Cost of Living in Nepal - Updated Prices & Insights

23.38

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $344 (excluding rent), and $447 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $812 (excluding rent), and $996 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.87 NPR 256

$1.12 NPR 153

$3.73 NPR 511

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.04 NPR 2,470

$10.82 NPR 1,482

$39.7 NPR 5,436

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 NPR 990

$5.79 NPR 793

$8.68 NPR 1,188

Cappuccino

$1.65 NPR 226

$0.74 NPR 102

$3.15 NPR 432

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

$0.48 NPR 66

$0.35 NPR 47.55

$0.84 NPR 115

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 NPR 22.88

$0.15 NPR 20.19

$0.29 NPR 39.03

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 NPR 307

$1.45 NPR 198

$4.34 NPR 594

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 NPR 457

$2.22 NPR 303

$5.18 NPR 710

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 NPR 98.8

$0.56 NPR 76.4

$0.98 NPR 134

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 NPR 64

$0.28 NPR 37.86

$0.76 NPR 104

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.9 NPR 123

$0.53 NPR 72.9

$1.52 NPR 209

Eggs

$1.56 NPR 213

$1.12 NPR 154

$2.58 NPR 354

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.53 NPR 1,032

$2.87 NPR 393

$15.8 NPR 2,163

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 NPR 426

$2.17 NPR 297

$5.07 NPR 694

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.78 NPR 791

$2.83 NPR 387

$10.64 NPR 1,457

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 NPR 312

$1.42 NPR 194

$2.98 NPR 409

Banana (1kg)

$1.03 NPR 141

$0.74 NPR 102

$1.64 NPR 224

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 NPR 156

$0.56 NPR 77.2

$2.05 NPR 281

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 NPR 83.4

$0.28 NPR 39

$1.07 NPR 147

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 NPR 59.4

$0.23 NPR 31.11

$0.75 NPR 103

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 NPR 84.2

$0.35 NPR 47.36

$1.05 NPR 143

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 NPR 60.2

$0.17 NPR 23.54

$0.76 NPR 105

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 33.93

$0.17 NPR 23.49

$0.34 NPR 46.98

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 NPR 387

$2.12 NPR 290

$3.53 NPR 484

Wine (Bottle)

$7.39 NPR 1,011

$3.69 NPR 506

$14.77 NPR 2,023

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 NPR 312

$1.45 NPR 198

$3.61 NPR 494

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 NPR 435

$1.77 NPR 242

$4.6 NPR 630

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 NPR 31.55

$0.19 NPR 25.81

$0.38 NPR 51.6

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.87 NPR 1,488

$3.62 NPR 496

$21.74 NPR 2,977

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.15 NPR 294

$1.07 NPR 147

$3.59 NPR 491

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 NPR 133

$0.35 NPR 48.43

$1.76 NPR 241

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.57 NPR 489

$2.14 NPR 293

$7.14 NPR 977

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 NPR 177

$1.2 NPR 164

$1.34 NPR 184

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

$33.1K NPR 4.5M

$25.7K NPR 3.5M

$34.9K NPR 4.8M

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

$41.2K NPR 5.6M

$33.1K NPR 4.5M

$51.6K NPR 7.1M

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

$33.99 NPR 4,654

$14.71 NPR 2,014

$73.6 NPR 10.1K

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

$4.8 NPR 658

$2.5 NPR 342

$7.14 NPR 977

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.38 NPR 1,284

$6.63 NPR 907

$13.26 NPR 1,816

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.15 NPR 2,623

$10.87 NPR 1,488

$36.23 NPR 4,961

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.2 NPR 987

$3.69 NPR 505

$11.07 NPR 1,515

Cinema Ticket

$3.18 NPR 435

$2.24 NPR 307

$4.5 NPR 616

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

$63.1 NPR 8,636

$25.16 NPR 3,445

$180 NPR 24.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,748 NPR 376.2K

$1,109 NPR 151.8K

$8,871 NPR 1.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.38 NPR 3,338

$11.09 NPR 1,518

$44.36 NPR 6,074

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.24 NPR 3,867

$10.72 NPR 1,468

$64.4 NPR 8,813

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.75 NPR 6,676

$21.93 NPR 3,003

$87.7 NPR 12K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.6 NPR 4,600

$14.61 NPR 2,001

$58.5 NPR 8,005

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$142 NPR 19.4K

$57.3 NPR 7,844

$286 NPR 39.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$77.5 NPR 10.6K

$29.49 NPR 4,039

$147 NPR 20.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$272 NPR 37.2K

$143 NPR 19.6K

$573 NPR 78.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 NPR 21.7K

$87.3 NPR 12K

$364 NPR 49.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,875 NPR 256.8K

$1,156 NPR 158.2K

$3,579 NPR 490K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,007 NPR 137.9K

$550 NPR 75.3K

$1,421 NPR 194.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$214 NPR 29.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.22

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

Cost of Living in Nepal - Frequently Asked Questions

Many find Nepal surprisingly affordable for daily life, especially outside the bustle of major tourist corridors. Fresh produce from markets, street food, and simple meals keep costs low, while guesthouses and long-term stays can offer excellent value away from city centers. Transportation remains wallet-friendly when you use local buses or scooters, while Western-style amenities in tourist pockets can raise costs. Cost of Living in Nepal can feel very favorable when you adopt a simple, locally sourced routine and negotiate longer-term housing. The trade-off is that pace, reliability, and access to Western comforts vary by region. Tip: Map out a few neighborhoods first and try a short stay to calibrate your budget.

Begin with a slow neighborhood scout: central tourist pockets in Kathmandu or Pokhara tend to be pricier than quieter residential wards or smaller towns. For housing, try guesthouses, homestays, or shared flats with monthly rates rather than nightly bookings, and confirm included utilities. Food options span from street stalls to family-run eateries; cooking at home drastically trims costs, while occasional splurges on a favorited cafe are doable with a plan. Transit is budget-friendly – local buses, tempo services, or bicycles – and getting errands done with a mobile SIM and offline maps helps. Nepal living cost varies by region, so plan how you move and where you shop. Tip: Plan a flexible schedule to accommodate local transport and market days.

Adopt a simple budgeting framework: allocate for housing, meals, transport, and activities with a 20–30% buffer for surprises. Seasonality matters: spring and autumn offer milder weather and better rates in many areas, while monsoon months bring travel delays but lush landscapes. Neighborhood fit depends on your work and social rhythm: a quieter suburb minimizes rental costs and noise, while a lively area offers easier social life and coworking. Build a local network for recommendations on markets, clinics, and safe routes. Tip: use seasonal price drops to lock in longer stays and negotiate monthly rents when possible.