Which place is cheaper, Rome or Kathmandu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kathmandu or Rome?
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 Rome 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 Rome?
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.
Rome
Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKathmandu $57Rome $184
The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $57, while the average daily cost in Rome is $184. 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 Rome in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKathmandu $40Rome $96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKathmandu $80Rome $192
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Rome
Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Rome? 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 Rome Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kathmandu $6.95Rome $23
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$1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Day Trip to Water and Amusement Park and Kirtipur sightseeing with Transfer : $87
- Deluxe Toyota Coaster Mini Bus Transfer From Kathmandu to Pokhara or V. V. : $22
- From Bungee Jump over Bhotekosi River & Transfer: $160
- From One-Way Private Transfer to Pokhara: $148
- From Private car transfer to Pokhara: $117
- Kathmandu - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel : $12
- Kathmandu Airport Arrival transfer: $20
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $14
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer: $30
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer: $16
- Kathmandu Airport Transfers: $23
- Kathmandu Airport to Nagarkot Hotel Transfer: $109
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
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Metro Ride (for Two)$2.17
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Train to the Airport$16
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Taxi to Airport$49
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Bicycle Rental (Full Day)$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- Bus Transfer Between Airport and Rome Termini Station: $6.38
- Shuttle Bus Transfer to or from Ciampino Airport: $6.38
- Bus Transfer from Rome to Milan or Vice Versa: $7.41
- Shuttle Bus Transfer to or from Fiumicino Airport: $7.45
- Transfer Rome center - Fiumicino airport: $7.62
- Transfer Fiumicino Airport - Rome center: $7.62
- Fiumicino Airport from/to Vaticano Transfer: $8.71
- Civitavecchia Port to/from Vatican City Bus Transfer: $16
- Transfer between Fiumicino Airport and Rome Termini: $17
- Ciampino Airport Rome (CIA) to Rome - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- Rome to Ciampino Airport Rome (CIA) - Departure Private Transfer: $26
- Skip the Line: Papal Audience Ticket (optional 1 way transfer): $28
Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Rome?
Prices for flights to both Rome 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 $8.31Rome $51
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.35
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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 Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$15
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4 Ice Cream Sandwiches$3.24
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Cafe e doce$4.33
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Pizza (Fast Food)$2.87
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$34
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Cheese and bread$11
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Espresso$2.17
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Dinner$63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Award-Winning Roman Food Tours: $15
- Eat Pasta in Rome, Testaccio - Self-Guided Walking Food Tour: $16
- Rome Food Tour with Wine Tasting and Farmers Market in Prati Area: $32
- Vatican and Trionfale Farmers Market Food tour and Wine tasting : $32
- Food Tour of the Vatican with Farmers Market and Wine Tasting: $32
- Guided Food Tour with Food and Drink Tastings: $32
- Cooking Class with Wine - Become a Roman Master Chef: $36
- Urban Rafting Tour to Tiber Island with A Local Pizza: $38
- Painting & Pizza Party with Unlimited Wine: $40
- Pasta Making & Wine Tasting with Dinner in Frascati from Rome: $41
- Campo dei Fiori & Jewish Ghetto area Street Food Tour: $42
- Handmade Pasta Cacio e Pepe and Tiramisu Cooking Class: $42
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kathmandu $8.04Rome $39
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$1.50
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.76
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.50
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- 4 UNESCO World Heritage Site Tour Nepal: $0.43
- Old A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.40
- City Highlights Bus Tour: $9.55
- Privet Day Tours in Kathmandu Nepal : $10
- Sarngkot Sunrise Himalayas Tour in Pokhara: $10
- Skywalk Adventure in Nepal: $11
- Nepali Nightlife Experience in Kathmandu's Vibrant Thamel: $12
- Discovering Full-Day City Highlights Bus Tour: $12
- Kathmandu to Pokhara Tourist Bus- MNS: $12
- Bandipur Tourist Bus Ticket: $12
- Chitwan To Kathmandu Tourist Bus: $13
- Thamel Rickshaw tour: $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome
Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)$75
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Coliseum Tickets (for Two)$36
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Roma Pass$32
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Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)$22
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Segway Tour$81
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Piazza del Popolo and Historical Sights Walking Tour in Rome: $2.61
- Cambridge: Discovery Walk & Reading Walking Tour: $3.19
- Bergamo Old Town: Discovery Walk & Reading Walking Tour: $3.19
- From 1-Way Bus Ticket to Naples or Vice Versa: $4.22
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Rome: $5.32
- Bergamo Old Town: City Exploration Game and Tour: $5.32
- Vatican Night Tour - Rome: $5.43
- Rome Walking Tour Including the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain: $5.43
- Civitavecchia's Stories and Secrets: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- An insider's look at A Self-Guided Audio Tour : $5.61
- Testaccio: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Rome's Food Traditions: $5.99
- PANTHEON Rome Audio Tour Experience: $5.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKathmandu $5.77Rome $20
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
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Bottle of Wine$7.04
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Pint of Beer$6.87
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Beer$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Casella's Follies a Night of Live Music and Burlesque: $17
- Trionfale and Prati Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $31
- Cabaret & Burlesque Show: $32
- Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Drinks: $52
- Rome's Ultimate Party aka the Spanish Steps Pub Crawl: $52
- Roman Night Life and Burlesque Show Tour: $53
- Tipsy Tour: Fun Bar Crawl In Rome With Local Guide : $53
- Guided Wine Tasting Experience in a Roman Vineyard: $53
- Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $54
- Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $60
- Pasta Making Class & Wine Tasting in a Trasteve Villa: $67
- E-Bike Night Tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $68
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kathmandu and Rome, we can see that Rome 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 Rome 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 Rome would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rome 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 Rome Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Rome?
Rome has a larger population, and is about 78% larger than the population of Kathmandu. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and Rome, 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.