Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu or Bucharest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Bucharest or Kathmandu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Bucharest and Kathmandu. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Bucharest or Kathmandu?
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital and largest city in the country of Romania. With about 2 million residents living in the city and about 2.4 million in the surrounding urban area, it is also one of the largest cities in Southeastern Europe. As such, it is the economic, industrial and commercial center for the country. As a visitor, you will likely enter Romania by arriving in Bucharest. The city continues to grow and change, and there are ongoing infrastructure projects that continue to modernize the city. It is not uncommon to find historic churches on the same block as modern office buildings and Communist style apartment buildings. There are also many sights around town and the city continues to grow as a trendy and fascinating city.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bucharest, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Romania, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
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Bucharest Prices
Romania PricesKathmandu Prices
Nepal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBucharest $192Kathmandu $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Bucharest is $192, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $61. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bucharest and Kathmandu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBucharest $67Kathmandu $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBucharest $134Kathmandu $78
Compare Hotels in Bucharest and Kathmandu
Looking for a hotel in Bucharest or Kathmandu? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bucharest Hotel Prices and Kathmandu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bucharest $28Kathmandu $6.78
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bucharest
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bucharest:
- Therme Bucuresti Shuttle Transfer: $16
- Bucharest Airport Transfer by Bus – Up to 50 Persons: $16
- Bucharest Private Airport Transfer by Minivan 8 Persoane: $23
- Bucharest Private Airport Transfer from or to City Center Hotel: $23
- Bucharest Airport Transfer: $23
- Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Tecuci: $24
- Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Barlad: $26
- Airport Transfer -One way Bucharest Otopeni Henri Coandă Airport : $27
- Bucharest Otopeni Airport private departure transfer (Hotel to Airport): $28
- Bucharest Airport: Bus Transfer to/from Vaslui OMV: $28
- Bucharest Otopeni Airport OTP to Bucharest City Center Hotel - private transfer: $29
- Private transfer Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport: $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Airport Transfers in Kathmandu – Pickup OR Drop-Off Service: $15
- Chandragiri Hill Cable Car Tour with Hotel Transfers from Kathmandu: $60
- Chitwan to Pokhara Transfer by Private AC Car (One Way): $80
- Everest Scenic Flight with Transfers – Reserve for $10: $10
- From Lukla Flight Ticket with Shared Transfer: $305
- From One-Way Private Transfer to Pokhara: $145
- Kathmandu - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel : $12
- Kathmandu : Everest Mountain Flight - with Private Transfers: $391
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $15
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $14
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer: $30
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into Bucharest or Kathmandu?
Prices for flights to both Kathmandu and Bucharest change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBucharest $107Kathmandu $14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bucharest
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bucharest.
- Dinner+Tour at Museum of Communism after closing: $53
- 5 Premium Wine Tasting and Dinner, including Sommelier: $78
- Romanian Wines Tasting with Dinner and Sommelier: $78
- Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $90
- Cooking Class traditional food: $94
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner: $101
- Bucharest Evening Tour and Traditional Dinner - 3 hours: $103
- Discover Private Highlights and Traditional Food Tour: $116
- Cooking Class in Transylvania - Day Tour from Bucharest: $193
- 4-Hour Walking Food Tour in the Old Town: $215
- Bucharest City Tour & Traditional Home-made Cooking Experience: $245
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.32
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Dinner for Two$2.93
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Hadigaun Kathmandu All-Inclusive Food Tour: $5.00
- Local Women-Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo Class: $5.00
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $8.00
- Local Women-Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo Class: $8.00
- Local Women-Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo Class: $8.00
- Local Women-Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo Class: $9.00
- Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu : $14
- Private Cooking class with Pickup and Drop: $15
- Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $18
- Half Day Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Visit: $23
- Cooking Class in Nepal: $25
- Nepal: Dinner at a Local Home with a Local Family: $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bucharest $15Kathmandu $7.83
Tours and Activities in Bucharest
Here are a few actual costs in Bucharest for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bucharest Self Guided Tour from Dictator to Dracula: $5.77
- Bucharest 1989 Revolution Walking Tour with Smartphone App: $6.81
- Entry ticket at the Museum of Communism: $9.20
- Ghost Hunt Quest Experience: $9.27
- Museum of Communism Ticket with Communist Coffee: $10
- Reptiland Bucharest Entry Ticket: $11
- Museum of Senses Entry Ticket: $11
- Alternative Bucharest Walking Tour: $12
- Private Tour with a Local Guide: $17
- Walking Tour - Delightful Bucharest (Old Town & Victory Avenue): $20
- Dracula's Castle, Brasov and Peles Full-Day Tour from Bucharest: $20
- Peles Castle, Bran Castle, & Brasov Old Town Tour: $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.46
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.66
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.46
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- 4 UNESCO World Heritage Site Tour Nepal: $0.42
- Private Sightseeing Tour: $2.28
- Private/Group Tour to 7 UNESCO Sites with Lunch: $5.00
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $5.00
- Full-Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $5.00
- Top 4 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $5.00
- Private/Group Tour to 7 UNESCO Sites with Lunch: $5.00
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $5.00
- Everest Helicopter Tour through Kalapatthar: $5.00
- 7 UNESCO Sites Private with Lunch/Group Day Tour: $5.25
- From 2 Stupas and Kopan Monastery Spiritual Tour: $6.09
- Nepal: Tourist Bus Service (Luxury Tourist Bus All Nepal): $7.61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBucharest $9.78Kathmandu $5.62
Sample the Local Flavors in Bucharest
Also in Bucharest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Weekend Pub Crawl: $25
- Bucharest Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $28
- Private Bucharest Pub Crawl: $32
- Wine Tasting and Cheese Platter: $33
- Romanian Wine Tasting Experience at Corks: $34
- Bachelor Party - Custom Bar Crawl: $36
- Bucharest Guided Pub Crawl: $41
- Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $45
- Pub Crawl in the Old CIty and Rooftop Hopping in Bucharest: $50
- Wine Tasting in Bucharest: $55
- Private Wine Tasting Experience: $59
- Bucharest Private Old Town Pub and Bar Crawl with Guide: $60
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
- Nightlife and Pub Crawl Tour: $55
- Kathmandu Nightlife Tour - Pub Crawl: $114
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bucharest and Kathmandu, we can see that Bucharest is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bucharest is in Europe and Kathmandu is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bucharest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bucharest than you might in Kathmandu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bucharest Expensive? and Is Kathmandu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bucharest or Kathmandu?
Bucharest has a larger population, and is about 30% larger than the population of Kathmandu. When comparing the sizes of Bucharest and Kathmandu, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.