Trip to Nepal Cost: How to Plan Your Nepal Trip Budget (2024)
Wondering how much does a trip to Nepal cost? Here is everything you need to know on how to plan your Nepal budget!
Nepal is such a beautiful country where you can do so many things from trekking to paragliding, jungle safaris or going on cable cars. I have been visiting and periodically living in Nepal since 2015, so here is how you can plan your budget for a trip to Nepal.
In general, the minimum you should budget for a trip to Nepal is around USD 25/day, excluding your flight ticket. This is around the minimum that travellers spend in Nepal that include the visa, accommodation, food, trekking and costs for other activities.
Nepal is considered as a cheap country for foreign visitors and there are many hotels and restaurants for various budgets.
If you are looking to save money, there are many hostels and budget restaurants. If you are not on a tight budget, there are also many high-end hotels and restaurants.
So how to plan the budget for Nepal? Here is a quick breakdown of a Nepal trip cost!
Nepal Budget: How Much Will a Trip to Nepal Cost?
1. NEPAL VISA PRICE
First and foremost, the most important part of starting your journey in Nepal, is getting your visa. You can get a Visa on Arrival for Nepal at the Tribhuvan International Airport after landing in Kathmandu.
Price of visa:
- 15 days: 30 USD
- 30 days: 50 USD
- 90 days: 125 USD
The maximum amount of days you can stay in Nepal is 150 days in a calendar year. Meaning, if you get a 90 day visa, after that, the most you can extend it to is an additional 60 days.
After you have used up the initial 90 days stay in Nepal, the price of visa extension is USD 3/day.
2. NEPAL SIM CARD PRICE
Although generally all hotels and restaurants have wifi, it is good to get a Nepali SIM card so you have internet wherever you go. It is easy to get a Nepali SIM card even for tourists and it costs about Rs. 200.
NCell and Nepal Telecom are the most popular network providers. They have various datapack options from 3-28 days.
In cities, NCell and Nepal Telecom have the same coverage, but some trekkers have reported better coverage of Nepal Telecom in the mountain trekking routes.
📞 Don’t have a Nepali SIM card yet? Check out how to get a SIM card in Nepal!
NCell datapack options include:
- 20 GB: 28 days, Rs. 499 (approx. USD 3.70)
- 1.5 GB/day + 5 GB: 28 days, Rs. 599 (approx. USD 4.50)
- 88 GB: 28 days, Rs. 888 (approx. USD 6.50)
3. NEPAL HOTELS PRICE
There are many hostels and hotels in Thamel, where most travellers stay. Whether you are on a budget or just looking to make travel buddies, staying in a hostel is a budget-friendly option.
If you want a little bit of comfort, there are many mid-range hotels too to choose from. The best place to browse hotels and hostels for Nepal is on booking.com. The more bookings you make through the app or website, the better deals you will get.
Hostels in Thamel
Price of hostels in Thamel: USD 3/night in a dorm
Prices for popular hostels in Thamel start from USD 3/night in a dorm. If you are staying in hostels, I recommend that you only book a hostel for the first 1-2 nights.
If you like the place, you can always extend your stay. If you do not like the vibe so much, you have the option to look for another place.
📍Best Budget Accommodation in Kathmandu: Flock Kathmandu (8.8/10 ⭐ based on 1,007 reviews)
Hotels in Thamel
Price of hotels in Thamel: USD 10/night +
Hotel rooms in Thamel start around USD 10/night. There are lots of hotels in Thamel and during low monsoon season (June-August), you may be able to get even lower prices.
📍Best Mid-Range Hotel in Kathmandu: Bodhi Boutique Hotel (9.6/10 ⭐ based on 893 reviews)
Airbnb
Price of Airbnb in Kathmandu: USD 11/night (20-30 minutes walk from Thamel)
Airbnb has become very popular in Kathmandu and Pokhara. You can also find budget friendly options for Airbnb which are almost the same as booking a hotel. With Airbnb you will have the added benefit of having your own kitchen.
The most popular Airbnb stays sell out months in advance so make sure to book it well in advance.
In Kathmandu, you may find small studio flats for about USD 11/night within 20-30 minutes of walking distance to Thamel. You will also get a good deal if you stay long and book a monthly stay.
Airbnb is great as you will have access to a kitchen and reduce the costs you are spending on food and drinks. Even if you just make your own breakfast and coffee, it will save you a lot.
4. NEPAL FOOD PRICE
There are plenty of restaurants in Thamel both catering to western and local food. You will find lots of high-end restaurants but also quality budget restaurants.
