Which place is cheaper, Alesund or Kathmandu?
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 Kathmandu or Alesund?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kathmandu and Alesund 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: Kathmandu or Alesund?
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.
Alesund
Alesund is a port town on the west coast of Norway, at the entrance to the Geirangerfjord. It could be the backdrop for a Nordic fairytale – with a modern plot twist. It's known for the art nouveau architectural style in which most of the town was rebuilt after a fire in 1904, as documented at the Jugendstilsenteret museum. And it's no coincidence that Alesund and the surrounding areas are among the most visited sites for tourists in Norway. Many use The Art Nouveau town as a starting point to explore the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Geirangerfjord, the bird sanctuary island of Runde, or the spectacular snow-capped summits of the Hjorundfjord and the Sunnmorsalpene. There are panoramic views of Alesund's architecture, the surrounding archipelago and fjords from the Mount Aksla lookout. The town of Alesund has a beautiful setting across several islands stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean and you find unspoilt and beautiful nature the whole year round.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Norway, and The Best Contiki Tours to Norway.
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Kathmandu Prices
Nepal PricesAlesund Prices
Norway Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKathmandu $55Alesund $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $55, while the average daily cost in Alesund is $143. 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 Kathmandu and Alesund in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKathmandu $35Alesund $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKathmandu $70Alesund $124
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Alesund
Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Alesund? 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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kathmandu $6.09Alesund $30
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$1.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Kathmandu - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel: $12
- Tribhuvan International Airport Transfer Service: $12
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer: Arrival or Departure Service: $15
- Airport Transfers in Kathmandu – Pickup OR Drop-Off Service: $15
- Private car transfer from Kathmandu Airport to hotels in Kathmandu: $15
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $16
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle: $20
- Deluxe Toyota Coaster Mini Bus Transfer From Kathmandu to Pokhara or V. V.: $22
- Rent a Private Car with Driver for Kathmandu City Transfer: $25
- Tribhuvan International Airport KTM Private Transfer to Kathmandu: $28
- Private Transfer: Hotel to Kathmandu Airport Vehicle: $35
- Private Transfer to Bhaktapur from Kathmandu: $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alesund
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alesund:
- Private Transfer from Alesund Vigra Airport (AES) to Alesund Port: $52
- Alesund Vigra Airport (AES) to Alesund - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Alesund Vigra Airport (AES) to Alesund hotels-Round Trip Transfer: $104
- Private Transfer from Alesund city hotels to Maloy Cruise Port: $160
- Private Transfer from Alesund Airport (AES) to Maloy Cruise Port: $160
- Aalesund Private Transfer from Aalesund (AES) Airport to City centre: $162
- Private Transfer from Alesund City Hotels to Olden Cruise Port: $165
- Private Transfer To OR From Airport in Ålesund: $189
- Private Transfer from Alesund City Hotels to Andalsnes Port: $213
- Private Transfer from Alesund Airport (AES) to Andalsnes Port: $213
- Private Transfer from Alesund Vigra Airport (AES) to Olden Port: $225
Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Alesund?
Prices for flights to both Alesund and Kathmandu 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 dayKathmandu $13Alesund $61
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.18
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Dinner for Two$2.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Local Foodie Food Tour around Durbar Square: $15
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
- 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
- Momo Cooking Class -The Art Of Making MoMo with Home Chef: $35
- Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights Kathmandu 14+ Tastings: $35
- Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36
- Exotic Food Tour Newari Flavors and Evening Trails 15 Tastings: $40
- Walking Food tour: Food and Drink Tasting with Guide In Kathmandu: $40
- Walking Street Food Tour in Kathmandu: $48
- Cooking Class with Vyas: $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kathmandu $7.04Alesund $19
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$1.32
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.29
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.32
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- All Seven UNESCO Sightseeing Tour in Kathmandu Valley: $5.00
- Private Chandragiri Cable Car and The Monkey Temple Tour: $5.00
- Full Day Guided Tour in Kathmandu: $5.00
- Full Day Private Tour of Seven World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu: $5.00
- Women Thamel Walking Tour: $7.50
- Private Full Day Kathmandu Day Tour | Top 4 UNESCO Heritage Sites: $9.50
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $10
- Full Day Top 4 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $10
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Heritage Private Tour with Lunch.: $10
- Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Square Day Tour with Lunch.: $10
- Private World Heritage Sites Tour/ 4 UNESCO Tour.: $10
- Kathmandu to Chitwan Tourist Bus Tickets: $11
Tours and Activities in Alesund
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Alesund are as follows:
- The Essence of Ålesund Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Geiranger Fjord Tour (Hellesylt-Geiranger one way): $43
- Ålesund Two Hour Walking City Tour: $48
- Alesund Walking Tour Art Nouveau and Postcard Views: $74
- Hellesylt Panorama Tour in Ljoen Viewpoint and Oye Village: $75
- Molde and Atlantic Ocean Road Audio Tour: $85
- Hellesylt Sightseeing Boat Geirangerfjord: $97
- Hjørundfjord Fjord Tour Roundtrip from Ålesund: $119
- Guided Adventure on Fjord Kayaking in Hellesylt, Norway: $129
- Fjord paddle in Hellesylt - the perfect fjord adventure: $135
- Fjord Cruise & Island Hike from Molde: $139
- Alnes Lighthouse, Sunnmøre Museum, Aksla and City Sightseeing: $139
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKathmandu $5.06Alesund $14
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 Kathmandu and Alesund, we can see that Alesund is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kathmandu is in Asia and Alesund is in Europe, 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 Alesund would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Alesund 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 Kathmandu Expensive? and Is Alesund Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Alesund?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Alesund. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and Alesund, 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.