Last update: Oct 2026 29.2M

Cost of Living in Nepal

Name: Nepal
Address: NP

Across Nepal, living costs for one person average $409 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 $409 per month with rent on average in Nepal.

$409 /mo

A couple spends around $666 per month with rent on average in Nepal.

$666 /mo

A family of three spends around $923 per month with rent on average in Nepal.

$923 /mo

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 NPR 296

$0.97 NPR 148

$3.24 NPR 492

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.58 NPR 2,519

$9.94 NPR 1,511

$39.78 NPR 6,044

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.35 NPR 965

$5.07 NPR 771

$9.52 NPR 1,446

Cappuccino

$1.37 NPR 209

$0.64 NPR 96.8

$2.24 NPR 340

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

$0.46 NPR 69.4

$0.31 NPR 47.74

$0.93 NPR 142

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 NPR 22.59

$0.13 NPR 19.58

$0.20 NPR 30.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.23 NPR 339

$1.41 NPR 214

$3.89 NPR 591

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 NPR 482

$1.91 NPR 290

$5.08 NPR 771

Milk (1 liter)

$0.64 NPR 97.7

$0.50 NPR 75.8

$0.82 NPR 124

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 NPR 75.4

$0.27 NPR 40.86

$1.15 NPR 174

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 NPR 121

$0.48 NPR 73.0

$1.37 NPR 208

Eggs

$1.51 NPR 229

$1.08 NPR 165

$2.31 NPR 352

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 NPR 1,003

$2.96 NPR 449

$13.13 NPR 1,994

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.91 NPR 443

$1.94 NPR 295

$4.91 NPR 747

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 NPR 830

$2.59 NPR 393

$8.73 NPR 1,327

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 NPR 305

$1.28 NPR 195

$2.56 NPR 389

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 NPR 161

$0.67 NPR 102

$1.88 NPR 286

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 NPR 170

$0.57 NPR 87.2

$2.22 NPR 337

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 NPR 79.9

$0.25 NPR 38.48

$0.95 NPR 145

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 NPR 58.6

$0.21 NPR 31.65

$0.57 NPR 87.0

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 NPR 78.5

$0.32 NPR 48.86

$0.96 NPR 145

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 NPR 66.9

$0.17 NPR 25.50

$0.76 NPR 115

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 38.20

$0.17 NPR 25.47

$0.35 NPR 52.5

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.68 NPR 407

$2.01 NPR 306

$3.35 NPR 509

Wine (Bottle)

