Last update: Oct 2026 29.2M

Cost of Living in Nepal

Name: Nepal
Address: NP

Across Nepal, living costs for one person average $408 a month, including rent and utilities, which take less than a third of the total. Other living expenses average about $10 a day.

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🇳🇵 Nepal

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Nepal

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nepal actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends around $408 per month with rent on average in Nepal.

$408 /mo

A couple spends around $662 per month with rent on average in Nepal.

$662 /mo

A family of three spends around $917 per month with rent on average in Nepal.

$917 /mo

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.90 NPR 294

$0.94 NPR 146

$3.16 NPR 489

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.16 NPR 2,500

$9.69 NPR 1,500

$38.77 NPR 6,000

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.47 NPR 1,001

$5.18 NPR 802

$9.70 NPR 1,502

Cappuccino

$1.40 NPR 217

$0.66 NPR 101

$2.29 NPR 354

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

$0.50 NPR 77.5

$0.33 NPR 51.6

$1.01 NPR 157

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 NPR 23.84

$0.13 NPR 20.66

$0.20 NPR 30.19

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 NPR 345

$1.40 NPR 217

$3.87 NPR 600

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 NPR 511

$1.98 NPR 306

$5.28 NPR 817

Milk (1 liter)

$0.68 NPR 106

$0.53 NPR 82.1

$0.86 NPR 133

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 NPR 72.0

$0.25 NPR 39.02

$1.07 NPR 165

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 NPR 122

$0.47 NPR 72.0

$1.34 NPR 208

Eggs

$1.54 NPR 239

$1.11 NPR 171

$2.37 NPR 367

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.42 NPR 993

$2.87 NPR 444

$12.77 NPR 1,976

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 NPR 448

$1.93 NPR 298

$4.88 NPR 756

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.49 NPR 850

$2.65 NPR 409

$8.92 NPR 1,381

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 NPR 311

$1.28 NPR 198

$2.56 NPR 396

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 NPR 163

$0.66 NPR 103

$1.86 NPR 288

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 NPR 175

$0.57 NPR 88.1

$2.23 NPR 345

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 NPR 81.5

$0.25 NPR 39.23

$0.95 NPR 146

Potato (1kg)

$0.35 NPR 54.8

$0.18 NPR 28.16

$0.53 NPR 81.5

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 NPR 78.6

$0.31 NPR 47.43

$0.93 NPR 144

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 NPR 66.9

$0.16 NPR 25.47

$0.73 NPR 113

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 NPR 35.53

$0.15 NPR 23.68

$0.31 NPR 47.37

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 NPR 400

$1.94 NPR 300

$3.23 NPR 500

Wine (Bottle)

$6.93 NPR 1,073

$3.30 NPR 511

$16.51 NPR 2,555

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 NPR 357

$1.45 NPR 225

$3.50 NPR 541

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 NPR 460

$1.97 NPR 305

$4.60 NPR 712

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 NPR 29.26

$0.16 NPR 24.64

$0.32 NPR 49.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.98 NPR 1,544

$3.33 NPR 515

$16.63 NPR 2,574

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 NPR 247

$0.96 NPR 148

$1.92 NPR 297

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 NPR 164

$0.66 NPR 103

$1.65 NPR 256

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 NPR 508

$2.29 NPR 355

$5.25 NPR 813

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.20 NPR 186

$1.03 NPR 159

$1.39 NPR 215

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

$29.4K NPR 4.5M

$26.1K NPR 4.0M

$35.9K NPR 5.5M

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

$34.1K NPR 5.3M

$26.0K NPR 4.0M

$42.9K NPR 6.6M

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

$31.96 NPR 4,946

$15.97 NPR 2,471

$95.8 NPR 14.8K

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

$4.10 NPR 634

$2.30 NPR 356

$9.88 NPR 1,529

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.85 NPR 1,215

$5.30 NPR 820

$11.91 NPR 1,843

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.51 NPR 2,864

$6.58 NPR 1,018

$29.64 NPR 4,587

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 NPR 947

$3.23 NPR 501

$9.69 NPR 1,500

Cinema Ticket

$2.63 NPR 407

$1.97 NPR 306

$3.29 NPR 509

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

$50.4 NPR 7,803

$23.88 NPR 3,696

$129 NPR 20.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,298 NPR 510.4K

$1,146 NPR 177.4K

$11.5K NPR 1.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.17 NPR 3,276

$9.78 NPR 1,514

$45.65 NPR 7,065

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.59 NPR 4,270

$9.83 NPR 1,522

$45.90 NPR 7,103

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.48 NPR 6,883

$19.24 NPR 2,977

$96.2 NPR 14.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.23 NPR 3,905

$13.09 NPR 2,026

$39.28 NPR 6,079

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$134 NPR 20.7K

$52.5 NPR 8,122

$295 NPR 45.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.0 NPR 10.4K

$26.45 NPR 4,093

$132 NPR 20.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$284 NPR 44.0K

$131 NPR 20.2K

$555 NPR 85.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 NPR 23.3K

$76.4 NPR 11.8K

$255 NPR 39.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,136 NPR 330.5K

$991 NPR 153.4K

$3,303 NPR 511.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,172 NPR 181.3K

