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: $419 in Waling versus $496 in Kathmandu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $691 in Waling versus $788 in Kathmandu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $963 in Waling versus $1,080 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 271

$1.77 NPR 270

0.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 NPR 2,861

$19.02 NPR 2,895

-1.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.41 NPR 976

$6.67 NPR 1,015

-3.90%

Cappuccino

$1.82 NPR 278

$1.83 NPR 278

-0.55%

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

$0.50 NPR 75.3

$0.50 NPR 76.4

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 NPR 24.83

$0.17 NPR 26.50

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 NPR 391

$2.56 NPR 389

0.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 NPR 564

$3.74 NPR 570

-0.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 NPR 124

$0.86 NPR 131

-4.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 NPR 79.8

$0.60 NPR 90.9

-13.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 NPR 142

$0.99 NPR 151

-6.06%

Eggs

$1.42 NPR 217

$1.77 NPR 269

-19.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.10 NPR 1,081

$9.10 NPR 1,384

-21.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.87 NPR 437

$3.11 NPR 473

-7.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.54 NPR 538

$6.26 NPR 953

-43.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 NPR 343

$2.18 NPR 332

3.21%

Banana (1kg)

$0.84 NPR 129

$1.10 NPR 168

-23.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 NPR 181

$1.23 NPR 187

-3.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 NPR 104

$0.65 NPR 98.5

4.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.42 NPR 63.3

$0.49 NPR 74.4

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 NPR 69.1

$0.72 NPR 110

-37.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.48 NPR 73.8

$0.53 NPR 80.4

-9.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.21 NPR 31.95

$0.25 NPR 37.71

-16.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 NPR 455

$2.89 NPR 439

3.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.30 NPR 807

$7.77 NPR 1,182

-31.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 NPR 345

$2.35 NPR 357

-3.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 NPR 498

$3.33 NPR 507

-1.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.17 NPR 26.16

$0.23 NPR 35.10

-26.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.80 NPR 1,644

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.17 NPR 330

$2.22 NPR 337

-2.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 NPR 159

$1.10 NPR 167

-4.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.70 NPR 564

$3.63 NPR 552

1.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 NPR 196

$1.23 NPR 188

4.88%

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

$32.1K NPR 4.9M

$32.0K NPR 4.9M

0.23%

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

$40.7K NPR 6.2M

$41.0K NPR 6.2M

-0.61%

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

$32.75 NPR 4,985

$33.55 NPR 5,106

-2.38%

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

$4.98 NPR 758

$5.01 NPR 763

-0.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.59 NPR 1,459

$9.37 NPR 1,426

2.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.26 NPR 2,779

$22.42 NPR 3,413

-18.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.26 NPR 1,105

Cinema Ticket

$3.36 NPR 511

$3.24 NPR 493

3.70%

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

$90.1 NPR 13.7K

$93.0 NPR 14.2K

-3.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,703 NPR 563.6K

$3,838 NPR 584.2K

-3.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.80 NPR 3,775

$24.41 NPR 3,715

1.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.20 NPR 4,292

$28.40 NPR 4,322

-0.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.6 NPR 9,068

$58.5 NPR 8,907

1.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.66 NPR 6,037

$39.72 NPR 6,046

-0.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$104 NPR 15.8K

$195 NPR 29.6K

-46.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.8 NPR 9,867

$100 NPR 15.2K

-35.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$206 NPR 31.4K

$346 NPR 52.7K

-40.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$143 NPR 21.7K

$188 NPR 28.7K

-24.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,047 NPR 159.3K

$2,312 NPR 351.9K

-54.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,291 NPR 196.5K

$1,354 NPR 206.1K

-4.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$275 NPR 41.8K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kathmandu: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $104 in Waling and $195 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 $129 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 18% 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 $628 in Waling and $744 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: $104 in Waling versus $195 in Kathmandu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Kathmandu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $419 per month in Waling versus $496 in Kathmandu – a 18% 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 18% less than in Kathmandu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.