Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu or Helsinki?
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 Helsinki or Kathmandu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Helsinki and Kathmandu can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Helsinki or Kathmandu?
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.
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 10-Day Tours in Finland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
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Helsinki Prices
Finland PricesKathmandu Prices
Nepal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHelsinki €164Kathmandu €47
The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €164, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is €47. 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 Helsinki and Kathmandu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHelsinki €73Kathmandu €30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHelsinki €146Kathmandu €60
Compare Hotels in Helsinki and Kathmandu
Looking for a hotel in Helsinki 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: Helsinki Hotel Prices and Kathmandu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Helsinki €22Kathmandu €5.17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki
Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Helsinki City Private Departure Transfer to Helsinki Airport HEL: $66
- Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $69
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki West Terminal Private Transfer: $69
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Hotels to Helsinki Cruise Terminal: $69
- Helsinki to Helsinki Airport (HEL) - Departure Private Transfer: $69
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Cruise Terminal to Helsinki hotels: $69
- Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer: $69
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Port to Helsinki Airport (HEL): $69
- Private Transfer from Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki Port: $69
- Helsinki West Terminal to Helsinki Airport (HEL) - Departure Private Transfer: $69
- Private VIP Transfer from or to Helsinki Airport: $79
- Minivan Departure Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL: $84
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€1.12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
- Tribhuvan International Airport Transfer Service: $20
- Tribhuvan International Airport KTM Private Transfer to Kathmandu: $28
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Pokhara Hotels: $244
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel: $25
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle: $20
- Private Transfer: Hotel to Kathmandu Airport Vehicle: $35
- Private Transfer to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $170
- Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Nagarkot with return transfers from Kathmandu: $158
- Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Dhulikhel with return transfers from Kathmandu: $144
Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Kathmandu?
Prices for flights to both Kathmandu and Helsinki 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 dayHelsinki €59Kathmandu €11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Helsinki Authentic Walking Food Tour with 8 Local Tastings: $122
- From Moose & Wildlife Safari with Campfire Dinner: $173
- FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $189
- Sauna and Dinner with Locals in a Lake-Side Home near Helsinki: $292
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert€1.01
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Dinner for Two€2.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Saturday Hidden Kathmandu Walk and Food Tour: $10
- Local Foodie Food Tour around Durbar Square: $15
- Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
- Home Made Authentic Nepali Dinner (veg/non vegg): $18
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
- Authentic Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $23
- Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $24
- Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking Class: $30
- Patan Food Tour Walking and Food Testing: $35
- Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights Kathmandu 14+ Tastings: $35
- Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Helsinki €27Kathmandu €5.98
Tours and Activities in Helsinki
For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Helsinki Self Guided City Tour: $1.17
- Helsinki Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Helsinki Christmas Lights Self Guided Walking Tour with an APP: $9.99
- Helsinki’s Island Fortress: An Audio Tour of Suomenlinna: $12
- Discover Helsinki City Walk - Multiple Tours Daily: $24
- A Finntastic Walking Tour in Helsinki: $24
- Suomenlinna Ferry and Guided Walking Tour in the Fortress: $31
- Sightseeing Cruise in Archipelago of Helsinki: $33
- Helsinki Canal Cruise: $34
- TAITO: The Helsinki Design, Industry & Architecture Walking Tour: $36
- Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour: $43
- Helsinki Private Walking Tour with a Local: $50
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€1.12
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two€2.79
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Swayambhunath Stupa€1.12
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- 1 Day Gay Tour Nepal: $155
- 1 Day Kathmandu 7 UNESCO Heritage Tour: $70
- 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $35
- 1 Day Valley Rim Biking Tour in Kathmandu: $160
- 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu: $141
- 1 Night 2 Days Daman Tour: $215
- 1 Nights 2 Days Private Nagarkot Tour Package from Kathmandu: $150
- 2 Day Kathmandu City with Nagarkot Sunrise, Changu Narayan and Bhaktapur Tour: $236
- 2 Day Poon Hill Trek with 2 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $731
- 2 Days Hindu Pilgrimage Tour in Nepal: $146
- 2 Days and 1 Night Chitwan Safari Tour: $125
- 2 Night 3 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Kathmandu: $235
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHelsinki €16Kathmandu €4.26
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
- Bar Tour & Pub Crawl -Sip, Stroll, Repeat Thamel's Night: $75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Kathmandu, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Helsinki 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki 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 Helsinki Expensive? and Is Kathmandu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Kathmandu?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki 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.