Budget
Nepal travel budget in 2026
Nepal is still inexpensive, but prices in the tourist areas (Thamel, Lakeside) have gone up noticeably. Here is what a day costs depending on how you travel, typical prices, and the big expenses to plan for. Reference rates: 1 USD (≈ €0.9) ≈ 153 NPR (≈ €0.9), 1 € ≈ 175 NPR (≈ €1) (Nepal Rastra Bank, September 2026).
How much per day?
Per person, travelling as a couple (shared room), excluding international flights and visa.
Low budget
Backpacker
25 to 35 USD (≈ €22 to €31) / day
Simple guesthouse (1,500 to 3,000 NPR (≈ €9 to €17) for a double room), dal bhat in local canteens, local and tourist buses, few paid entries per day.
Mid-range
Comfort
50 to 90 USD (≈ €45 to €80) / day
Mid-range hotel (30 to 70 USD (≈ €27 to €62) for a double room), restaurants for travellers, taxis and ride-hailing, tourist buses, the occasional domestic flight.
Top end
No limits
150 USD (≈ €135) and up / day
Boutique or luxury hotels, car with driver, domestic flights, private guide, a lodge with safari in Chitwan.
Typical prices
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Dal bhat (rice, lentils, vegetables, unlimited refills), local canteen | 300 to 500 NPR (≈ €2 to €3) |
| Dal bhat in a Thamel or Lakeside restaurant | 500 to 900 NPR (≈ €3 to €5) |
| Plate of momos (dumplings) | 150 to 400 NPR (≈ €1 to €2) |
| Western dish (pizza, burger, pasta) | 700 to 1,500 NPR (≈ €4 to €9) |
| Milk tea (chiya) | 30 to 100 NPR (≈ €0.2 to €0.6) |
| Espresso in a travellers' café | 200 to 400 NPR (≈ €1 to €2) |
| Local beer 650 ml in a restaurant | 500 to 900 NPR (≈ €3 to €5) |
| 1 L bottle of water | 30 to 60 NPR (≈ €0.2 to €0.3) |
| Taxi or ride-hailing trip in town | 300 to 700 NPR (≈ €2 to €4) |
| Tourist bus Kathmandu–Pokhara or –Chitwan | 1,200 to 1,800 NPR (≈ €7 to €10) |
| Domestic flight (foreigner fare) | ≈ 80 to 175 USD (≈ €71 to €155) |
In tourist restaurants, menu prices are often before tax: add 10% service and 13% VAT, about 24% more on the bill.
The big expenses to plan for
- Visa: 30, 50 or 125 USD (≈ €27, €45 or €110) for 15, 30 or 90 days, paid on arrival. See Visa Nepal.
- Entrance fees: about 5,600 NPR (≈ €32) for the six main sites of the Kathmandu Valley. See Entrance fees.
- Domestic flights: 80 to 175 USD (≈ €71 to €155) per flight depending on the destination; each flight saves a day on the bus.
- Chitwan: park entry 2,000 NPR (≈ €12) per day, plus the jeep safari or canoe (often sold as a package with accommodation).
- A trek: permits, a guide compulsory on most routes, lodges. See Trek Nepal.
You get your visa on arrival, at Kathmandu airport or at the border: form, fees and pitfalls to avoid on our dedicated site.
Visa Nepal →Fancy a few days of walking? Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Langtang… permits, guides, transport and day-by-day itineraries on our trekking site.
Trek Nepal →Comments
A question, recent information (prices, opening times, transport), your own experience? Share it here.
Loading comments…