Last update: Oct 2026 29.2M

Cost of Living in Nepal

Name: Nepal
Address: NP

Across Nepal, living costs for one person average $417 a month, including rent and utilities, which take less than a third of the total. Other living expenses average about $10 a day.

Compare Destinations Jump to prices

🇳🇵 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 $417 per month with rent on average in Nepal.

$417 /mo

A couple spends around $676 per month with rent on average in Nepal.

$676 /mo

A family of three spends around $935 per month with rent on average in Nepal.

$935 /mo

Across 32 cities in Nepal, monthly living costs range from $24 to $496 – a $472 difference that makes location a key factor.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 NPR 296

$0.98 NPR 148

$3.26 NPR 494

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.65 NPR 2,524

$9.99 NPR 1,515

$39.95 NPR 6,057

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.69 NPR 1,014

$5.22 NPR 791

$10.04 NPR 1,522

Cappuccino

$1.45 NPR 220

$0.68 NPR 103

$2.38 NPR 361

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

$0.51 NPR 76.9

$0.34 NPR 51.8

$1.03 NPR 155

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 NPR 23.60

$0.13 NPR 20.46

$0.21 NPR 31.47

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.35 NPR 357

$1.48 NPR 224

$4.09 NPR 619

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 NPR 495

$1.96 NPR 297

$5.21 NPR 790

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 NPR 105

$0.54 NPR 82.1

$0.88 NPR 133

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 NPR 71.2

$0.25 NPR 37.76

$1.07 NPR 163

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 NPR 119

$0.47 NPR 70.8

$1.34 NPR 203

Eggs

$1.51 NPR 229

$1.09 NPR 165

$2.32 NPR 352

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.61 NPR 1,002

$2.89 NPR 438

$12.83 NPR 1,946

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.97 NPR 451

$2.00 NPR 304

$5.07 NPR 768

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.53 NPR 838

$2.69 NPR 407

$9.06 NPR 1,373

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 NPR 305

$1.28 NPR 194

$2.56 NPR 388

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 NPR 155

$0.65 NPR 98.5

$1.82 NPR 276

Oranges (1kg)

$1.11 NPR 168

$0.57 NPR 86.8

$2.24 NPR 340

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 NPR 81.0

$0.25 NPR 38.31

$0.96 NPR 146

Potato (1kg)

$0.39 NPR 58.5

$0.21 NPR 31.60

$0.58 NPR 88.5

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 NPR 85.2

$0.34 NPR 52.1

$1.03 NPR 156

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.44 NPR 66.4

$0.17 NPR 25.31

$0.76 NPR 115

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 NPR 34.83

$0.15 NPR 23.22

$0.32 NPR 47.89

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 NPR 395

$1.96 NPR 297

$3.26 NPR 494

Wine (Bottle)

$7.20 NPR 1,091

$3.28 NPR 497

$16.36 NPR 2,480

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 NPR 351

$1.48 NPR 225

$3.38 NPR 512

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.94 NPR 445

$2.01 NPR 304

$4.67 NPR 708

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 NPR 34.09

$0.18 NPR 27.27

$0.37 NPR 56.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.91 NPR 1,503

$3.97 NPR 602

$16.52 NPR 2,504

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 NPR 257

$1.02 NPR 154

$2.03 NPR 308

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 NPR 156

$0.65 NPR 98.1

$1.62 NPR 245

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 NPR 508

$2.34 NPR 356

$5.35 NPR 811

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 NPR 185

$1.03 NPR 157

$1.41 NPR 213

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

$34.1K NPR 5.2M

$28.2K NPR 4.3M

$35.7K NPR 5.4M

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

$34.7K NPR 5.3M

$26.4K NPR 4.0M

$43.6K NPR 6.6M

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

$32.44 NPR 4,918

$16.20 NPR 2,457

$97.2 NPR 14.7K

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

$4.28 NPR 649

$2.36 NPR 357

$10.08 NPR 1,529

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.79 NPR 1,181

$5.32 NPR 807

$11.99 NPR 1,818

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.63 NPR 3,128

$9.80 NPR 1,486

$32.68 NPR 4,954

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 NPR 990

$3.38 NPR 512

$10.12 NPR 1,534

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 NPR 403

$1.95 NPR 295

$3.25 NPR 492

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

$52.0 NPR 7,877

$24.61 NPR 3,731

$133 NPR 20.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K NPR 2.2M

$1,981 NPR 300.4K

$43.2K NPR 6.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.22 NPR 3,066

$9.92 NPR 1,504

$42.99 NPR 6,517

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.18 NPR 4,272

$10.05 NPR 1,523

$46.87 NPR 7,106

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.51 NPR 6,749

$19.92 NPR 3,020

$99.6 NPR 15.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.73 NPR 3,749

$13.00 NPR 1,970

$39.00 NPR 5,912

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$136 NPR 20.6K

$52.8 NPR 8,011

$297 NPR 45.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$67.9 NPR 10.3K

$26.67 NPR 4,044

$133 NPR 20.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 NPR 43.9K

$133 NPR 20.1K

$664 NPR 100.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$152 NPR 23.1K

$66.1 NPR 10.0K

$265 NPR 40.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,134 NPR 323.5K

$990 NPR 150.1K

$3,300 NPR 500.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,150 NPR 174.4K

