Price comparison
The same 29 everyday buys in India and Nepal, from a coffee to an airport taxi: what locals pay, what tourist spots charge, and where your money goes further.
The numbers that decide a trip, in one table. Money in USD, the local price underneath.
What locals pay in India and Nepal, item by item. Shown in USD at one daily rate so the two sides compare, with the local price underneath. Differences under 3% count as about the same.
15 of the 29 items cost less in India.
Bottled, convenience store
India: ≈ $0.16 – $0.26 ₹15 – ₹25 Nepal: ≈ $0.10 – $0.19 Rs 15–30 Cafe or street vendor
India: ≈ $0.31 – $2.60 ₹30 – ₹250 Nepal: ≈ $0.71 – $1.60 Rs 110–250 Draft, at bar or restaurant
India: ≈ $1.60 – $3.10 ₹150 – ₹300 Nepal: ≈ $2.30 – $3.90 Rs 350–600 Tourist area, main course
India: ≈ $2.60 – $6.20 ₹250 – ₹600 Nepal: ≈ $3.90 – $7.80 Rs 600–1,200 Local market or stand
India: ≈ $0.31 – $1 ₹30 – ₹100 Nepal: ≈ $0.32 – $0.97 Rs 50–150 Mixed drink, bar
India: ≈ $2.60 – $5.20 ₹250 – ₹500 Nepal: ≈ $3.90 – $6.50 Rs 600–1,000 House wine, restaurant
India: ≈ $8 – $19 ₹800 – ₹1,800 Nepal: ≈ $4.50 – $13 Rs 700–2,000 Cafe or street stall
India: ≈ $0.31 – $0.83 ₹30 – ₹80 Nepal: ≈ $1.60 – $3.20 Rs 250–500 Standard route
India: ≈ $5 – $12 ₹500 – ₹1,200 Nepal: ≈ $3.20 – $7.80 Rs 500–1,200 Metered or typical fare
India: ≈ $0.10 – $0.26 ₹10 – ₹25 Nepal: ≈ $1.90 – $2.60 Rs 300–400 Single ride
India: ≈ $0.10 – $0.62 ₹10 – ₹60 Nepal: ≈ $0.16 – $0.32 Rs 25–50 Grab / Bolt / Uber
India: ≈ $1.60 – $4.20 ₹150 – ₹400 Nepal: ≈ $1.90 – $3.90 Rs 300–600 Tourist shop
India: ≈ $0.52 – $1.60 ₹50 – ₹150 Nepal: ≈ $0.32 – $0.97 Rs 50–150 Tourist shop
India: ≈ $1 – $2.10 ₹100 – ₹200 Nepal: ≈ $1.30 – $3.20 Rs 200–500 Ceramics, textiles, etc.
India: ≈ $3 – $16 ₹300 – ₹1,500 Nepal: ≈ $1.90 – $6.50 Rs 300–1,000 Data package
India: ≈ $3.10 – $5.20 ₹300 – ₹500 Nepal: ≈ $2.60 – $6.50 Rs 400–1,000 Pharmacy or shop
India: ≈ $2.10 – $6.20 ₹200 – ₹600 Nepal: ≈ $3.20 – $5.80 Rs 500–900 Supermarket
India: ≈ $0.21 – $0.36 ₹20 – ₹35 Nepal: ≈ $0.23 – $0.39 Rs 35–60 Pack of 20
India: ≈ $3.60 – $5.20 ₹350 – ₹500 Nepal: ≈ $1.90 – $3.20 Rs 300–500 Pack of 20 tablets
India: ≈ $0.21 – $0.62 ₹20 – ₹60 Nepal: ≈ $0.16 – $0.29 Rs 25–45 Spray or lotion
India: ≈ $0.83 – $2.10 ₹80 – ₹200 Nepal: ≈ $1.30 – $3.20 Rs 200–500 Local barbershop
India: ≈ $1 – $3.10 ₹100 – ₹300 Nepal: ≈ $0.97 – $1.90 Rs 150–300 Laundry service
India: ≈ $0.52 – $1.10 ₹50 – ₹110 Nepal: ≈ $0.65 – $1.30 Rs 100–200 Standard full-body massage
India: ≈ $10 – $26 ₹1,000 – ₹2,500 Nepal: ≈ $10 – $23 Rs 1,500–3,500 Basic cut, salon
India: ≈ $4.20 – $9.30 ₹400 – ₹900 Nepal: ≈ $3.20 – $9.70 Rs 500–1,500 Entrance ticket
India: ≈ $0.21 – $6.70 ₹20 – ₹650 Nepal: ≈ $6.50 – $9.70 Rs 1,000–1,500 Organized excursion
India: ≈ $16 – $31 ₹1,500 – ₹3,000 Nepal: ≈ $13 – $36 Rs 2,000–5,500 Organized excursion 6-8h
India: ≈ $16 – $36 ₹1,500 – ₹3,500 Nepal: ≈ $19 – $49 Rs 3,000–7,500 Local cuisine cooking class
India: ≈ $10 – $26 ₹1,000 – ₹2,500 Nepal: ≈ $16 – $52 Rs 2,500–8,000 Tourist prices are about 3.3× the fair price in India, against 2.8× in Nepal.
India 2nd highest of 60
Nepal 28th highest of 60
What is expected in each country, so you neither stiff anyone nor overpay.
India Tip 50-100 INR at restaurants if no service charge is included. Taxi drivers don't expect tips, but rounding up is appreciated; hotel staff expect 50-100 INR per bag.
Nepal Tipping is not mandatory but is a vital income supplement for tourism staff. For trekking, tip guides 1,500–2,000 NPR and porters 1,000–1,500 NPR per day. In restaurants, mandatory service charges are legally prohibited; if service is excellent, a 5–10% tip is appreciated. Use clean NPR notes and hand them over with your right hand.
No. In India you pay about 10% less than in Nepal at fair prices. TruePrice Index: India 38, Nepal 42 (100 is the median of the 60 countries I track). 15 of the 29 items cost less in India.
A week is cheaper in India: about $70 at fair prices, against $97 in Nepal. That covers two meals, a coffee, water, a beer, two transit rides and a short taxi ride a day. Flights and accommodation are not included. At tourist-trap prices the same week runs about $210 in India and $220 in Nepal.
In India: food and drinks cost about 14% less there on average. A restaurant meal costs $2.60 – $6.20 in India and $3.90 – $7.80 in Nepal, street food $0.31 – $1 and $0.32 – $0.97.
In India: tourist prices there are about 3.3× the fair price on average, against 2.8× in Nepal. The biggest gaps in India: city taxi 1 km (17.1×), printed T-shirt (5.7×), and painkillers (5.0×).
Where these numbers come from, and how the comparison works.
How to cite
TruePrice, India vs Nepal, October 2026, truepriceapp.com/en/compare/india-vs-nepal/
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