Living in Kathmandu
What it really costs to live in Kathmandu, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Nepal, updated 2026. As Nepal's capital, Kathmandu commands the country's highest rents — but also its deepest job market. Kathmandu lies in Southern Asia. The main language is Nepali. Nepal borders China, India.
Cost of Living in Kathmandu
Full Monthly Breakdown for Kathmandu
How Kathmandu Compares to Other Nepal Cities
Kathmandu is not the only option in Nepal. Here is how its single-person monthly cost (€399) stacks up against the other cities we track — Lalitpur is the cheapest, Kathmandu the priciest.
| City | Single / month | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Lalitpur | €339/mo | -15% vs Kathmandu |
| Pokhara | €339/mo | -15% vs Kathmandu |
What You Can Earn in Nepal
Typical gross annual salaries in Nepal by sector (entry · median · senior). Kathmandu pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €12 500 | €18 000 | €25 000 |
| retail | €2 500 | €3 500 | €5 000 |
| finance | €10 000 | €14 500 | €20 000 |
| education | €4 000 | €6 000 | €8 500 |
| healthcare | €6 000 | €8 500 | €12 000 |
| engineering | €8 500 | €12 000 | €17 000 |
| hospitality | €3 000 | €4 000 | €6 000 |
| construction | €5 000 | €7 000 | €10 000 |
Living in Kathmandu: Safety, Health & Climate
Kathmandu shares Nepal's wider quality-of-life profile. Kathmandu has a subtropical climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Nepal
Affording Kathmandu is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Nepal. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
Taxes in Nepal
Top marginal rate 30%, VAT 13%.
Settling into Kathmandu
- Foreigners can open a local bank account in Nepal.
- Budget around €1 500 for first-month setup in Kathmandu.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Engineering, Law, Architecture.
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How much does it cost to live in Kathmandu?
A single person in central Kathmandu should budget about €399/month, roughly €339 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €902/month.
Can I get a visa to live in Nepal?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Nepal visa comparison for the route that fits you.
Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: Nepal Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries