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: $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: Tulsipur 70% lower, Kathmandu 62% lower.

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

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