🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $393 in Tulsipur versus $508 in Kathmandu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $650 in Tulsipur versus $787 in Kathmandu.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $907 in Tulsipur versus $1,067 in Kathmandu.
🌍Living in Tulsipur costs roughly 22% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tulsipur70% lower, Kathmandu62% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.84NPR 283
$1.79NPR 274
2.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.70NPR 2,865
$19.21NPR 2,943
-2.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.58NPR 1,008
$6.70NPR 1,026
-1.79%
Cappuccino
$1.48NPR 227
$1.92NPR 294
-22.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50NPR 76.7
$0.54NPR 83.4
-7.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15NPR 23.61
$0.19NPR 29.67
-21.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63NPR 403
$2.53NPR 387
3.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68NPR 564
$3.54NPR 542
3.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79NPR 121
$0.87NPR 133
-9.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55NPR 84.7
$0.58NPR 89.4
-5.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80NPR 123
$0.95NPR 145
-15.79%
Eggs
$1.71NPR 262
$1.84NPR 282
-7.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.62NPR 1,167
$9.22NPR 1,412
-17.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.20NPR 491
$3.10NPR 475
3.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.01NPR 921
$6.04NPR 925
-0.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21NPR 338
$2.27NPR 348
-2.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.05NPR 161
$1.08NPR 166
-2.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20NPR 184
$1.20NPR 184
-
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68NPR 104
$0.65NPR 99.3
4.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49NPR 74.6
$0.48NPR 73.2
2.08%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68NPR 105
$0.67NPR 103
1.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49NPR 75.4
$0.50NPR 75.8
-2.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27NPR 41.77
$0.27NPR 41.55
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.88NPR 441
$2.94NPR 450
-2.04%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$8.86NPR 1,357
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29NPR 351
$2.34NPR 359
-2.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36NPR 515
$3.27NPR 501
2.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19NPR 29.32
$0.21NPR 32.10
-9.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.03NPR 1,689
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.22NPR 340
$2.21NPR 339
0.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75NPR 116
$1.06NPR 163
-29.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.58NPR 548
$3.73NPR 571
-4.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27NPR 194
$1.24NPR 189
2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KNPR 4.9M
$31.4KNPR 4.8M
1.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.1KNPR 6.3M
$41.4KNPR 6.3M
-0.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$26.90NPR 4,120
$33.18NPR 5,083
-18.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.02NPR 769
$4.95NPR 759
1.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.69NPR 1,485
$9.65NPR 1,478
0.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.05NPR 2,765
$21.94NPR 3,362
-17.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.45NPR 1,142
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.74NPR 420
$3.21NPR 492
-14.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$73.4NPR 11.2K
$91.0NPR 13.9K
-19.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,710NPR 415.1K
$3,763NPR 576.5K
-27.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.85NPR 3,807
$24.49NPR 3,751
1.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.44NPR 4,203
$28.13NPR 4,309
-2.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.33NPR 7,098
$59.2NPR 9,066
-21.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$28.58NPR 4,378
$40.39NPR 6,187
-29.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$103NPR 15.8K
$198NPR 30.3K
-47.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$64.2NPR 9,829
$99.0NPR 15.2K
-35.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$210NPR 32.1K
$344NPR 52.7K
-39.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$143NPR 21.8K
$184NPR 28.1K
-22.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,331NPR 357.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,317NPR 201.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tulsipur
Kathmandu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$269NPR 41.2K
-
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Kathmandu: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $103 in Tulsipur and $198 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 $157 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 29% 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 and in Kathmandu?
You'd need roughly $590 in Tulsipur 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tulsipur compared to Kathmandu?
Rent for a central apartment: $103 in Tulsipur versus $198 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Tulsipur or in Kathmandu?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% 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 $393 per month in Tulsipur versus $508 in Kathmandu – a 29% 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 in 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 29% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.