Cost of Living

Kathmandu, Nepal

Live cost-of-living data for Kathmandu — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
18/ 10082% cheaper than New York
+3% rent since Jul 2026
$217/mo
Median Income
63/100
Safety
5%
Income Tax
subtropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
15/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$300/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$150/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$500/month
Food & Groceries
15/100
Milk (1 liter)$0.65/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$0.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$0/kg
Transportation
20/100
Monthly Transit Pass$20/month
One-Way Ticket$0.35/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.35/km
Utilities
25/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$30/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$12/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$8/month
Healthcare
30/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$30/visit
Dentist Visit$40/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$8/course
Education
30/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$200/month
International Primary School (yearly)$5,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$150/course
Entertainment
25/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$4/ticket
Theater Ticket$10/ticket
Museum Entry$5/ticket
Clothing
20/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$32/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$20/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$60/pair
Personal Care
20/100
Haircut (Men)$5/cut
Haircut (Women)$12/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$2/bottle
Dining Out
20/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$2/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$15/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$5/meal
Childcare
25/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$250/month
Babysitter (per hour)$3/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$8/pack
Fitness & Sports
20/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$20/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$8/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$3/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

71 Mbps
Internet Speed
$175
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
62/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Thamel, Boudha, Patan

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kathmandu cheap to live in?

Kathmandu has a cost of living index of 18/100, where New York = 100. It is 82% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $640–$896 per month.

How much does rent cost in Kathmandu?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Kathmandu costs approximately $300/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $150/month.

Is Kathmandu good for digital nomads?

Kathmandu has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 71 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $175/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Kathmandu?

The median net monthly salary in Kathmandu is approximately $217 USD. The income tax rate is around 5%.

How does Kathmandu compare to New York for cost of living?

Kathmandu (cost index 18) is 82% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,050/month by moving from New York to Kathmandu.

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