If you want to save on food costs, try to go for local restaurants where the prices will be lower. There always comes a time when we crave some western food and you will find plenty of them in Kathmandu and other big cities in Nepal.
Prices of meals in Kathmandu: USD 15–30/day
Local restaurants:
- Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and coffee/tea: Rs. 200
- Lunch/Dinner: Nepali Veg Dal Bhat: Rs. 200
Total budget for food at local restaurant: Rs. 600 (USD 4.50)/day
Looking to save money? Check out the best cheap restaurants in Thamel (Kathmandu) and cheap restaurants in Pokhara here!
Western type restaurants:
- Breakfast: Banana pancake and coffee/tea: Rs 550
- Lunch/Dinner: Rs. 500-1,000
Total budget for food at western type restaurant: Rs. 2,000-4,000 (USD 15-30)/day
5. NEPAL TRANSPORTATION COSTS
If you plan on going for trips around Nepal, you will have to take some type of transportation. While taking the bus is the most common way to get around Nepal, it is also possible to take a flight or hire a private car.
Some approximate transportation cost in Nepal include:
- Tourist bus (one way): Kathmandu to Pokhara: Rs. 1,000 – Rs 1,700 (approx. USD 7.50 – 13)
- Public bus within Kathmandu: Rs. 25/trip
- Taxi (car): Kathmandu to Patan Durbar Square: Rs. 500
- Taxi (motorbike): Kathmandu to Patan Durbar Square: Rs. 150
- Flights: Kathmandu to Pokhara: USD 100
🚌 Want to know more about travelling in Nepal? Check out bus travel in Nepal here!
6. NEPAL WORLD HERITAGE SITES TICKET PRICE
The Kathmandu Valley has 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and they are some of the main tourist attractions in the city.
You might not have enough time to visit all the World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu but visiting a few of them will give a great insight into the culture and architecture of Nepal.
Kathmandu World Heritage Sites Ticket Prices:
- Kathmandu Durbar Square: Rs. 1,000 (USD 7.50)
- Patan Durbar Square: Rs. 1,000 (USD 7.50)
- Bhaktapur Durbar Square: Rs. 1,800 (USD 13.50)
- Boudha Stupa: Rs. 400 (USD 1.50)
- Swoyambhu Stupa: Rs. 200 (USD 1.50)
- Pashupatinath Temple: Rs. 1,000 (USD 7.50)
- Changu Narayan Temple: Rs. 300 (USD 2)
7. NEPAL MUSEUM TICKET PRICE
Apart from the World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu, there are also a couple of museums that are worth checking out if you want to learn more about the history and culture of Nepal.
- Taragaon Museum: Rs. 100 (USD 0.70)
- Museum of Nepali Art: Rs. 500 (USD 4)
- Narayanhiti Palace Museum: Rs. 1,000 (USD 7.50)
- Aviation Museum: Rs. 500 (USD 4)
Want to know more? Check out the best museums in Kathmandu here!
8. NEPAL TREKKING COSTS
Annapurna Region Trekking Permits:
- ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project): Rs 3,000 (USD 22)
- TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System): Rs 2,000 (USD 15)
Sagarmatha Region Trekking Permits:
- Sagarmatha National Park Entry fee: Rs. 3,000 (USD 22)
Daily Trekking Spending:
It is generally advised to budget about USD 25-30/day while trekking. It equivalent to about Rs. 3,500-4,000/day.
Usually, the prices for teahouses range between Rs. 500-1,000/night and food around Rs. 500-800/meal.
The prices of food usually start at about Rs. 500 at lower altitudes and then goes up as you trek higher up. This is due to the rising costs teahouses also have to pay for the food items to be delivered to the altitude they are located at.
The cost of trekking in Nepal can be significantly lower if you go for a less advertised (“commercialised”) trek, such as Pikey Peak or Panch Pokhari.
9. OTHER ACTIVITIES COSTS
- Paragliding in Pokhara: NPR 8,000 (USD 60) for a 30-minute flight
- Swimming pool: Rs. 2,000 (USD 15) per day at a hotel in Thamel
Nepal Budget for 30 Days
| Visa | USD 50 |
| SIM card + internet | USD 4.50 |
| Accommodation | USD 220 |
| Food and drinks | USD 210 |
| Transportation | USD 80 |
| World Heritage Sites | USD 32 |
| Museums | USD 12 |
| Trekking permit | USD 37 |
| Other activities | USD 60 |
| Other costs (souvenirs, medicines, clothes) | USD 50 |
| Total budget for 30 days in Nepal | USD 755.50 per person for 30 days USD 25/ day per person |
FAQs: Nepal Budget: How Much Will a Trip to Nepal Cost?
