Cost of Living Comparison Between Waling and Kathmandu Cost of Living Comparison Between Waling and Kathmandu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $324 in Waling versus $484 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $541 in Waling versus $773 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $757 in Waling versus $1,063 in Kathmandu.

Living in Waling costs roughly 33% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Waling 76% lower, Kathmandu 65% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 NPR 296

$1.94 NPR 294

0.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.39 NPR 3,085

$20.08 NPR 3,038

1.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.54 NPR 989

$6.74 NPR 1,020

-2.97%

Cappuccino

$1.60 NPR 242

$1.54 NPR 234

3.90%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 NPR 83.6

$0.56 NPR 84.4

-1.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 NPR 24.70

$0.15 NPR 23.03

6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.36 NPR 509

$3.23 NPR 489

4.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 NPR 560

$3.67 NPR 556

0.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 NPR 115

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 NPR 72.8

$0.63 NPR 95.2

-23.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 NPR 140

$0.86 NPR 130

8.14%

Eggs

$1.29 NPR 195

$1.69 NPR 256

-23.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.46 NPR 978

$7.26 NPR 1,098

-11.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.60 NPR 393

$3.40 NPR 515

-23.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.31 NPR 500

$5.21 NPR 788

-36.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.10 NPR 318

$2.07 NPR 313

1.45%

Banana (1kg)

$0.76 NPR 115

$1.15 NPR 174

-33.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 NPR 202

$1.41 NPR 213

-5.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.58 NPR 87.9

$0.57 NPR 86.7

1.75%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 NPR 56.9

$0.38 NPR 58.1

Onion (1kg)

$0.37 NPR 56.1

$0.52 NPR 78.0

-28.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 NPR 69.4

$0.49 NPR 74.6

-6.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 NPR 32.82

$0.25 NPR 37.98

-12.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.66 NPR 403

$2.70 NPR 408

-1.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.18 NPR 784

$7.94 NPR 1,201

-34.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 NPR 349

$2.23 NPR 337

3.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 NPR 445

$3.00 NPR 454

-2.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 NPR 29.44

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.11 NPR 1,529

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.99 NPR 301

$2.02 NPR 305

-1.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.28 NPR 194

$1.34 NPR 203

-4.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 NPR 487

$3.32 NPR 503

-3.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.39 NPR 210

$1.41 NPR 213

-1.42%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.5K NPR 4.5M

$29.4K NPR 4.5M

0.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$36.2K NPR 5.5M

$36.6K NPR 5.5M

-1.04%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$32.28 NPR 4,884

$31.68 NPR 4,793

1.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.31 NPR 501

$3.38 NPR 511

-2.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.78 NPR 1,178

$8.12 NPR 1,228

-4.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.51 NPR 3,406

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.01 NPR 1,060

Cinema Ticket

$3.03 NPR 458

$2.98 NPR 451

1.68%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$67.4 NPR 10.2K

$67.1 NPR 10.1K

0.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,826 NPR 730.1K

$4,824 NPR 729.7K

0.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.42 NPR 3,997

$26.37 NPR 3,990

0.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.16 NPR 4,260

$28.67 NPR 4,337

-1.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.2 NPR 10.0K

$65.9 NPR 9,967

0.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.65 NPR 4,485

$30.44 NPR 4,605

-2.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$221 NPR 33.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 NPR 15.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 NPR 66.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 NPR 30.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,080 NPR 163.4K

$2,289 NPR 346.3K

-52.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,254 NPR 189.7K

$1,332 NPR 201.5K

-5.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 NPR 41.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.72

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Waling: September 1, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $20.00 in Waling vs $20.00 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $121 vs $144 per month, with Waling 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

Waling vs Kathmandu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Waling wins on cost – living expenses run 49% lower than in Kathmandu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Waling the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $487 in Waling and $725 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $324 per month in Waling versus $484 in Kathmandu – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Waling gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Waling and Kathmandu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Waling gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.