$486 NPR 73.7K

$2,267 NPR 343.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$213 NPR 32.3K

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 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Nepal $417

Groceries & Markets

$134 32.1%

Eating Out

$74 17.8%

Accommodation & Living

$68 16.3%

Clothing & Footwear

$53 12.7%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

$45 10.7%

Sport & Entertainment

$26 6.2%

Getting Around

$18 4.2%

Cost Breakdown

The average net salary in Nepal is $205 – below average monthly costs of $417. Many locals rely on dual incomes or shared housing. Remote workers earning abroad find strong purchasing power here.

Groceries average around $105 per month nationally. A mid-range dinner for two costs about $16.

Most affordable: Tulsipur at $24 per month. The capital, Kathmandu, sits at $496. Across the country, monthly costs span roughly $472 between the cheapest and priciest cities.

Cost Highlights

Overall cost of living ($417) is 69% below the global median of $1,352.

Average rent ($80) is 88% below the global median of $664.

Dinner for two at a restaurant ($16) is 66% below the global median of $47.

Public transport ($13) is 61% below the global median of $33.

Good to know

🕒 Local time

23:15 11:15 PM

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

29,164,578

💱 Currency

Nepalese Rupee NPR रु

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 NPR = 6.6 USD

1,000 NPR = 5.89 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	$292	$324	$703	$734	207.6	97.11
3	Bhadrapur	19523		$247	$262	$567	$611	48.92	48.16
4	Bhaktapur	-	14	$263	$295	$664	$696	93.06	96.42
5	Bharatpur	369268	17	$265	$356	$629	$832	96.25	74.91
6	Bhimdatta	104444		$129	$255	$266	$476	113.95	48.3
7	Biratnagar	166674	15	$268	$320	$633	$731	291.76	100.53
8	Birendranagar	47914		$154	$154	$429	$429	71.99	61.88
9	Birgunj	135904	17	$282	$354	$687	$798	58.26	72.94
10	Birtamod	-	16	$238	$343	$623	$744	67.79	50.88
11	Butwal	195054	16	$295	$337	$726	$843	22.14	56.48
12	Dadeldhurā	19014						27.8	10.69
13	Dang	-		$90.2	$90.2	$199	$199	-	-
14	Dhangadhi	102000		$83.6	$83.6	$233	$233	241.58	53.07
15	Dharan	173096		$58.3	$58.3	$126	$126	95.11	105.35
16	Dhulikhel	16263						44.52	83.81
17	Gaighat	-	14	$270	$302	$661	$693	195.72	56.66
18	Gaur	27325						175.23	65.44
19	Hetauda	195951	17	$296	$346	$680	$766	214.48	85.91
20	Itahari	47984		$215	$231	$495	$573	45.98	58.54
21	Janakpur	195438	14	$262	$297	$613	$723	-	-
22	Kathmandu	975000	24	$356	$496	$855	$1,094	181.35	128.2
23	Kawasoti	-	16	$269	$332	$671	$753	19.7	82.03
24	Kirtipur	65602	17	$316	$348	$764	$797	120.42	106.49
25	Lalitpur	254000	23	$361	$479	$862	$1,244	121.16	113.88
26	Narayangarh, Chitwan	-	17	$319	$351	$719	$750	-	-
27	Nepalgunj	72503		$175	$175	$409	$409	248.03	56.97
28	Pokhara	500000	21	$320	$436	$742	$932	227.61	81.83
29	Siddharthanagar	63483	17	$318	$349	$767	$799	50.4	103.29
30	Tansen	23693	17	$317	$349	$765	$798	17.86	57.74
31	Tulsipur	39058		$23.54	$23.54	$59.4	$59.4	63.37	53.02
32	Waling	21867	16	$292	$324	$704	$736	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 city – from $24 to $496 a month, with the capital above the national average.

In 2026, monthly costs in Nepal range from $24 in the most affordable city to $496 in the most expensive one. Where you choose to live makes a dramatic difference – the gap between cheapest and most expensive cities is huge.

Rent in Nepal varies a lot – Kathmandu has the highest prices, and other cities are usually cheaper. 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.

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.