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

Should you visit Kathmandu or Roseau?

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 Roseau 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 Roseau?

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.


Which place is cheaper, Roseau 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 $56, while the average daily cost in Roseau is $242. 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 Roseau in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kathmandu $35
    Roseau $135
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kathmandu $70
    Roseau $270
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Roseau

Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Roseau? 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 Roseau


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 Roseau Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kathmandu $6.14
    Roseau $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.33

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:

  • Kathmandu to Lumbini or Sunauli Border Transfer by Luxury Private Vehicle: $300
  • Trishuli River Rafting Day Trip from Kathmandu with Transfers: $279
  • Lukla Flight Ticket with Sharing Transfer Service: $270
  • Private Transfer by Car from Kathmandu to Pokhara: $210
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
  • Kathmandu to Pokhara Transfer by Luxury Private Car: $200
  • Kathmandu to Chitwan Transfer by Luxury Private Car: $200
  • Buddha Air Mount Everest Experience with Transfers: $190
  • Mount Everest Scenic Flight by Buddha Air with Free Transfers: $180
  • Private Transfer to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $170
  • Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
  • Kathmandu VIP Airport Arrival Meet & Greet with Private Transfer: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Roseau?

Prices for flights to both Roseau 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 $14
    Roseau $90
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Dessert
    $1.19
  • Dinner for Two
    $2.65

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: $9.50
  • Local Foodie Food Tour around Durbar Square: $15
  • Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu: $17
  • Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
  • Home Made Authentic Nepali Dinner (veg/non vegg): $18
  • Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
  • Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $24
  • Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking Class: $30
  • Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
  • Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights Kathmandu 14+ Tastings: $35
  • Momo Cooking Class -The Art Of Making MoMo with Home Chef: $35
  • Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kathmandu $7.09
    Roseau $42
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    $1.33
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    $3.32
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    $1.33

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

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

  • 1 Day Gay Tour Nepal: $155
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Heritage 4 UNESCO Tour with Lunch: $99
  • 1 Day Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour: $35
  • 1 Day Valley Rim Biking Tour in Kathmandu: $160
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $155
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu: $141
  • 1 Night 2 Days Daman Tour: $215
  • 1 Nights 2 Days Private Nagarkot Tour Package from Kathmandu: $150
  • 2 Day Poon Hill Trek with 2 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $731
  • 2 Days Hindu Pilgrimage Tour in Nepal: $146
  • 2 Days Private Tour from Chitlang to Markhu: $210
  • 2 Days and 1 Night Chitwan Safari Tour: $125

Typical Entertainment Prices in Roseau

For Roseau, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Half Day Taxi Tour of Island
    $100
  • 1/2 Day Kayak Rental
    $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kathmandu $5.06
    Roseau $17

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 Roseau, we can see that Roseau 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 Roseau is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Roseau would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Roseau 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 Roseau Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Roseau?

Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Roseau. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and Roseau, 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.