Kathmandu

What you need to know about Kathmandu

By Expat Guru Last Updated:

About Kathmandu

Kathmandu has frequent power outages as of December 2019 even though everyone says otherwise, as does Pokhara. The old outages are referring to the load shedding issue which were routine power outages for the majority of the day. Now power outages are not routine and can last unknown amounts of time, even the main (and only) airport loses power often. Buildings are unheated, water for showering is generally unheated or lukewarm, many houses get their water from urban aquifers which may be heavily polluted, as city water is yellow and oily. Many roads in the city are dirt, and air quality is extremely poor, especially during the crop burning season. Locals are friendly and helpful and many outside of tourist areas may have never met a foreigner before. The locals and the mountains make the place special, everything else about it is quite bad, notably hygiene, food safety, traffic danger, and exposure to all sorts of environmental pollutants. That said, I will be returning to visit the local friends made while there.

Nomad Guide of Kathmandu

Explore Kathmandu like a local with our comprehensive nomad guide. Find the best places to work, live, and play, all tailored to the digital nomad lifestyle. Stay connected and make the most of your time in Kathmandu with our insider tips and recommendations.

Continent :

Asia

Country :

nepal

Weather :

23°C + Humidity 63% = 23°C Feel

Internet Speed :

2 Mbps

Insurance :

Safetywing

Air Quality :

158AQI

Best Neighborhood :

Upcoming Neighborhood :

Power :

230V50Hz

Average Trip Length :

11 Days

Best Taxi App :

Sarathi

1000 NPR to USD :

$7.56 USD

Tap Water Quality :

No, not drinkable

Visitor per year :

N/A Visitors

Tourist now :

N/A tourists

Population :

1003285 people

GDP per capita :

$722 / year

Population Density :

Gender Ratio (Expats) :

H 56% / F 44%

Religious Gouvernment :

Appartement Listing :

Hamrobazaar

Online electronics shop :


Weather in Kathmandu

Stay updated on the weather in Kathmandu with our reliable data source. Plan ahead for changing conditions and make the most of your time in the city. Check the forecast and stay prepared for any weather events.


Cost of Living in Kathmandu

Discover the cost of living in Kathmandu with our data source. Compare expenses for housing, food, transportation, and more to make informed decisions about your budget. Stay informed and make the most of your money in Kathmandu.

Cost of Living for Expats :

$1,097/mo

Cost of Living for Nomads :

$1,205/mo

Cost of Living for Families :

$3,252/mo

Cost of Living for Local :

$929/mo

Cost of coffee :

$0.50

Rent for 1 bedroom :

$927/mo

Dinner:

$2.21

Beer :

$2.12

Coca Cola :

$1.26

Tax for 50k income :

$

Tax for 100k income :

$

Tax for 250k income :

$


Pros and Cons Living in Kathmandu

Like many other cities Kathmandu have a lot of advantages to offer its residents and visitors, but it also has its fair share of drawbacks. We have made this pros and cons table to help you better vizualize them.

Pros

  • ✅ Affordable to live
  • ✅ Pretty safe
  • ✅ Lots of fun stuff to do
  • ✅ Warm now
  • ✅ Warm in the spring
  • ✅ Nomad List members liked going here
  • ✅ Many Nomad List members here all year round
  • ✅ Spacious and not crowded
  • ✅ Good hospitals
  • ✅ People can speak basic English
  • ✅ Safe for women
  • ✅ LGBTQ+ friendly
  • ✅ Not many people smoke tobacco

Cons

  • ❌ Freedom of speech is weak
  • ❌ Not very democratic
  • ❌ Very slow internet
  • ❌ Bad air quality today
  • ❌ Difficult to do business
  • ❌ Quality of education is low
  • ❌ Roads can be dangerous
  • ❌ Not family friendly

Quality of Life in Kathmandu

No Data for now.


Visa Requirements in Kathmandu

No Data for now.


Security and Crime in Kathmandu

Stay informed on security and crime in Kathmandu with updated information on crime rates, types of crimes and measures being taken. Ensure personal safety by staying informed and taking steps to protect yourself and loved ones. Help keep Kathmandu safe.

020406080100

Low Crime rate

020406080100

High Security Index


Polution and Air Quality in Kathmandu

Stay informed about the air quality and pollution levels in Kathmandu. Our data source provides up-to-date information on various pollutants and their effects on health and the environment. By monitoring the air quality in Kathmandu, you can take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from the harmful effects of pollution.

Similar cities to Kathmandu

Discover cities that are similar to Kathmandu in terms of attractions and amenities. Our hand-picked list includes locations with similar cultural settings, recreational activities, and high-quality lodgings. These cities are worth visiting if you're looking for a place with a similar atmosphere or just a change of scenery. Plan your next urban journey by visiting these similar cities.

