Nepal is most famous as the home of half of Mount Everest, and those actually climbing the mountain, or to the main elevated base camp, will have to deal with those not-insignificant expenses. But those just coming to admire the city and its Buddhist culture will find it to be very cheap by international standards.
| Population | 1,000,000 |
| Area | 1,700,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+5:45 |
| Currency | Nepalese rupee |
| Airports | Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) |
Prices for hotels and hostels are nearly as cheap as those in smaller cities in India, which are generally the lowest on the planet. It’s worth noting that hotels and guesthouses at the absolute bottom end of the price spectrum will be quite minimalistic, to put it kindly, but paying a bit more gets you something not bad at all. Of course there are now a number of expensive hotel resorts meant for those on much larger budgets, so nearly all price ranges are catered for.
Kathmandu hotels can have big price swings between high season and low season. The busy months generally stretch all the way from April through November, but even then hotels and hostels in the city can be found very cheaply. During the winter months the nights are cool and dry even though the days are still relatively warm, and hotels roll out their bargain rates, sometimes half their high season prices.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 5.00 - 11.00 |
| 6.00 - 49.00 |
| 15.00 - 72.00 |
| 52.00 - 148.00 |
| 110.00 - 268.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 3.00 - 5.00 |
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swayambhu Temple | This sacred Buddhist monument is a long stair climb to the entrance, and there are plenty of monkeys about. | adults | 1.48 |
| Narayanhiti Palace Museum | The former Royal Palace is now a museum and garden. | adults | 3.70 |
| Garden of Dreams | A popular enclosed garden near the Royal Palace. | adults | 2.96 |
| Durbar Square | Tourists must pay at gates to enter this complex of temples. | adults | 7.40 |
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | If your hotel doesn't include breakfast then you'll have many local choices or pricier Western options. | 1.85 - 2.81 |
| Budget lunch | If you stick with the local specialties Kathmandu dining will be cheap, and sometimes all you can eat. | 2.22 - 3.33 |
| Budget dinner | Again, go for the local filling rice and lentil-based dishes for great stuff for cheap. | 3.26 - 5.18 |
| Beer (.64l bottle) | An unusual local beer is cheaper. Imported bottles are still pretty reasonable. | 2.07 - 3.26 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city center | 5.11 - 5.92 |
| Public bus from airport to city center | 0.07 - 0.13 |
| 3km taxi ride in Kathmandu | 1.78 - 2.22 |
| Bicycle rickshaw ride across town | 0.21 - 0.40 |
| Public bus ride in Kathmandu | 0.14 - 0.26 |
Transportation and attractions in the city are also very cheap by nearly anyone’s standards, so your main expenses will be guided trekking excursions or adventure sports, if you choose to do them. Food and drinks are also very cheap by most standards so this continues to be a great stop for budget-minded travelers as well as those who can afford the best.
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 64 | 36 | 0.6 |
| February | 69 | 39 | 0.7 |
| March | 76 | 46 | 1.2 |
| April | 81 | 52 | 2.1 |
| May | 83 | 60 | 4.5 |
| June | 83 | 66 | 10.1 |
| July | 82 | 68 | 14.2 |
| August | 82 | 68 | 12.4 |
| September | 81 | 65 | 7.2 |
| October | 78 | 55 | 2.3 |
| November | 73 | 45 | 0.3 |
| December | 67 | 37 | 0.6 |
Nepal’s weather can be deceiving since things are often quite pleasant and mild in the city center area while not far away it can be much warmer, colder, or stormier. June through September marks the monsoon season with regular heavy rainfall, while the winter months are marked by warm days and cool nights with almost no rainfall.
| 21 Mar | 6:07am | 6:15pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:09am | 7:02pm |
| 21 Sep | 5:52am | 6:02pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:50am | 5:13pm |