Cost Of Living For a Student in Pokhara 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: NPR
Average monthly spending for students in Pokhara
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Pokhara?
Students in Pokhara spend around 43,000 NPR per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 6,500 NPR or as high as 290,000 NPR. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Pokhara
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
| 560 NPR | 850 NPR | 3,400 NPR |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
| 420 NPR | 560 NPR | 1,100 NPR |
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 210,000 NPR | 420,000 NPR | 560,000 NPR |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
| 570 NPR | 850 NPR | 1,700 NPR |
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
| 260 NPR | 1,700 NPR | 12,000 NPR |
Internet and cable
| 420 NPR | 840 NPR | 1,100 NPR |
Mobile phone charges
| 340 NPR | 560 NPR | 1,700 NPR |
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
| 680 NPR | 850 NPR | 1,700 NPR |
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
| 500 NPR | 710 NPR | 1,100 NPR |
Woman dress
| 470 NPR | 660 NPR | 2,100 NPR |
Woman shoes
| 450 NPR | 610 NPR | 1,400 NPR |
Men's shoes
Men suit
| 430 NPR | 530 NPR | 2,800 NPR |
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 7,100 NPR | 11,000 NPR | 28,000 NPR |
1-bedroom apartment
| 11,000 NPR | 17,000 NPR | 43,000 NPR |
2-bedroom apartment
| 14,000 NPR | 21,000 NPR | 57,000 NPR |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 1.4M NPR | 2.1M NPR | 4.3M NPR |
1-bedroom apartment
| 1.7M NPR | 2.8M NPR | 11M NPR |
2-bedroom apartment
| 2.8M NPR | 8.5M NPR | 17M NPR |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 8,400 NPR | 10,000 NPR | 14,000 NPR |
Double Bed
| 5,600 NPR | 8,400 NPR | 10,000 NPR |
Single Bed
| 4,900 NPR | 6,500 NPR | 8,400 NPR |
Living Room
| 9,300 NPR | 12,000 NPR | 42,000 NPR |
Dining Table
| 4,200 NPR | 5,600 NPR | 10,000 NPR |
Sofa or Couch
| 5,600 NPR | 7,600 NPR | 17,000 NPR |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 5,600 NPR | 8,400 NPR | 17,000 NPR |
Fridge or Freezer
| 4,900 NPR | 7,600 NPR | 10,000 NPR |
Washing Machine
| 6,500 NPR | 9,300 NPR | 17,000 NPR |
Stove or Cooker
| 6,000 NPR | 7,600 NPR | 10,000 NPR |
Mobile Phone
| 7,000 NPR | 8,400 NPR | 12,000 NPR |
Laptop or Computer
| 7,600 NPR | 9,300 NPR | 17,000 NPR |
How do students spend their money in Pokhara?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost18%
18% of total expenses on average (13% to 24%)
| LOW | $12 1,600 NPR |
| AVERAGE | $78 10,000 NPR |
| HIGH | $520 69,000 NPR |
| Per Month |
Students in Pokhara typically spend from 13% to 24% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 18% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 10,000 NPR with expenditure ranging from 1,600 NPR to 69,000 NPR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $2 260 NPR |
| AVERAGE | $13 1,700 NPR |
| HIGH | $87 12,000 NPR |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Pokhara ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 1,700 NPR with 260 NPR and 12,000 NPR being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $3.4 460 NPR |
| AVERAGE | $23 3,000 NPR |
| HIGH | $150 20,000 NPR |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 460 NPR to 20,000 NPR in a month on commuting with 3,000 NPR being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $9.8 1,300 NPR |
| AVERAGE | $65 8,700 NPR |
| HIGH | $440 58,000 NPR |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Pokhara is 8,700 NPR. The cost of groceries can range between 1,300 NPR to 58,000 NPR. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $3 390 NPR |
| AVERAGE | $20 2,600 NPR |
| HIGH | $130 17,000 NPR |
| Per Month |
Students in Pokhara allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 390 NPR to 17,000 NPR with 2,600 NPR being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $2.5 330 NPR |
| AVERAGE | $16 2,200 NPR |
| HIGH | $110 14,000 NPR |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 330 NPR to 14,000 NPR with 2,200 NPR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $9.3 1,200 NPR |
| AVERAGE | $62 8,200 NPR |
| HIGH | $410 55,000 NPR |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 8,200 NPR per month with 1,200 NPR being the minimum spent amount and 55,000 NPR being the maximum.
