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: $414 in Waling versus $494 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $682 in Waling versus $789 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $949 in Waling versus $1,085 in Kathmandu.

Living in Waling costs roughly 16% less than in Kathmandu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Waling 69% lower, Kathmandu 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 NPR 273

$1.86 NPR 286

-4.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.58 NPR 2,853

$18.98 NPR 2,915

-2.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.53 NPR 1,003

$6.56 NPR 1,008

-0.46%

Cappuccino

$1.90 NPR 292

$1.84 NPR 282

3.26%

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

$0.51 NPR 77.6

$0.54 NPR 83.3

-5.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 NPR 27.73

$0.18 NPR 26.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 NPR 400

$2.66 NPR 409

-2.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 NPR 556

$3.54 NPR 544

2.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 NPR 133

$0.86 NPR 132

White Bread (500g)

$0.53 NPR 81.7

$0.54 NPR 83.6

-1.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 NPR 147

$1.01 NPR 155

-4.95%

Eggs

$1.50 NPR 230

$1.79 NPR 274

-16.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.15 NPR 1,098

$8.75 NPR 1,344

-18.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 NPR 434

$3.10 NPR 477

-8.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.57 NPR 549

$6.10 NPR 937

-41.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 NPR 350

$2.26 NPR 348

0.88%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 NPR 137

$1.04 NPR 159

-14.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.18 NPR 182

$1.25 NPR 193

-5.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.65 NPR 101

$0.70 NPR 108

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 NPR 59.8

$0.49 NPR 74.7

-20.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 NPR 69.5

$0.73 NPR 112

-38.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 NPR 75.5

$0.49 NPR 74.6

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 NPR 35.47

$0.27 NPR 41.92

-14.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 NPR 454

$2.84 NPR 436

4.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.20 NPR 798

$8.66 NPR 1,330

-39.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.30 NPR 353

$2.37 NPR 364

-2.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 NPR 501

$3.23 NPR 496

0.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 NPR 33.89

$0.23 NPR 35.47

-4.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.07 NPR 1,701

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.19 NPR 337

$2.23 NPR 343

-1.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 NPR 168

$1.07 NPR 164

1.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 NPR 549

$3.68 NPR 565

-2.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 NPR 189

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

$32.7K NPR 5.0M

$31.6K NPR 4.9M

3.35%

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

$40.1K NPR 6.2M

$40.6K NPR 6.2M

-1.28%

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

$33.66 NPR 5,171

$32.99 NPR 5,068

2.03%

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

$4.87 NPR 747

$4.73 NPR 727

2.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.40 NPR 1,444

$9.72 NPR 1,494

-3.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.35 NPR 2,818

$22.35 NPR 3,433

-17.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.18 NPR 1,103

Cinema Ticket

$3.20 NPR 492

$3.24 NPR 498

-1.23%

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

$91.5 NPR 14.0K

$89.5 NPR 13.8K

2.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,796 NPR 583.0K

$3,834 NPR 588.9K

-0.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.85 NPR 3,818

$24.49 NPR 3,762

1.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.35 NPR 4,354

$27.56 NPR 4,233

2.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 NPR 9,153

$58.3 NPR 8,953

2.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.02 NPR 6,148

$38.85 NPR 5,967

3.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$103 NPR 15.8K

$194 NPR 29.8K

-46.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.2 NPR 9,701

$100 NPR 15.4K

-37.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$210 NPR 32.3K

$342 NPR 52.5K

-38.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$144 NPR 22.1K

$188 NPR 28.9K

-23.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,059 NPR 162.7K

$2,271 NPR 348.8K

-53.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,272 NPR 195.4K

$1,322 NPR 203.0K

-3.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 NPR 42.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.08

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

Last update for Waling: July 14, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $103 in Waling and $194 in Kathmandu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Waling vs $19.00 in Kathmandu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $130 vs $155 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 19% 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 $621 in Waling and $741 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $103 in Waling versus $194 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

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 $414 per month in Waling versus $494 in Kathmandu – a 19% 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 19% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.