Cost of living in Kathmandu

Nepal · South Asia · NPR · Very cheap

For long-stay travellers and remote workers in Kathmandu, the realistic monthly figure is roughly $1,854 all-in. That assumes a long-stay rental (~60% of nightly mid-range accommodation), local food prices, public transit and miscellaneous — but excludes flights, visas, and tourist-style activities. For a comparable short-trip figure, see the Kathmandu travel cost page.

Monthly breakdown

Line itemMonthly (USD)
Long-stay rent equivalent$864
Food (eating out + groceries mix)$600
Local transport$180
Miscellaneous$210
All-in monthly$1,854

Local currency: NPR. FX snapshot: 2025-05.

Short-trip context

For comparison, a week-long tourist visit at the mid-range tier in shoulder season runs roughly $658 for one person — a much higher per-day rate than the long-stay number above, because hotels charge nightly rates, tourists rely on taxis more, and short-trip activities are bundled into every day.

  • Tourist day rate (mid-range, shoulder): $94/day
  • Long-stay implied day rate: $62/day

Comparable cities