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

Should you visit Kathmandu or New York City?

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 New York City 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 New York 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.

New York City

The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.


Which place is cheaper, New York City or Kathmandu?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $54, while the average daily cost in New York City is $326. 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 New York City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kathmandu $38
    New York City $175
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kathmandu $76
    New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and New York City

Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or New York City? 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 New York City


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 New York City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kathmandu $6.95
    New York City $49
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:

  • Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
  • Thamel: Trishuli River Rafting Tour with Transfers and Lunch: $250
  • Scenic Everest Mountain Flight Tour With Transfers: $299
  • Private cycle tour from Nagarkot to Bhaktapur via Changu Narayan with transfers: $151
  • Private car transfer from Kathmandu Airport to hotels in Kathmandu: $15
  • Private Transfers for Kathmandu Airport Arrival and Departure: $30
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel : $25
  • Private Transfer to Bhaktapur from Kathmandu : $45
  • Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Nagarkot with return transfers from Kathmandu: $129
  • Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Dhulikhel with return transfers from Kathmandu: $112
  • Private Mini-Van Transfer From / To Kathmandu and Pokhara: $274

Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City

Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:


  • Subway
    $4.50
  • Taxi Ride
    $8.00
  • Subway
    $2.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City

Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Manhattan: Bus Transfer from/to Newark Airport: $21
  • New York: 1-Way Transfer to/from JFK & Grand Central Station: $27
  • Midtown/Lower Manhattan -JFK: Private Airport Departure Transfers: $29
  • Newark Liberty International Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to / from NYC: $34
  • Private Departure Transfers from Upper Manhattan to JFK Airport: $34
  • Manhattan to EWR: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $34
  • EWR to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer: $34
  • JFK to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer : $34
  • Manhattan to JFK: One Way Shared Departure Transfer : $34
  • Manhattan to LGA: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $34
  • NYC: One-Way Shared Transfer to or from Newark Airport: $36
  • Manhattan: Shared Transfer to or from LaGuardia Airport: $36

Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or New York City?

Prices for flights to both New York City 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 $8.48
    New York City $50
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Dessert
    $1.35
  • Dinner for Two
    $3.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu

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

  • Momo Making and Cooking class in Kathmandu: $9.46
  • Half Day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu by Local Chefs: $10
  • Nepali Cooking Class & Hotel Pickup: $11
  • Best Half day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu: $11
  • Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $17
  • Private Cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu - 4 Hours: $22
  • Half Day Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Visit: $23
  • Half-Day Immersive Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with pickup: $25
  • Nepal: Dinner at a Local Home with a Local Family: $26
  • Private Cooking Class with Transfers and Lunch: $27
  • Kathmandu Culinary Adventure: A Cooking Class Experience: $27
  • Embark on a Culinary Voyage: Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $28

Typical Food Prices in New York City

For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Gelato
    $7.50
  • Snacks for Two at Yankees Game
    $34
  • Coffee
    $6.53
  • Smoothie
    $6.95

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City

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

  • New York City Pizza Crawl: Best of Manhattan route: $37
  • Lower East Side and Essex Market Multicultural Food Tour: $39
  • Half-Day Private Pizza Crawl in Manhattan: $40
  • Shared Food Tour Bohemian Greenwichvillage: $45
  • New York Walking and Food Tour in Flushing : $56
  • East Village Food Tour: $60
  • Ultimate Greenwich Village NYC Food Tour: $63
  • NYC: Greenwich Village Guided Food Tour: $63
  • Greenwich Village Pizza Walk: $65
  • East Village Pizza Walk: $65
  • Pizza Walking Tour of Downtown Brooklyn: $65
  • West Village Pizza Walk: $65

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kathmandu $8.03
    New York City $180
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
    $3.75
  • 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
  • Manakamana Darshan- Day Tour: $199
  • One Day Tour inside Chitwan National Park: $117
  • Private Full Day Tour In Kathmandu City: $115
  • Private Kathmandu Day Tour: $70
  • "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu : $70
  • 1 Day Cycling Tour in Kathmandu: $313
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Shopping Tour Experience: $100
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $58
  • 1 Day Volunteer Tour at Orphanage in Kathmandu: $274
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Kathmandu: $155
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu: $141

Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Comedy Show Tickets
    $56
  • City Map
    $8.00
  • Broadway Musical
    $111
  • Broadway Show Program
    $10
  • Magazine
    $6.99

Tours and Activities in New York City

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

  • Central Park NYC: First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.26
  • Central Park: Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
  • Marvel Universe in New York In-app Audio Tour in English: $5.00
  • Self Guided Central Park Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
  • Tour Free Por Central Park en Español: $5.00
  • Central Park Free Walking Tour: $5.00
  • New York City's Financial District: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
  • Broadway: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the World's Iconic Theatre District: $5.39
  • New York World's Fair Site: Explore its utopian future on an audio tour: $5.39
  • Central Park Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.61
  • Self Guided "Central Park Movie Tour" Solo Walking Tour in New York City: $6.75
  • Private Haunted and Historic Audio Tour in Greenwich Village: $6.95

For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.


Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kathmandu $5.72
    New York City $29

Sample the Local Flavors in New York City

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:

  • NYC West Village Pub Crawl: $21
  • NYC: Brooklyn Nightlife Pub Crawl: $34
  • New York: Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $35
  • The Bar Crawl and History Experience! : $36
  • NYC: Manhattan's Only Whiskey Distillery Tour & Tasting: $42
  • Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl: $49
  • Brooklyn Literary Pub Crawl: $49
  • Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
  • East Village Gangster Ghost Pub Crawl: $64
  • Broadway Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
  • Lower East Side Prohibition Pub Crawl: $74
  • Guided Brooklyn Craft Brewery Tour: $99


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


Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or New York City?

New York City has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Kathmandu. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and New York City, 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.