Other Expenses19%
19% of total expenses on average (13% to 25%)
| LOW | $7.4 980 NPR |
| AVERAGE | $49 6,500 NPR |
| HIGH | $330 43,000 NPR |
| Per Month |
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Pokhara
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Pokhara?
Around 56% of surveyed students think that living in Pokhara is affordable with proper budgeting while 44% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Pokhara
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options60%
Few low-cost options40%
Based on the survey, 60% of the students living in Pokhara have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 40% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students of Pokhara whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes56%
No44%
Based on the survey, 44% of the students living in Pokhara said that they don't have an emergency fund while 56% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in Nepal
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy48%
We asked student guardians and parents in Pokhara whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 52% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 48% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of Nepal have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 42% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 58% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance42%
Easily manages finances58%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Pokhara
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Pokhara
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 7,100 NPR | 11,000 NPR | 28,000 NPR |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 11,000 NPR | 17,000 NPR | 43,000 NPR |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 14,000 NPR | 21,000 NPR | 57,000 NPR |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 17,000 NPR | 28,000 NPR | 78,000 NPR |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 34,000 NPR | 85,000 NPR | 170,000 NPR |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 28,000 NPR | 43,000 NPR | 120,000 NPR |
House monthly rent cost
| 34,000 NPR | 85,000 NPR | 170,000 NPR |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 43,000 NPR | 110,000 NPR | 170,000 NPR |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Pokhara ranges between 7,100 NPR and 28,000 NPR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 11,000 NPR to 43,000 NPR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 14,000 NPR and 57,000 NPR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 17,000 NPR to 78,000 NPR. The average rent of a townhouse in Pokhara is around 43,000 NPR while house rental costs can be as high as 85,000 NPR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 43,000 NPR to 170,000 NPR per month.
Apartment and house prices in Pokhara
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 1.4M NPR | 2.1M NPR | 4.3M NPR |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 1.7M NPR | 2.8M NPR | 11M NPR |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 2.8M NPR | 8.5M NPR | 17M NPR |
3-bedroom apartment price
| $72,000 | $110,000 | $320,000 |
Townhouse price
| $92,000 | $210,000 | $810,000 |
House price
| $110,000 | $640,000 | $920,000 |
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Pokhara can range from 1.4M NPR to 4.3M NPR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 1.7M NPR to 11M NPR. A villa can cost you 95M NPR on average with prices ranging from 17M NPR to 140M NPR.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Pokhara will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 36 | x103 monthly income | 210 |
Property prices in Pokhara can be x103 to x210 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x103 multiples of the average monthly salary in Pokhara.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Pokhara is around 32%. This means that people pay 32% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 42% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
29% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
| 130 NPR | 1,700 NPR | 17,000 NPR |
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Pokhara
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Pokhara
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
| 260 NPR | 1,700 NPR | 12,000 NPR |
Internet and cable cost
| 420 NPR | 840 NPR | 1,100 NPR |
Mobile phone bill and charges
| 340 NPR | 560 NPR | 1,700 NPR |
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 1,700 NPR. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 420 NPR to 1,100 NPR with 840 NPR being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 560 NPR but can range between 340 NPR and 1,700 NPR depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Pokhara is around 6.3%. This means that people pay 6.3% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.2% to 11% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Pokhara
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Pokhara
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Pokhara is approximatly 170 NPR with meal cost ranging from 84 NPR to 280 NPR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 280 NPR and 850 NPR with 420 NPR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Pokhara.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 560 NPR | 850 NPR | 3,400 NPR |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 560 NPR to 3,400 NPR with the average cost being 850 NPR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Pokhara.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Pokhara is around 110 NPR. Price ranges between 70 NPR and 170 NPR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Pokhara is 67 NPR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 84 NPR and the minimum being 56 NPR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 56 NPR on average with 42 NPR and 84 NPR being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Pokhara is between 95 NPR and 170 NPR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 120 NPR.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 170 NPR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Pokhara costs around 62 NPR on average with prices rangeing between 45 NPR and 87 NPR depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 17 NPR to 42 NPR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 39 NPR on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Pokhara is around 29%. This means that students spend 29% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 35% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 1,300 NPR to 58,000 NPR with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
