Cost of Living in Nepal

If you've ever considered moving to Nepal, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Nepal?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Nepal and whether the reported $735 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $191.02.

Restaurants
Markets
Transportation
Childcare
Clothing
Rent Per Month
Buy Apartment
Salaries
Nepal
restaurant

Restaurants

Price

World Range

Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant

1.9 $

Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course

15.23 $

McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)

6.85 $

Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)

2.29 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

3.05 $

Cappuccino (regular)

1.37 $

Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)

0.43 $

Water (12 oz small bottle)

0.18 $

store

Markets

Price

World Range

Milk (regular), (1 gallon)

0.7 $

Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)

0.46 $

Rice (white), (1 lb)

0.69 $

Eggs (regular) (12)

1.47 $

Local Cheese (1 lb)

6.76 $

Chicken Fillets (1 lb)

3.07 $

Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)

4.59 $

Apples (1 lb)

2.04 $

Banana (1 lb)

0.86 $

Oranges (1 lb)

1.07 $

Tomato (1 lb)

0.58 $

Potato (1 lb)

0.41 $

Onion (1 lb)

0.57 $

Lettuce (1 head)

0.28 $

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

0.25 $

Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)

6.86 $

Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

2.08 $

Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)

2.96 $

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)

2.67 $

commute

Transportation

Price

World Range

One-way Ticket (Local Transport)

0.19 $

Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

6.09 $

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

1.9 $

Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)

0.53 $

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

3.81 $

Gasoline (1 gallon)

1.06 $

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)

30469.59 $

Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)

46345.84 $

mark_as_unread

Utilities (Monthly)

Price

World Range

Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment

22.23 $

1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)

0.02 $

Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)

13.24 $

kitesurfing

Sports And Leisure

Price

World Range

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult

24.19 $

Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)

8.01 $

Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat

3.05 $

child_friendly

Childcare

Price

World Range

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

63.55 $

International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child

2840.2 $

checkroom

Clothing And Shoes

Price

World Range

1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

19.82 $

1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)

24.56 $

1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)

41.9 $

1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes

33.88 $

night_shelter

Rent Per Month

Price

World Range

Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre

117.94 $

Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre

81.01 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre

264.98 $

Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre

168.68 $

home

Buy Apartment Price

Price

World Range

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre

1671.51 $

Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre

693.35 $

account_balance_wallet

Salaries And Financing

Price

World Range

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

191.02 $

Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate

12.43 %

Nepal

How Safe Is Nepal for Travel?
Warnings & Dangers in Nepal

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

Pickpocketing and bag snatching is a very common issue in Nepal. Keep your belongings by your side at all times and try to leave all your valuables in a security deposit box of your hotel.

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Nepal is a relatively safe country to travel to. Though its crime rates are not very high and it's filled with friendly people, its greatest dangers lie in nature, so be very cautious when exploring this country.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: HIGH

Transport is highly risky in Nepal. Avoid traveling to Nepal's hills or mountains by bus or air since it's hundreds of times more dangerous than traveling anywhere else, due to cliff-top locations of airports and stations.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

When it comes to natural disasters, Nepal is susceptible to many of them, such as floods, landslides, fires, epidemic, earthquakes, avalanches, windstorms and droughts.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

There are some areas where cases of mugging have been reported, though violent crime rates are low and foreigners are rarely targeted.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

Although Nepal has experienced no significant terrorist attacks, it has an open border with India and weak border controls which makes way for the concerns that international terrorist groups could reside in Nepal and use it as a transit state.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

As in any country, there is the risk of getting scammed. You can get overcharged by everyone: street vendors, taxi and bus drivers, and accommodation owners. Double-check every information and pay or try to negotiate everything in advance

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Nepal is mostly safe for solo female travelers, though some Nepali men often have strange ideas about the morality of Western women, due to seeing them a certain way in movies and TV shows, seeing the way they dress as immodest and often times immoral. Follow basic common sense and avoid walking alone at night and in poorly lit and secluded areas.

Useful Information & Tips
credit_card

Visas

Visas for Nepal are handed out upon arrival at the international airport in Kathmandu and at all borders open to foreigners: all you need is passport photos on hand and to pay the visa fee. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months and that you have an entire blank page in your passport. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

currency_exchange

Currency

Nepalese rupee is the official currency in Nepal. Bear in mind that though ATMs are widely available in Kathmandu, they are almost impossible to find in rural areas.

cloudy_snowing

Weather

Climate conditions in Nepal vary from one place to another. Usually, spring lasts from March to May and is characterized by rain showers and mild temperatures around 22°C. However, during summer, which lasts from June to August, you can expect the monsoon season when the hills are covered with lush, green vegetation.

flight_takeoff

Airports

Tribhuvan International Airport is the busiest, and at the same time, the only airport serving the country of Nepal. It is located about 6 km from the center of Kathmandu, in the Kathmandu valley.

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Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Nepal, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Comparison of the Cost Of Living in Nepal with other countries

Cost of living in countries