Last update: Oct 2026 29.2M

Cost of Living in Nepal

Name: Nepal
Address: NP

Across Nepal, living costs for one person average $413 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 $413 per month with rent on average in Nepal.

$413 /mo

A couple spends around $672 per month with rent on average in Nepal.

$672 /mo

A family of three spends around $932 per month with rent on average in Nepal.

$932 /mo

Across 32 cities in Nepal, monthly living costs range from $24 to $498 – a $474 difference that makes location a key factor.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 NPR 294

$0.97 NPR 148

$3.22 NPR 490

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.46 NPR 2,504

$9.88 NPR 1,502

$39.52 NPR 6,012

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.48 NPR 985

$5.05 NPR 768

$9.71 NPR 1,477

Cappuccino

$1.37 NPR 209

$0.64 NPR 97.7

$2.24 NPR 341

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

$0.51 NPR 77.9

$0.34 NPR 52.5

$1.03 NPR 157

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 NPR 23.63

$0.13 NPR 20.48

$0.21 NPR 31.51

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 NPR 353

$1.46 NPR 222

$4.02 NPR 612

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 NPR 485

$1.92 NPR 291

$5.11 NPR 778

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 NPR 107

$0.55 NPR 83.3

$0.88 NPR 134

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 NPR 72.9

$0.25 NPR 38.66

$1.09 NPR 167

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 NPR 119

$0.47 NPR 71.3

$1.33 NPR 203

Eggs

$1.55 NPR 236

$1.11 NPR 169

$2.38 NPR 362

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.48 NPR 986

$2.90 NPR 441

$12.88 NPR 1,959

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.94 NPR 448

$1.96 NPR 298

$4.96 NPR 755

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.45 NPR 829

$2.59 NPR 393

$8.72 NPR 1,327

Apples (1kg)

$2.00 NPR 305

$1.27 NPR 194

$2.56 NPR 389

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 NPR 160

$0.67 NPR 101

$1.86 NPR 283

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 NPR 178

$0.60 NPR 90.6

$2.32 NPR 353

Tomato (1kg)

$0.57 NPR 87.1

$0.27 NPR 41.16

$1.03 NPR 157

Potato (1kg)

$0.36 NPR 54.2

$0.19 NPR 29.28

$0.54 NPR 82.0

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 NPR 79.8

$0.32 NPR 48.75

$0.96 NPR 146

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 NPR 65.8

$0.16 NPR 25.06

$0.74 NPR 113

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.25 NPR 38.26

$0.17 NPR 25.50

$0.35 NPR 52.6

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 NPR 403

$1.98 NPR 302

$3.30 NPR 502

Wine (Bottle)

$7.05 NPR 1,072

$3.35 NPR 510

$16.78 NPR 2,552

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 NPR 360

$1.49 NPR 227

$3.58 NPR 545

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.83 NPR 431

$1.92 NPR 292

$4.48 NPR 681

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 NPR 34.00

$0.18 NPR 27.20

$0.37 NPR 56.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.89 NPR 1,505

$3.96 NPR 602

$16.49 NPR 2,508

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.62 NPR 246

$0.98 NPR 149

$1.94 NPR 296

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 NPR 157

$0.65 NPR 98.6

$1.61 NPR 245

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 NPR 512

$2.36 NPR 359

$5.39 NPR 821

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 NPR 187

$1.05 NPR 159

$1.42 NPR 217

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

$33.2K NPR 5.0M

$28.5K NPR 4.3M

$36.4K NPR 5.5M

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

$34.4K NPR 5.2M

$26.2K NPR 4.0M

$43.2K NPR 6.6M

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

$32.71 NPR 4,975

$16.34 NPR 2,485

$98.1 NPR 14.9K

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

$4.03 NPR 612

$2.26 NPR 344

$9.69 NPR 1,475

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.59 NPR 1,155

$5.13 NPR 780

$11.52 NPR 1,752

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.04 NPR 3,201

$9.86 NPR 1,500

$32.88 NPR 5,002

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.18 NPR 941

$3.26 NPR 495

$9.78 NPR 1,487

Cinema Ticket

$2.62 NPR 399

$1.92 NPR 292

$3.20 NPR 486

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

$51.4 NPR 7,824

$24.36 NPR 3,706

$132 NPR 20.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,441 NPR 523.5K

$1,196 NPR 181.9K

$12.0K NPR 1.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.23 NPR 3,077

$9.73 NPR 1,481

$45.45 NPR 6,914

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.12 NPR 4,125

$9.66 NPR 1,469

$45.10 NPR 6,860

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.19 NPR 7,027

$19.98 NPR 3,040

$99.9 NPR 15.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.87 NPR 3,782

$12.90 NPR 1,963

$38.71 NPR 5,889

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 NPR 20.2K

$52.3 NPR 7,956

$294 NPR 44.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.4 NPR 9,944

$25.80 NPR 3,924

$129 NPR 19.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$288 NPR 43.7K

$132 NPR 20.1K

$561 NPR 85.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 NPR 23.4K

$78.1 NPR 11.9K

$260 NPR 39.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,150 NPR 327.1K

$998 NPR 151.8K

$3,326 NPR 505.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,148 NPR 174.6K

$485 NPR 73.8K

$2,263 NPR 344.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$212 NPR 32.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.57

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

Last update: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Nepal $413

Groceries & Markets

$134 32.4%

Eating Out

$72 17.5%

Accommodation & Living

$65 15.8%

Clothing & Footwear

$53 12.9%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$44 10.7%

Sport & Entertainment

$26 6.4%

Getting Around

$18 4.3%

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in Nepal is $202 – below average monthly costs of $413. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $106 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $16.

Most affordable: Tulsipur at $24 per month. The capital, Kathmandu, sits at $488. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $474 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($413) is 70% below the global median of $1,361.

Average rent ($78) is 88% below the global median of $661.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($16) is 67% below the global median of $48.

Public transport ($12) is 64% below the global median of $33.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

09:49 9:49 AM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

29,164,578

💱 Currency

Nepalese Rupee NPR रु

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 NPR = 6.57 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.87 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Nepal

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 city – from $24 to $498 a month, with the capital above the national average.

In 2026, monthly costs in Nepal range from $24 in the most affordable city to $498 in the most expensive one. Where you choose to live makes a dramatic difference – the gap between cheapest and most expensive cities is huge.

If you want affordable living in Nepal, look at Tulsipur. It offers a real urban experience – restaurants, shops, public transport – at a fraction of capital prices.

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.

Nepal is broadly affordable – the cheapest cities start at $24 per month, and even more developed areas stay below global averages. It’s accessible to a wide range of incomes and financial situations.