Kathmandu is one of the cheapest capital cities in Asia for travellers — but it is also easy to overspend if you do not know the local prices. This is the honest guide to experiencing Kathmandu on under $30 per day, including where to stay, where to eat, and what to do for free.
Daily Budget Breakdown
| Item | Budget (USD) | Mid-Range (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (guesthouse) | $5–$8 | $15–$25 |
| Breakfast | $1–$2 | $3–$5 |
| Lunch | $2–$3 | $5–$8 |
| Dinner | $3–$5 | $6–$10 |
| Bottled water + snacks | $1 | $2 |
| Local transport (microbus) | $0.30 | $1–$2 (taxi) |
| Temple/museum entry fees | $0–$3 | $5–$10 |
| Total per day | $13–$22 | $37–$62 |
My honest target: $25–$30 per day is comfortable in Kathmandu — guesthouse, three meals, transport, and 1–2 paid attractions. Below $20 is possible but requires staying in dorms and eating only at local 'khaja ghars' (Nepali diners).
Where to Stay on a Budget
- Thamel Guest House — Thamel. $8 dorm, $15 double. Clean, central, friendly. The classic budget choice.
- Hotel Silver Sky — Thamel. $10–$15 double. Good value, rooftop terrace.
- Hotel Puskar — Thamel. $10–$20. Family-run, excellent breakfast included.
- Alobar1000 — Thamel. $5 dorm, $12 private. Funky backpacker hub with great community.
- Hotel Family Home — Boudha. $10–$15. Quieter than Thamel, walking distance to Boudhanath Stupa.
- Z Street Guest House — Patan. $8–$12. Best value for exploring Patan (Lalitpur).
Where to Eat on a Budget
- Momos for $1–$2 — street stalls throughout Thamel and Asan. Try 'Yangling' in Thamel for the best momos in Kathmandu.
- Dal bhat for $2–$3 — local 'khaja ghars' (Nepali diners). Look for places full of Nepali workers — that is where the food is fresh and cheap.
- Newari set for $3–$4 — traditional Newari feast. Try 'Honacha' in Patan or 'Bhanchha Ghar' in Kirtipur.
- Samosas and pakoras for $0.30 — street snacks, available everywhere.
- Thukpa for $2–$3 — Tibetan noodle soup, perfect for cold evenings. Try 'Yangling' or 'Himalayan Java'.
- Tea (chiya) for $0.20 — milk tea from street vendors, available on every corner.
Free Things to Do in Kathmandu
- Wander Thamel — the backpacker district. Free to explore, window-shop, people-watch.
- Boudhanath Stupa circumambulation — walk around the stupa with Buddhist pilgrims at sunset. Free.
- Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) approach — the eastern stairway (365 steps) is free to climb. Stupa entry is $2.
- Garden of Dreams (early morning) — free before 9 am. $2 after that.
- Asan Bazaar — the traditional market. Free, and the best people-watching in Kathmandu.
- Durbar Square (from outside) — you can see most of the square without paying the $7.50 entry fee. Just walk along the perimeter.
- Hanuman Dhoka area — wander the old town streets for free.
- Pashupatinath ghats — view the cremation ghats from across the Bagmati river (free) or pay $10 to enter.
Cheap Things to Do in Kathmandu
- Swayambhunath entry — $2. Best sunset view in Kathmandu.
- Boudhanath Stupa entry — technically $0.50 but rarely enforced.
- Narayanhiti Palace Museum — $3. The former royal palace.
- Patan Durbar Square — $4. The best-preserved Durbar Square, in Lalitpur.
- Kathmandu Durbar Square — $7.50. The most famous, but you can see most of it for free from the perimeter.
- Bhaktapur Durbar Square — $11 for foreigners, $3 for SAARC. See our Bhaktapur day trip guide.
- National Museum — $3. In Chhauni, near Swayambhunath.
How to Get Around Kathmandu Cheaply
- Walk — Kathmandu is walkable, particularly the old town, Thamel and Durbar Square area.
- Local bus (microbus) — NPR 15–25 ($0.15–$0.25) per ride. Crowded but cheap. Ask your guesthouse which bus number to take.
- Tempos (3-wheeler) — NPR 20–30. Faster than buses, fixed routes.