$495 NPR 76.6K

$2,310 NPR 357.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$205 NPR 31.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.47

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

Last update: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Nepal $408

Groceries & Markets

$132 32.3%

Eating Out

$72 17.5%

Accommodation & Living

$67 16.4%

Clothing & Footwear

$53 13%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$44 10.7%

Sport & Entertainment

$24 5.8%

Getting Around

$18 4.3%

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in Nepal is $200 – below average monthly costs of $408. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $93.0 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $12.00.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($408) is 70% below the global median of $1,340.

Average rent ($32.00) is 95% below the global median of $662.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($12.00) is 75% below the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($3.00) is 91% below the global median of $33.00.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

23:18 11:18 PM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

29,164,578

💱 Currency

Nepalese Rupee NPR रु

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 NPR = 6.46 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.77 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

By City in Nepal

Lowest

Highest

Rank	City	Population	Living Index	Solo costs (no rent) / month	Solo costs (with rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (no rent) / month	Family of 3 costs (with rent) / month	Mobile download speed (Mbps)	Internet download speed (Mbps)
1	Baglung	29360	18	$335	$374	$765	$802	48.13	38.33
2	Banepa	67629	16	$320	$318	$693	$721	207.6	97.11
3	Bhadrapur	19523	21	$231	$256	$631	$615	48.92	48.16
4	Bhaktapur	-	14	$268	$295	$660	$710	93.06	96.42
5	Bharatpur	369268	17	$261	$351	$623	$819	96.25	74.91
6	Bhimdatta	104444	20	$127	$250	$259	$480	113.95	48.3
7	Biratnagar	166674	15	$267	$324	$632	$724	291.76	100.53
8	Birendranagar	47914	20	$152	$151	$424	$415	71.99	61.88
9	Birgunj	135904	17	$283	$348	$694	$791	58.26	72.94
10	Birtamod	-	16	$239	$339	$604	$735	67.79	50.88
11	Butwal	195054	16	$300	$342	$713	$832	22.14	56.48
12	Dadeldhurā	19014	20					27.8	10.69
13	Dang	-	20	$89.8	$88.6	$195	$197	-	-
14	Dhangadhi	102000	20	$83.5	$83.4	$231	$227	241.58	53.07
15	Dharan	173096	17	$57.2	$56.9	$126	$122	95.11	105.35
16	Dhulikhel	16263	20					44.52	83.81
17	Gaighat	-	15	$265	$303	$654	$691	195.72	56.66
18	Gaur	27325	20					175.23	65.44
19	Hetauda	195951	17	$294	$344	$685	$757	214.48	85.91
20	Itahari	47984	18	$193	$226	$428	$573	45.98	58.54
21	Janakpur	195438	14	$259	$288	$610	$707	-	-
22	Kathmandu	975000	23	$343	$481	$832	$1,052	181.35	128.2
23	Kawasoti	-	16	$261	$330	$655	$747	19.7	82.03
24	Kirtipur	65602	17	$316	$352	$772	$806	120.42	106.49
25	Lalitpur	254000	22	$329	$458	$817	$1,191	121.16	113.88
26	Narayangarh, Chitwan	-	17	$299	$346	$763	$736	-	-
27	Nepalgunj	72503	20	$170	$167	$453	$395	248.03	56.97
28	Pokhara	500000	24	$342	$496	$804	$1,003	227.61	81.83
29	Siddharthanagar	63483	15	$274	$303	$606	$638	50.4	103.29
30	Tansen	23693	17	$316	$344	$758	$806	17.86	57.74
31	Tulsipur	39058	20	$23.67	$23.49	$59.4	$60.3	63.37	53.02
32	Waling	21867	16	$297	$329	$717	$746	218.13	50.54

Nepal Median Internet Speeds (Updated April 2026)

Mobile

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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.

Nepal is affordable by global standards, though costs vary a lot by region. Smaller cities and rural areas are genuinely cheap, while capitals and tourist spots are pricier – but still below international averages for similar quality.

Rent in Nepal varies a lot – Kathmandu has the highest prices, and the gap between capital and provincial rents can be 50% or more. Choosing which city to live in is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make.

Absolutely – in smaller cities across Nepal, $800 covers rent and daily expenses with room to spare for eating out, entertainment, and saving. Even mid-sized cities work at this budget level.