How much will a trip to Nepal cost?
Generally the average cost of a trip to Nepal is minimum around USD 25/day excluding flights.
Is Nepal a cheap place to visit?
Nepal tends to be a cheap place to visit for foreigners, especially if you come from a country where the currency is stronger than the Nepali Rupee.
Currently USD 1= Rs. 133.
How much is a 2 week trip to Nepal?
A 2 week trip to Nepal generally costs at least USD 350 (excluding flights). This is based on a minimum of USD 25/day for 14 days.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the minimum you should budget for a trip to Nepal is around USD 25/day, excluding your flight ticket. This is around the minimum that travellers spend in Nepal that include the visa, accommodation, food, trekking and costs for other activities.
In general, Nepal is considered as a cheap country for foreign visitors and there are many hotels and restaurants for various budgets.
If you are looking to save money, there are many hostels and budget restaurants. If you are not on a tight budget, there are also many high-end hotels and restaurants.
Nepal Trip Planning
Book your flight to Nepal: Check out Skyscanner or Kiwi.com to find the best flights deals!
Book Your Accommodation for Nepal: Are you looking for accommodation? Booking.com has everything from budget to luxury accommodation. For the cheapest places, check out Hostelworld.com.
Book Tours and Activities for Nepal: GetYourGuide and Viator have a vast number of tours and day trip activities all around the world. Check out their website and book your activity!
Get Travel Insurance for Nepal: It is always good to be on the safe side when travelling. SafetyWing is one of the most affordable international travel insurance and you can book it even after you have already started your trip.
Get Your Travel Cards: Whenever I am abroad, I always use travel cards Wise and Revolut. They have multiple currencies available, you can use it in shops and restaurants. The great thing is that they have the best exchange rates!
Looking for other tips to make travel easier? Check out my complete list of travel resources that have been my go-to companies when abroad or planning a trip.
Nepal Quick Guide
Can I get a Visa on Arrival for Nepal?
Yes! Almost all nationalities can get a ‘Visa on Arrival’ once landing at the Tribhuvan Airport in Kathmandu (check eligibility here). Getting a Visa-on-Arrival for Nepal is quick and easy. Read here my full guide on getting a Visa on Arrival for Nepal.
Should I get a Nepali SIM card?
Yes! Once you arrive in Nepal, it is recommended to get a Nepali SIM card.
SIM cards in Nepal are cheap and easy to get. There are daily, weekly or monthly data plans – all at an affordable cost. For more information, check how to get a SIM card in Nepal here.
Are there any useful mobile apps I can use in Nepal?
Yes! There are a couple of mobile apps that come handy when travelling in Nepal, including taxi apps, offline maps for trekking, booking accommodation and travel cards.
Check out my list of the most useful mobile apps to have in Nepal.
Can I exchange money in Nepal? What about ATMs?
Yes! Thamel (where most tourists stay) has many money exchange shops as well as ATMs.
There is also a currency exchange shop at the airport but the rates are better in Thamel. Read here all about currency exchange and ATMs in Nepal.
Is it safe to travel by bus in Nepal?
The roads are dangerous but generally yes (best to travel by a tourist bus)!
I would say road travel in Nepal is generally dangerous due to the road conditions. The roads are narrow and go through mountainous areas. The tourist buses in Nepal have the best safety, so if possible, make sure to book tourist buses when travelling in Nepal.
Overall, the roads might look dangerous but the drivers are used to the road conditions in Nepal so the tourist buses are a safe choice. Here is everything you need to know about bus travel in Nepal.
Can I book bus tickets online in Nepal?
Yes! It is possible to book bus tickets online in Nepal however, I recommend it for those staying in Nepal for 3+ months.
It is not possible to book bus tickets online using an international bank card but only through registering on a Nepali digital payment app eSewa. If you are staying long-term in Nepal, read here my step-by-step guide on how to book bus tickets online using eSewa.
Do they speak English in Nepal?
You might wonder “Do they speak English in Nepal?” It depends on where in Nepal you are. In big cities (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Sauraha/Chitwan) or trekking routes (Annapurna, Everest) that have many tourists, you will easily get by speaking English.
If you are in remote Nepal where not many tourists go, people usually will have little or no English. Here is a quick list of useful Nepali phrases to know while travelling in Nepal.