- Pathao (ride-hailing app) — like Uber, but for motorbikes. NPR 50–100 per ride. Download the app.
- Taxi — NPR 200–500 ($1.50–$4). Always negotiate the fare before getting in.
- Taxi from airport — pay $5 max to Thamel. Better yet, walk 5 minutes outside the airport and hail one for $3.
Pro tip: Download the 'Pathao' app before you arrive. It is the local equivalent of Uber and works for both motorbikes (cheap) and cars (more expensive). Much cheaper than tourist taxis.
ATM and Money in Kathmandu
- ATMs are widely available in Thamel — most accept international cards
- Maximum withdrawal is NPR 35,000 ($260) per transaction
- ATM fees: NPR 500 ($4) for international cards
- Bring USD cash as backup — useful for trekking permits and visas
- Exchange money at official exchange counters in Thamel — better rates than banks or hotels
- Always carry small NPR notes (10s, 20s, 50s, 100s) — small shops and taxis cannot change large notes
Sample $25 Day in Kathmandu
| Time | Activity | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 am | Tea + momos at street stall | $1 |
| 8 am | Walk through Asan Bazaar to Kathmandu Durbar Square (free exterior view) | $0 |
| 10 am | Local bus to Swayambhunath | $0.20 |
| 10:30 am | Swayambhunath entry + climb | $2 |
| 12 pm | Dal bhat at local khaja ghar | $2.50 |
| 1 pm | Walk down to Thamel | $0 |
| 2 pm | Coffee at Himalayan Java | $2 |
| 3 pm | Garden of Dreams (early afternoon entry) | $2 |
| 5 pm | Taxi to Boudhanath Stupa | $2 |
| 5:30 pm | Sunset circumambulation at Boudhanath | $0 |
| 7 pm | Dinner at Yangling (momos + thukpa) | $4 |
| 8 pm | Walk back to guesthouse | $0 |
| Overnight | Thamel guesthouse dorm | $8 |
| TOTAL | $23.70 |
Common Tourist Traps to Avoid
- 'Student guides' offering free tours of Durbar Square — they will demand money at the end. Politely refuse.
- Taxi drivers quoting 5× the real price — always negotiate. Ask your guesthouse what the fare should be.
- Gemstone and pashmina shops offering 'special deals' — the gems are fake and the pashmina is synthetic.
- Trekking agencies with 'last minute' discounts — usually a scam. See our how to book a guide without getting scammed guide.
- Money changers offering 'no commission' — they hide the commission in the exchange rate. Compare rates at 2–3 places.
- Sadhus at Pashupatinath offering blessings then demanding $5–$10. A small NPR 50 tip is appropriate if you take a photo.
Money-Saving Tips for Kathmandu
- Stay in a dorm room — saves $10+ per night vs a private double
- Eat at local khaja ghars — saves $5+ per meal vs tourist restaurants
- Use local buses instead of taxis — saves $2–$4 per ride
- Drink tap water filtered through a LifeStraw or purification tablets — saves $2/day on bottled water
- Visit temples in the morning — many are free before 9 am
- Skip the Kathmandu Durbar Square entry fee — you can see most of it for free from the perimeter
- Buy trekking gear in Thamel (not at home) — much cheaper
- Negotiate everything except fixed-price items
- Share a taxi with other travellers
- Book treks through local agencies, not international resellers
Where to Buy Cheap Trekking Gear in Kathmandu
Thamel is full of trekking gear shops. The cheapest are:
- Shona's Alpine — best-value gear shop in Thamel. Genuine gear, fair prices.
- Trakking Equipment Center — great for renting sleeping bags and down jackets.
- Kalapatar Clothing — cheap trekking clothes (synthetic, not branded, but functional).
- Mountain Hardwear (fake) — most 'branded' gear in Thamel is fake. Quality varies. Test zippers and seams.
- Sherpa Adventure Gear — genuine, but pricey. Best for serious gear.
Kathmandu is one of the cheapest capital cities in Asia, and with a little planning you can have an incredible experience for under $30 a day. Stay in Thamel, eat at local khaja ghars, use public transport, and visit the free temples. For more on Nepal travel, see our Nepal travel budget guide and our 10 things first-time visitors must know guide.
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