Nepal (NP)
Nepal is a landlocked Himalayan nation between India and China, home to eight of the world's ten highest peaks including Mount Everest (8,849m).
Capital: Kathmandu
Region: Asia
Language: Nepali
Currency: NPR (Rs)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 18)
Emergency: 100
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Cost of Living
Real prices in Nepal — 2026 data in NPR.
18
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Very affordable compared to major global cities. Your money goes a long way here.
Food & Groceries
Rice 5kg (local fine rice) NPR 600–1,200
Eggs 12 (local) NPR 250–450
Milk 1L (Dairy Development Corporation) NPR 120–180
Chicken 1kg (local market) NPR 500–700
Tomatoes 1kg NPR 60–150
Onion 1kg NPR 50–120
Lentils (daal) 1kg NPR 150–350
Imported cheese 500g (Bhatbhateni/BIG Mart) NPR 900–2,000
Bread loaf (local bakery) NPR 80–180
Weekly grocery basket (imported items, BIG Mart) NPR 5,000–15,000
Dining Out
Dal bhat set (local Nepali restaurant) NPR 200–500
Momo plate (steam dumplings) NPR 120–300
Thukpa or chowmein (noodle soup) NPR 150–350
Mid-range restaurant dinner for two NPR 2,000–5,000
Cappuccino (Thamel/Lazimpat expat café) NPR 180–350
Craft beer at bar (Kathmandu) NPR 400–700
Pizza (mid-range restaurant) NPR 600–1,500
Rent
1BR apartment, Kathmandu (Lazimpat/Sanepa/Baluwatar) NPR 30,000–70,000/month
2BR apartment, Kathmandu (expat area) NPR 60,000–150,000/month
3BR expat house/apartment, Kathmandu NPR 100,000–300,000+/month
1BR apartment, Pokhara (lakeside area) NPR 20,000–50,000/month
1BR apartment, Thamel / Sanepa (basic) NPR 15,000–40,000/month
Room in shared flat, Kathmandu NPR 10,000–25,000/month
Transport
Local city microbus or bus (Kathmandu) NPR 20–50
Tootle / InDrive ride-hailing (5km, Kathmandu) NPR 200–700
Taxi (metered or negotiated, 5km city) NPR 300–600
Kathmandu–Pokhara tourist bus NPR 1,200–3,500
Domestic flight Kathmandu–Pokhara NPR 5,000–12,000
Domestic flight Kathmandu–Lukla (for trekking) NPR 15,000–30,000
Petrol 1L (Nepal Oil Corporation) NPR 175–195
Health & Insurance
Private GP/specialist visit (HAMS/Medicare/B&B Hospital) NPR 1,000–4,000
Dental check-up and cleaning (private clinic) NPR 2,000–6,000
Blood test panel (private lab, CBC + LFT) NPR 1,500–6,000
Pharmacy: common prescription (30 days) NPR 300–2,000
X-ray (private clinic) NPR 500–2,000
International health + helicopter evacuation insurance (annual) NPR 106,000–399,000/year
Trekking rescue membership (HRA/Himalayan Rescue Association) NPR 3,000–6,000/year
Utilities
Electricity + water + NEA bill (apartment) NPR 5,000–20,000/month
Home broadband (50–100 Mbps, WorldLink/Vianet) NPR 1,500–3,500/month
Mobile data plan (20GB, Ncell/NTC) NPR 500–1,500/month
Gas cylinder (14.2kg LPG, Nepal Oil) NPR 1,400–1,800
Generator fuel supplement (load-shedding backup) NPR 3,000–10,000/month
Childcare
Private preschool/nursery (monthly) NPR 15,000–60,000/month
English-medium private school (monthly tuition) NPR 10,000–40,000/month
International school annual package NPR 1,064,000–3,990,000/year
Nanny/household helper (monthly) NPR 20,000–60,000/month
Private tutor (per hour) NPR 500–2,000
Leisure
Gym membership (Kathmandu) NPR 3,000–12,000/month
Cinema ticket (QFX/Big Movies) NPR 400–700
Trekking guide (daily rate, Everest/Annapurna) NPR 3,325–6,650/day
Porter (daily rate, trekking) NPR 2,394–3,990/day
Netflix Nepal (monthly) NPR 450–1,300/month
Yoga class (drop-in, Kathmandu) NPR 500–1,500
Haircut (barber/salon, Kathmandu) NPR 200–800
Cost of Living
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