Trending

Concrete Structure

Berlin

Germany

#6

Air Quality
Good
wifi

36

Mbps

FEELS 21°

21°

$3,637/mo

Trending

Gray Concrete Building Near Palm Trees

Bangkok

Thailand

#4

Air Quality
Moderate
wifi

17

Mbps

FEELS 33°

29°

$1,895/mo

Trending

Photo of People Riding on City Tram

Lisbon

Portugal

#1

Air Quality
Good
wifi

29

Mbps

FEELS 22°

22°

$3,367/mo

Trending

Architectural Design Of An Orange Temple

Chiang Mai

Thailand

#8

Air Quality
Moderate
wifi

17

Mbps

FEELS 35°

29°

$1,222/mo

Trending

White and Brown Concrete Building

Istanbul

Turkey

#16

Air Quality
Good
wifi

6

Mbps

FEELS 19°

19°

$2,142/mo

Trending

Scenic View Of City During Evening

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

#34

Air Quality
Moderate
wifi

11

Mbps

FEELS 39°

29°

$1,601/mo

Trending

Green and Brown Building Near Body of Water

Amsterdam

Netherlands

#141

Air Quality
Good
wifi

14

Mbps

FEELS 15°

15°

$6,366/mo

Trending

Grayscale Photo of a Concrete Building

Barcelona

Spain

#75

Air Quality
Good
wifi

39

Mbps

FEELS 23°

23°

$4,295/mo

Cities near Kathmandu to visit

There are several cities and places close to Kathmandu worth your visit. In addition to sightseeing in Kathmandu, spare some time to discover the surroundings of the city.
You can discover Lucknow, Pokhara, Kanpur, Bareilly, and Ranchi, who are a few kilometres away either by car or public transport.

Trending

Red and White Clock Tower Near Trees

Lucknow

India

#158

Air Quality
Unhealthy
wifi

3

Mbps

FEELS 30°

28°

$918/mo

Trending

People Riding a Boat on Phewa Lake in Pokhara, Nepal

Pokhara

Nepal

#100

Air Quality
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
wifi

7

Mbps

FEELS 25°

25°

$993/mo

Trending

JK Temple in Kanpur Indonesia

Kanpur

India

#336

Air Quality
Good
wifi

4

Mbps

FEELS 30°

28°

$1,858/mo

Trending

A Rock Formation Surrounded by Water in Kudle Beach, Gokarna, Karnataka, India

Bareilly

India

#352

Air Quality
Unhealthy
wifi

2

Mbps

FEELS 31°

27°

$979/mo

Trending

City Skyline of Ranchi India During Sunset

Ranchi

India

#483

Air Quality
Moderate
wifi

3

Mbps

FEELS 25°

25°

$961/mo

Trending

White Building

Kolkata

India

#489

Air Quality
Unhealthy
wifi

3

Mbps

FEELS 37°

30°

$1,174/mo

Trending

A Rock Formation Surrounded by Water in Kudle Beach, Gokarna, Karnataka, India

Jamshedpur

India

#354

Air Quality
Moderate
wifi

3

Mbps

FEELS 39°

30°

$894/mo

Trending

Photo Of Woman Holding Flowers

Patna

India

#409

Air Quality
Unhealthy
wifi

1

Mbps

FEELS 32°

29°

$1,114/mo

Reviews of Kathmandu - Feedback from travelers

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Discussion (5)

0

Kathmandu has frequent power outages as of December 2019 even though everyone says otherwise, as does Pokhara. The old outages are referring to the load shedding issue which were routine power outages for the majority of the day. Now power outages are not routine and can last unknown amounts of time, even the main (and only) airport loses power often. Buildings are unheated, water for showering is generally unheated or lukewarm, many houses get their water from urban aquifers which may be heavily polluted, as city water is yellow and oily. Many roads in the city are dirt, and air quality is extremely poor, especially during the crop burning season. Locals are friendly and helpful and many outside of tourist areas may have never met a foreigner before. The locals and the mountains make the place special, everything else about it is quite bad, notably hygiene, food safety, traffic danger, and exposure to all sorts of environmental pollutants. That said, I will be returning to visit the local friends made while there.

0

I can't relate to many of the ratings here. I spent half a year in Kathmandu and it's amazing for digital nomads. I would give high scores for all mentioned categories except air quality. Great happiness. Great wifi (better than Munich in many places), good hospitals, amazing culture and people. Nomads there know each other. The community is small but growing

0

Kathmandu is an upcoming destination in the digital nomad community for its cheap living, great outdoor opportunities and its vibrant expat community. After the earthquake the country had to recover and with it came some major improvements: Internet connectivity has reached levels similar to many places in Asia such as Bali and the Philippines. Power cuts have been brought down to a minimum. And more and more places have started up co-working and living places that suit the digital nomads’ needs. Kathmandu now is a place that is alive with positive energy and is moving forward.

0

MMM I really think these ratings are really wrong. Kathmandu is a super polluted city, air quality get you dizzy dizzy... cost of living is really expensive if you want to have small comforts... like a swimming pool is 6euros, the zoo is 20 euros... you have to think that if you are a foreign you have an extra tax in most of the prices, there is a local price and a tourist price. Also taxis can become really expensive, short ride can jump into 6 euros, moto is a better solution but again, pollution and safety is not really into vogue. Also about food, there are no fridges in the supermarket so your milk or daily products must be buy in local shops, and again hygiene is not at its best. Woman friendly is not so much... you must cover you up in order to don't attract followers... there are no go zones in Kathmandu... and also be aware of bands of dogs... Internet is good speed after the earthquake, most houses have solar power so you will be able to be online full time... getting a SIM card needs the help of a local, since again SIM cards for foreigns need a permission, so is not easy going as a city... in fact is really chaotic and super dirty.... is not a 100% walkable city... is a moto city, and again is super dirty, so I you want to walk in rainy season better to not have bear foot... Pokhara is a better option...