NPR 496
-1.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.09NPR 926
$6.23NPR 949
-2.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18NPR 332
$2.20NPR 335
-0.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08NPR 165
$1.09NPR 166
-0.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.21NPR 184
$1.24NPR 189
-2.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.70NPR 106
$0.64NPR 97.9
9.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.45NPR 68.1
$0.48NPR 72.4
-6.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.63NPR 96.5
$0.72NPR 109
-12.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50NPR 76.0
$0.52NPR 79.3
-3.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27NPR 41.46
$0.27NPR 41.41
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96NPR 451
$2.93NPR 445
1.02%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.90NPR 1,202
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28NPR 347
$2.29NPR 349
-0.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25NPR 495
$3.34NPR 509
-2.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19NPR 29.46
$0.21NPR 31.81
-9.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.00NPR 1,674
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.14NPR 325
$2.24NPR 341
-4.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.83NPR 126
$1.07NPR 162
-22.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.69NPR 561
$3.54NPR 539
4.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27NPR 193
$1.27NPR 193
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KNPR 4.9M
$31.4KNPR 4.8M
2.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.1KNPR 6.1M
$40.5KNPR 6.2M
-1.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.66NPR 4,057
$33.35NPR 5,074
-20.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.84NPR 736
$4.74NPR 722
2.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.66NPR 1,471
$9.57NPR 1,457
0.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.50NPR 2,814
$22.34NPR 3,400
-17.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.19NPR 1,095
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.69NPR 409
$3.21NPR 489
-16.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$73.3NPR 11.2K
$92.3NPR 14.0K
-20.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,775NPR 422.2K
$3,802NPR 578.6K
-27.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.25NPR 3,842
$24.77NPR 3,769
1.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.85NPR 4,238
$28.44NPR 4,328
-2.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.25NPR 6,886
$57.4NPR 8,734
-21.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.68NPR 4,365
$39.43NPR 6,000
-27.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$103NPR 15.7K
$195NPR 29.7K
-47.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$63.3NPR 9,629
$99.1NPR 15.1K
-36.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$210NPR 32.0K
$346NPR 52.6K
-39.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$146NPR 22.2K
$184NPR 28.0K
-20.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,286NPR 347.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,329NPR 202.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$278NPR 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.