$6.71 NPR 1,019

$3.19 NPR 485

$15.98 NPR 2,428

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 NPR 356

$1.48 NPR 225

$3.56 NPR 541

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 NPR 436

$1.95 NPR 296

$4.54 NPR 689

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 NPR 32.33

$0.17 NPR 25.86

$0.35 NPR 53.3

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.83 NPR 1,493

$3.27 NPR 497

$16.38 NPR 2,489

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.65 NPR 251

$0.99 NPR 151

$1.98 NPR 301

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 NPR 154

$0.64 NPR 96.5

$1.59 NPR 242

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 NPR 482

$2.22 NPR 337

$5.08 NPR 772

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 NPR 182

$1.02 NPR 155

$1.39 NPR 211

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

$29.3K NPR 4.4M

$26.0K NPR 4.0M

$35.7K NPR 5.4M

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

$34.9K NPR 5.3M

$26.6K NPR 4.0M

$43.9K NPR 6.7M

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

$33.01 NPR 5,016

$16.50 NPR 2,507

$99.0 NPR 15.0K

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

$4.00 NPR 608

$2.25 NPR 341

$9.64 NPR 1,465

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.77 NPR 1,181

$5.24 NPR 797

$11.80 NPR 1,793

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.57 NPR 2,822

$6.61 NPR 1,005

$29.75 NPR 4,520

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 NPR 963

$3.34 NPR 508

$10.04 NPR 1,525

Cinema Ticket

$2.54 NPR 385

$1.90 NPR 289

$3.17 NPR 481

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

$51.9 NPR 7,892

$24.60 NPR 3,738

$133 NPR 20.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,403 NPR 517.1K

$1,183 NPR 179.7K

$11.8K NPR 1.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.14 NPR 3,212

$9.77 NPR 1,484

$45.59 NPR 6,927

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.67 NPR 4,204

$9.86 NPR 1,498

$46.02 NPR 6,992

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.85 NPR 6,815

$19.40 NPR 2,948

$97.0 NPR 14.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.83 NPR 3,773

$12.88 NPR 1,957

$38.65 NPR 5,872

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$131 NPR 19.9K

$51.6 NPR 7,837

$290 NPR 44.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$66.0 NPR 10.0K

$26.03 NPR 3,954

$130 NPR 19.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$279 NPR 42.4K

$128 NPR 19.5K

$544 NPR 82.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 NPR 23.2K

$77.6 NPR 11.8K

$259 NPR 39.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,144 NPR 325.7K

$995 NPR 151.1K

$3,315 NPR 503.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,172 NPR 178.1K

$495 NPR 75.2K

$2,311 NPR 351.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$208 NPR 31.6K

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 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Nepal $409

Groceries & Markets

$133 32.5%

Eating Out

$71 17.4%

Accommodation & Living

$66 16.1%

Clothing & Footwear

$53 13%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$45 11%

Sport & Entertainment

$24 5.8%

Getting Around

$17 4.3%

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in Nepal is $202 – below average monthly costs of $409. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $95.0 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $13.00.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($409) is 70% below the global median of $1,350.

Average rent ($32.00) is 95% below the global median of $652.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($13.00) is 73% below the global median of $48.00.

Public transport ($3.00) is 91% below the global median of $34.00.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

15:18 3:18 PM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

29,164,578

💱 Currency

Nepalese Rupee NPR रु

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 NPR = 6.58 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.85 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	$343	$374	$767	$799	48.13	38.33
2	Banepa	67629	16	$289	$322	$697	$729	207.6	97.11
3	Bhadrapur	19523	21	$248	$263	$568	$613	48.92	48.16
4	Bhaktapur	-	14	$262	$294	$659	$691	93.06	96.42
5	Bharatpur	369268	17	$262	$353	$624	$830	96.25	74.91
6	Bhimdatta	104444	20	$127	$252	$263	$472	113.95	48.3
7	Biratnagar	166674	15	$266	$317	$630	$728	291.76	100.53
8	Birendranagar	47914	20	$152	$152	$424	$424	71.99	61.88
9	Birgunj	135904	17	$282	$353	$688	$797	58.26	72.94
10	Birtamod	-	16	$236	$341	$615	$735	67.79	50.88
11	Butwal	195054	16	$295	$336	$723	$837	22.14	56.48
12	Dadeldhurā	19014	20					27.8	10.69
13	Dang	-	20	$90.5	$90.5	$199	$199	-	-
14	Dhangadhi	102000	20	$82.0	$82.0	$229	$229	241.58	53.07
15	Dharan	173096	17	$58.7	$58.7	$126	$126	95.11	105.35
16	Dhulikhel	16263	20					44.52	83.81
17	Gaighat	-	15	$270	$302	$662	$693	195.72	56.66
18	Gaur	27325	20					175.23	65.44
19	Hetauda	195951	17	$292	$343	$675	$760	214.48	85.91
20	Itahari	47984	18	$212	$229	$492	$570	45.98	58.54
21	Janakpur	195438	14	$258	$294	$606	$718	-	-
22	Kathmandu	975000	24	$350	$485	$837	$1,067	181.35	128.2
23	Kawasoti	-	16	$268	$330	$668	$750	19.7	82.03
24	Kirtipur	65602	17	$315	$347	$759	$791	120.42	106.49
25	Lalitpur	254000	22	$335	$452	$812	$1,193	121.16	113.88
26	Narayangarh, Chitwan	-	17	$319	$351	$721	$753	-	-
27	Nepalgunj	72503	20	$171	$171	$403	$403	248.03	56.97
28	Pokhara	500000	24	$345	$495	$795	$1,021	227.61	81.83
29	Siddharthanagar	63483	17	$318	$349	$765	$796	50.4	103.29
30	Tansen	23693	17	$318	$350	$767	$800	17.86	57.74
31	Tulsipur	39058	20	$24.21	$24.21	$61.0	$61.0	63.37	53.02
32	Waling	21867	16	$294	$325	$708	$739	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.