Destination: Nepal

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION

Money & Costs

If you stay in budget accommodation and survive on a predominantly Nepali diet you could live in Nepal for US$5 to US$7 a day. On an independent ‘village inn’ or ‘teahouse’ trek your living costs are likely to be around that level.

If you stay in comfortable, upper budget or lower midrange hotels, sit down to eat in popular tourist-oriented restaurants, rent bicycles and take taxis from time to time your living costs could be around US$14 to US$20 a day. Move to a midrange hotel, hire a car between towns and spend much time rafting or on an organised trek and you are looking at US$40 to US$50 per day. The tourist centres of Kathmandu and Pokhara seem to suck money out of you by osmosis, primarily because there are so many ways to spend it. Kathmandu’s Thamel district is aiming itself more at the upper budget range these days.

The current slump in tourism has resulted in widespread discounting and the rates at midrange hotels in particular are currently a steal.

Most hotels and restaurants in the mid to upper ranges charge 13% VAT on top of published prices.

HOW MUCH?

Budget hotel: US$5-10
Midrange hotel: US$20-60|
Rafting trip: US$35 per day
Trekking porter: US$7-10 per day
Internet in Kathmandu: Rs 20-40 per hour
Litre of petrol/gas: Rs 67
Litre of bottled water: Rs 10-15
Bottle of Tuborg Beer (in a restaurant): Rs 140-170
Souvenir T-shirt: Rs 400
Plate of momos (steamed dumplings): Rs 20-40

Travelling to Nepal?
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