Cost of Living in Kathmandu

Kathmandu's accommodation market is remarkably affordable and offers everything from backpacker guesthouses to modern furnished apartments. For short-term stays or the first week while you apartment-hunt, Thamel is the default landing zone — budget guesthouses here start at NPR 800-1,500 ($6-10) per night, while mid-range hotels with reliable Wi-Fi and hot water run NPR 2,500-4,500 ($17-31) per night. Many guesthouses offer discounted monthly rates of NPR 15,000-25,000 ($105-175) if you negotiate directly. Airbnb listings in Thamel and surrounding areas typically range from $15-30 per night, with monthly stays averaging $350-500 for a private furnished apartment with kitchen access.

Kathmandu is one of the most affordable cities in Asia for eating out, with an incredibly diverse food scene that ranges from roadside dal bhat stalls to upscale international restaurants in the tourist hub of Thamel. The staple Nepali meal, dal bhat (lentil soup with rice, seasonal vegetables, and pickles), costs just NPR 150-300 ($1-2 USD) at local eateries outside the tourist zone, while a plate of 10 steamed or fried momos (dumplings) runs NPR 100-300 ($0.75-2 USD) depending on the filling and location. Thukpa (Tibetan noodle soup) and chow mein are similarly priced at NPR 150-250 at neighborhood restaurants. For the best value, seek out the small family-run bhojanalaya joints in areas like Patan, Lazimpat, or New Baneshwor, where a full meal with a drink rarely exceeds NPR 400 ($3 USD).

Grocery shopping in Kathmandu offers excellent value, with several modern supermarket chains and vibrant traditional markets serving different needs. Bhat-Bhateni, Nepal's largest retail chain with multiple locations across the valley, is the go-to for a one-stop shopping experience offering everything from fresh produce and imported goods to household supplies and electronics. Big Mart has over 70 stores in the valley and is particularly convenient for foreigners thanks to well-organized aisles and English-speaking staff, with locations in Lazimpat and other central areas open from 6 AM to 9 PM daily. Salesberry and dMart also operate physical stores and online delivery services, making it easy to stock your kitchen without leaving home.

Getting around Kathmandu is an adventure in itself. The city's narrow, congested roads host a chaotic mix of buses, microbuses, motorcycles, rickshaws, and pedestrians, all competing for space amid clouds of dust and honking horns. Rush hours between 9-11 AM and 4-6 PM can turn a 3 km trip into an hour-long ordeal. Local public buses charge NPR 20-30 (USD 0.15-0.22) for routes within the Kathmandu Valley, while microbuses and tempos (three-wheelers) cost roughly the same but are marginally faster since they carry fewer passengers. For digital nomads, however, mastering ride-hailing apps is the real game changer.

Internet in Kathmandu has improved dramatically in recent years and now rivals many Southeast Asian digital nomad hubs. Nepal's median fixed broadband speed reached 78 Mbps download and 62 Mbps upload as of mid-2025, with fiber-to-the-home widely available across the Kathmandu Valley. The leading ISPs are WorldLink, the largest provider with over 900,000 subscribers, Vianet, which pioneered FTTH in Nepal and now offers plans up to 2 Gbps in select Kathmandu areas, and ClassicTech, known for aggressive pricing starting at just NPR 534 per month (USD 4) for 100 Mbps. A solid 200-300 Mbps fiber connection costs NPR 950-1,550 per month (USD 7-12), making home internet remarkably affordable for remote workers settling in for a few months.

Kathmandu's healthcare system offers a reasonable range of private facilities, though quality remains below international standards. The go-to clinic for foreigners is CIWEC Hospital in Lazimpat, a travel medicine center established in 1982 that specializes in treating expats and tourists. A standard consultation at CIWEC costs around $90 USD, and it operates 24/7 with senior physicians experienced in altitude sickness and tropical diseases. For more serious conditions, Nepal Mediciti in Lalitpur is the largest private hospital in the country with 750 beds and international accreditation, while Grande International Hospital in Dhapasi provides multispecialty care. A doctor visit at private hospitals typically costs NPR 1,000-2,500 ($7-19), with X-rays around NPR 3,600 ($27) and blood tests from NPR 500-2,000 ($4-15). Foreigners are charged higher rates than locals at most facilities.

Most nationalities can obtain a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport. Fees are $30 for 15 days, $50 for 30 days, or $125 for 90 days, all multi-entry. The maximum cumulative stay is 150 days per calendar year — leaving and re-entering does not reset the counter. Extensions cost $45 per additional 15 days and can be processed at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu. Nepal is also developing a dedicated digital nomad visa offering a five-year multiple-entry permit for remote workers earning over $1,500 per month, with benefits including bank accounts and vehicle registration. Fill out the online arrival form before landing to skip the kiosk queues at immigration.