A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kathmandu vs. Lisbon for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kathmandu or Lisbon?

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 Lisbon 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 Lisbon?

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.

Lisbon

Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Portugal, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Lisbon or Kathmandu?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $57, while the average daily cost in Lisbon is $142. 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 Lisbon in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kathmandu $40
    Lisbon $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kathmandu $80
    Lisbon $126
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Lisbon

Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Lisbon? 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.

Hotels in Kathmandu


Hotels in Lisbon


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 Lisbon Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kathmandu $6.95
    Lisbon $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:

  • Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara in Deluxe Tourist AC Sofa Bus: $28
  • 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 to Bhaktapur from Kathmandu : $45
  • Private Car Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara or Chitwan or Vv: $90
  • Private Car Transfer Between Pokhara Airport and Lakeside: $12
  • Private Arrival Transfer Kathmandu Airport to Kathmandu, Nepal: $35
  • Pokhara: One way transfer To or From Kathmandu: $117
  • One-Way Flight Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara: $130
  • TIA Kathmandu Airport transfer: $18

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Lisbon

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:


  • Taxi Ride
    $7.04

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon

Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Departure Transfer: From hotels to Lisbon Airport: $14
  • Lisbon Private Airport Departure Transfer: $14
  • Lisbon Private Departure Transfer to Airport, Train or Port: $14
  • Airport Private Transfer to/from Lisbon city hotels: $14
  • Exclusive Luxury Transfers to/from Lisbon Airport: $16
  • Private Lisbon Airport Transfers: Your Journey, Your Way: $17
  • Lisbon Cruise Port Private Transfer to/from Lisbon Airport: $18
  • Private transfer from Lisbon Airport (LIS) to Lisbon City Center: $20
  • Private transfer from Lisbon City Center to Lisbon Airport (LIS): $20
  • Lisbon Airport Transfer: $20
  • Lisbon Private Transfer to Airport: $21
  • Private Transfer Within City Center & Airport: $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Lisbon?

Prices for flights to both Lisbon 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 $8.31
    Lisbon $46
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Dessert
    $1.35
  • Dinner for Two
    $3.01

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.

  • Momo Making & Cooking class in Thamel with Pickup: $8.58
  • Half Day cooking class in Kathmandu by Local Chefs & Pickup: $9.36
  • Best Half-Day Nepali Cooking Class & Hotel Pickup: $9.50
  • Best Half day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu with Pickup: $10
  • Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu : $12
  • Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $17
  • Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel, Kathmandu with Pickup: $19
  • Half Day Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Visit: $23
  • Cooking Class in Thamel Kathmandu by Local Chef with pickup: $25
  • Kathmandu Culinary Adventure: A Cooking Class Experience: $27
  • Private Cooking class with Pickup and Drop: $29
  • Cooking class in kathmandu( Women empowerment project): $30

Typical Food Prices in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    $2.71

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Wine Tasting Apéritif - 1 Hour Guided Wine Tasting Before Dinner: $21
  • Soirée Rivage - Sunset cruise with dinner and Party: $25
  • Hard Rock Cafe Lisbon with Set Lunch or Dinner : $28
  • Tapas Food Tour: $37
  • Fado Show and Portuguese Dinner: $48
  • Lisbon Food Tour: $53
  • Alfama Tour and Live Fado with Traditional Dinner: $53
  • 2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class: $53
  • Legendary Beer Dinner: $53
  • Lisbon Fado Experience: Walking Tour, Dinner and Live Music Show: $54
  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class in Lisbon: $55
  • Original Morning Food Tour: $63

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kathmandu $8.04
    Lisbon $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    $1.50
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    $3.76
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    $1.50

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:

  • Luxury Tourist Bus to Chitwan from Kathmandu : $22
  • One Day Tour inside Chitwan National Park: $117
  • Two Days Sightseeing in Kathmandu Tour UNESCO Heritage sites: $150
  • "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu : $70
  • 1 Day Cycling Tour in Kathmandu: $312
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Shopping Tour Experience: $100
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $70
  • 1 Day Volunteer Tour at Orphanage in Kathmandu: $273
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Kathmandu: $155
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu: $141
  • 1 Night 2 Days Daman Tour: $215
  • 1 day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $150

Tours and Activities in Lisbon

For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • See Lisbon Through the Eyes of a Local - Free Walking Tour: $1.06
  • Lisbon Walking Tour - The Perfect Introduction to the City: $1.12
  • Alfama Walking Tour Lisbon: $3.27
  • Lisbon Walking Tour: $4.26
  • Lisbon Walking Tour: $4.48
  • 2-Hour Walking Tour in the Marvels of Lisbon : $4.81
  • Walking Tour History and Culture in Lisbon: $4.91
  • Lisbon Cathedral Entry Ticket: $5.32
  • Lisbon Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Walking Tour: $5.32
  • Graça Church Entry Ticket with Drink on the Terrace: $5.32
  • Tower of Saint George’s Castle Church Ticket & Drink: $5.32
  • Príncipe Real to Downtown A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kathmandu $5.77
    Lisbon $20

Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:

  • Pub Crawl with Unlimited Drinks and VIP Club Entry: $18
  • 1-Hour Portuguese Wine Tasting Session: $20
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar and VIP Club Entry: $21
  • Pub Crawl with Open Bar, Shots, & VIP Club Entry: $21
  • Lisbon Wild Pub Crawl : $22
  • Lisbon Pub Crawl: $22
  • Beer Tasting in a Classic Brewery: $27
  • Pub Crawl Lisbon: $27
  • Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
  • Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl in Lisbon with Local Guide: $43
  • Non-Alcoholic Wine Tasting with an Expert: $49
  • Portuguese Wine Tasting and Cheese Lunch: $52


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kathmandu and Lisbon, we can see that Lisbon 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 Lisbon 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 Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon 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 Lisbon Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Lisbon?

Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Lisbon. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and Lisbon, 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.