🙂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: Tulsipur70% lower, Kathmandu64% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.87NPR 283
$1.80NPR 271
3.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.97NPR 2,861
$18.63NPR 2,810
1.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.73NPR 1,015
$6.52NPR 983
3.22%
Cappuccino
$1.48NPR 224
$1.93NPR 292
-23.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54NPR 82.0
$0.50NPR 76.0
8.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18NPR 27.67
$0.19NPR 28.72
-5.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.57NPR 388
$2.56NPR 385
0.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72NPR 561
$3.74NPR 565
-0.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.80NPR 121
$0.88NPR 133
-9.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.58NPR 87.8
$0.55NPR 83.1
5.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81NPR 122
$0.92NPR 139
-11.96%
Eggs
$1.66NPR 250
$1.83NPR 276
-9.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.47NPR 1,128
$9.04NPR 1,364
-17.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.22NPR 485
$3.14NPR 474
2.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.96NPR 899
$6.17NPR 931
-3.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27NPR 343
$2.21NPR 334
2.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10NPR 166
$1.05NPR 158
4.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24NPR 187
$1.19NPR 179
4.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64NPR 96.2
$0.70NPR 106
-8.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46NPR 68.7
$0.49NPR 73.2
-6.12%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64NPR 96.1
$0.68NPR 102
-5.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50NPR 75.0
$0.53NPR 80.1
-5.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27NPR 40.98
$0.27NPR 40.92
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92NPR 441
$2.88NPR 435
1.39%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$6.43NPR 971
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35NPR 354
$2.35NPR 354
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31NPR 500
$3.19NPR 481
3.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22NPR 33.23
$0.21NPR 31.67
4.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$10.77NPR 1,625
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.13NPR 322
$2.17NPR 327
-1.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82NPR 124
$1.11NPR 167
-26.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.73NPR 562
$3.66NPR 552
1.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26NPR 191
$1.26NPR 190
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KNPR 4.9M
$31.7KNPR 4.8M
1.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6KNPR 6.1M
$40.4KNPR 6.1M
0.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.85NPR 4,051
$32.45NPR 4,895
-17.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.93NPR 743
$5.02NPR 758
-1.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.81NPR 1,479
$9.58NPR 1,446
2.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.23NPR 2,750
$22.46NPR 3,389
-18.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.16NPR 1,080
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.67NPR 403
$3.23NPR 488
-17.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$71.7NPR 10.8K
$92.2NPR 13.9K
-22.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,709NPR 408.7K
$3,720NPR 561.1K
-27.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.58NPR 3,708
$24.58NPR 3,708
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.17NPR 4,249
$28.21NPR 4,256
-0.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$45.76NPR 6,903
$57.5NPR 8,667
-20.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.04NPR 4,381
$39.36NPR 5,937
-26.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$107NPR 16.1K
$195NPR 29.3K
-45.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$63.5NPR 9,576
$102NPR 15.4K
-38.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$209NPR 31.5K
$347NPR 52.3K
-39.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$144NPR 21.8K
$184NPR 27.8K
-21.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,349NPR 354.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,323NPR 199.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$237NPR 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.