Should you visit Kathmandu or Boston?
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 Boston 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 Boston?
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.
Boston
Boston is one of the oldest and most historic cities in New England. It is also the capital of the state of Massachusetts and the largest city in the region. The city proper covers 48 square miles and has a population of more than 600,000. The Greater Boston area has 4.5 million people and is the tenth largest metropolitan area in the country.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.
Which place is cheaper, Boston or Kathmandu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $55, while the average daily cost in Boston is $291. 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 Boston in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Boston? 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 and
Boston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
-
Kathmandu Airport Transfer (Airport to Hotel or Hotel to Airport):
$8.00
-
Airport Transfers in Kathmandu – Pickup OR Drop-Off Service:
$15
-
Kathmandu - Private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport:
$15
-
Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer: Arrival or Departure Service:
$15
-
Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers:
$16
-
Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer Service:
$17
-
Kathmandu Airport Transfer Service:
$18
-
Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle:
$20
-
Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle:
$20
-
Kathmandu Airport Transfer to hotels – Easy, Safe & Hassle-Free:
$20
-
Tribhuvan International Airport Transfer Service:
$20
-
Kathmandu to Pokhara or Pokhara to Kathmandu Private Transfer:
$30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Boston
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Boston are as follows:
-
Taxi
$35
-
Subway Daily Pass
$9.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boston:
-
BOS Airport Private Transfer to/from Boston Downtown:
$37
-
Boston Airport Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 passengers:
$38
-
Boston Logan Airport (BOS) to Boston - Arrival Private Transfer:
$60
-
Boston to Boston Logan Airport (BOS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$60
-
Manchester–Boston Regional Airport to Manchester - Arrival Private Transfer:
$73
-
Manchester to Manchester–Boston Regional Airport - Departure Private Transfer:
$73
-
Private Transfer from Flynn Cruise Port to Boston Airport (BOS):
$80
-
One Way Airport Transfer Service:
$85
-
Departure Private Transfer Boston to Boston Airport BOS:
$101
-
Arrival Transfer: Boston Airport BOS to Boston by Business Car:
$116
-
Departure Transfer: Boston to Boston Airport BOS by Business Car:
$116
-
Private Transfer from Flynn Cruise Port to Boston city hotels:
$120
Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Boston?
Prices for flights to both Boston 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
-
Food
Meals for one day
Kathmandu $13
Boston $86
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
-
Dessert
$1.18
-
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.
-
Saturday Hidden Kathmandu Walk and Food Tour:
$10
-
Local Foodie Food Tour around Durbar Square:
$15
-
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
-
Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights Kathmandu 14+ Tastings:
$35
-
Momo Cooking Class -The Art Of Making MoMo with Home Chef:
$35
-
Patan Food Tour Walking and Food Testing:
$35
-
Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu:
$36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Boston
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Boston.
-
Self-Guided "The North End Pizza, Cannoli and Picnic" Tour:
$5.50
-
Morning Walks with Salem Food Tours:
$34
-
Freedom Trail History and Food Tour:
$39
-
Boston’s North End Food Tour: Italian Flavors and Heritage Walk:
$60
-
Boston Food Tour: Pizza & North End Italian Classics:
$69
-
Boston Sweet Treats Food Tour: Fresh Donuts, Cider & Much More:
$70
-
Harvard Square's Sweetest Food Tour: Donuts, Sweet Treats & More:
$70
-
Boston Holiday Food Tour: Donuts, Sweet Treats & Holiday Cheer:
$70
-
Harvard Square French Fry and Pairings Food Tour:
$73
-
North End & Little Italy Food Tour with Local Dishes:
$74
-
2-Hour North End Food Tour with Chowder & Pizza:
$74
-
Pizza Beer and Paul Revere Tour:
$75
Entertainment
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
-
Chandragiri Cable Car Ride & Monkey Temple Tour - Private/Group:
$5.00
-
Kathmandu City Tour: UNESCO World Heritage Sites Private/Group:
$8.00
-
Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group:
$8.00
-
Kathmandu Heritage Highlights: Best of Kathmandu Private Day Tour:
$8.00
-
Kathmandu to Chitwan Tourist Bus Tickets:
$9.50
-
Private Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour | UNESCO World Heritage sites:
$10
-
Private sightseeing Day Tour | Top 4 UNESCO Heritage:
$10
-
Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha Hike & Tour - Private/Group:
$10
-
Kathmandu UNESCO Tour with 1 Hour Sound Healing Session:
$10
-
Full Day 7 UNESCO Heritage Private Tour with Lunch.:
$10
-
Full Day Top 4 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group:
$10
-
Chitwan to Pokhara Tourist Bus Sofa seater:
$11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Boston
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Boston are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Boston
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boston are as follows:
-
Boston Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour:
$3.52
-
Boston Highlights: Self‑Guided Walking Tour:
$4.69
-
Harvard’s Secret Society: Exploration Game and Tour:
$4.98
-
App-Guided "Historic Boston Downtown Freedom Trail" Walking Tour:
$5.00
-
The Ghosts of Boston's Past Haunted Self-guided Tour:
$5.00
-
Boston Freedom Trail Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide:
$5.88
-
Harvard's Haunts Solo Smart Phone Guided App Ghost Walking Tour:
$7.75
-
Self-Guided Smartphone Ghost Walking Tour in Salem:
$7.75
-
Self Guided Classic Freedom Trail Location Aware (GPS) Walking Audio Tour:
$7.75
-
City History and Highlights Audio App Walking Tour:
$7.99
-
Self Guided Driving Tour Battle of Lexington and Concord:
$9.75
-
Self-Guided Boston Christmas Tour:
$9.75
For more ideas for your next trip, check out Free Things to Do in Boston, Must-See Monuments and Memorials In Boston, and The Best Things To Do in Boston with Kids.
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
-
Kathmandu Nightlife and Pub Crawl Tour:
$50
-
Bar Tour & Pub Crawl -Sip, Stroll, Repeat Thamel's Night:
$75
Sample the Local Flavors in Boston
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Boston:
-
Amazing Bar Crawl: Boston Back Bay Beat:
$15
-
Boston Ghosts Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl:
$29
-
Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl:
$29
-
Boston Haunted Pub Crawl:
$35
-
Haunted Pub Crawl of Historic Pubs and Taverns:
$35
-
Salem Booze and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl by US Ghost Adventures:
$36
-
History Pub Crawl Tour Along the Freedom Trail:
$50
-
DIY Candle Making Class at a Local Brewery in Boston:
$55
-
DIY Candle Making Class at a Local Brewery:
$55
-
Boston Freedom Trail History Pub Crawl Small-Group Tour:
$60
-
Sushi Making Class at a Local Distillery in Boston:
$75
-
Boston Signature Guided Brewery Tour:
$105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kathmandu and Boston, we can see that Boston 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 Boston is in North America, 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 Boston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boston 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 Boston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Boston?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Boston. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and Boston, 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.
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