Should you visit Moscow or Kathmandu?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Moscow and Kathmandu. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia and is notable for its important role in history. It's a very sprawling city with many museums and fascinating buildings. Ten percent of Russia's population lives in this capital city and it's a financial and political center for the country. The Moskva River weaves its way through the city and you will find most of the city's sights and attractions on the northern side of the river.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Kathmandu or Moscow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Moscow is $64, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $49. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Moscow and Kathmandu in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Moscow, $80 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Moscow, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $40, such as in a hostel.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Kathmandu is $68. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Moscow cost around $14 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $5.60.
While meal prices in Kathmandu can vary, the average travelers spends about $7.62 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Kathmandu should cost around $3.05 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Kathmandu is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Moscow $14
Kathmandu $7.62
Typical Food prices in Moscow
For Moscow, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moscow
For Moscow, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Virtual Home Cooking with Russian Family:
$22
-
Moscow Food Tour:
$67
-
An evening at the monastery with dinner:
$80
-
Traditional Russian Cooking Class and Meal in Moscow with a Friendly Local:
$91
-
Private Market Tour and Traditional Russian Cooking Class in Moscow:
$101
-
Food Tour:
$102
-
Traditional Russian Cooking Class and Meal in a Local Home in Moscow:
$117
-
Moscow Metro and Russian Dinner Private tour:
$127
-
Moscow River Cruise with Dinner and Lively Firework with a Private Guide:
$133
-
Private food tour: Russian culinary culture:
$144
-
Moscow Yummy Food tour:
$160
-
Red Square and River Cruise with Dinner Private Tour:
$167
Typical Food prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
-
Dessert
$1.52
-
Dinner for Two
$3.37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
-
Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu:
$12
-
Virtual Dal Bhat Private Cooking Class from Kathmandu:
$24
-
Half day Nepal cooking class in Thamel:
$30
-
Half day cooking class in Thamel kathmandu:
$31
-
Cultural Dinner Show Kathmandu:
$32
-
Nepal Cooking School:
$35
-
Private 3-Hour Cooking Class and Meal in a Kathmandu Grill Restaurant & Wine Bar:
$38
-
Cooking Class with HSJ:
$40
-
Nepali Cooking Training and local cultural experience in Kathmandu:
$40
-
cooking class in Kathmandu:
$40
-
Cooking with a Family:
$45
-
Nepali Dinner and Cultural Show in Kathmandu:
$47
Local Transportation
To get around in Moscow, the average visitor spends $6.23 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $6.24 per day to get around in Kathmandu.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Moscow
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Moscow are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moscow
Also for Moscow, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Ultra - Moscow Private Airport Transfer - City Center to Domodedovo Intl Airport:
$8.71
-
Ultra - Moscow Private Airport Transfer City Centre to Sheremetyevo Airport SVO:
$9.41
-
Moscow Train Stations Private Arrival/Departure Transfer:
$22
-
Private Arrival or Departure Transfer One Way: Moscow Airports to City Center:
$23
-
Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: Moscow Airports to Moscow City Center:
$30
-
Private Airport Transfer: Moscow to Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO):
$30
-
Private Airport Transfer: from Moscow to Vnukovo International Airport (VKO):
$30
-
Moscow DME/SVO/VKO Airports Private Arrival/Departure Transfer:
$32
-
Private transfer from the Moscow center hotel to Sheremetyevo Airport:
$34
-
Moscow to Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) - Departure Private Transfer:
$36
-
Departure Private Transfer Moscow City to Moscow Train Station by Business Car:
$38
-
Private Business Transfer from Vnukovo Airport (VKO) to Moscow City Center:
$40
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:
-
Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu:
$142
-
Shared Tourist Bus Transfers from Pokhara to Kathmandu:
$11
-
Shared Tourist Bus Transfers from Kathmandu to Pokhara :
$11
-
Private transfer from Kathmandu Airport to any hotels in Kathmandu:
$11
-
Private cycle tour from Nagarkot to Bhaktapur via Changu Narayan with transfers:
$151
-
Private car transfer from Kathmandu Airport to hotels in Kathmandu:
$17
-
Private Tribhuvan International Airport Transfers (KTM) for Kathmandu:
$10
-
Private Transfers In Nepal With Driver:
$74
-
Private Transfer:Kathmandu to Pokhara hotel:
$140
-
Private Transfer:Kathmandu to Chitwan hotel:
$140
-
Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM):
$622
-
Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Pokhara Hotels:
$244
Is it cheaper to fly into Moscow or Kathmandu?
Prices for flights to both Kathmandu and Moscow 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.
Entertainment
In Moscow, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $16 per person, per day.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $7.21 per person, per day in Kathmandu. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Typical Entertainment prices in Moscow
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Moscow's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Theater Tickets
$16
-
Kremlin Entry (2)
$14
Tours and Activities in Moscow
For Moscow, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Moscow classical tour:
$6.38
-
Admission ticket to Kolomenskoye Historical and Architectural Museum and Reserve:
$7.02
-
Tsaritsyno Museum entrance ticket:
$8.14
-
Admission ticket to the The Museum of Cosmonautics:
$11
-
The Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center Admission Ticket:
$12
-
Admission ticket to the State Museum of GULAG's History, Moscow:
$13
-
The Museum of Victory Admission Ticket:
$13
-
Admission ticket to the Tochka-G Museum of Erotic Art, Moscow:
$14
-
Admission ticket to Gallery of the European and American XIX-XX centuries art:
$14
-
Tretyakov Gallery Admission Ticket:
$16
-
Admission ticket to the New Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow:
$17
-
1-hour scenic Moscow River Cruise:
$18
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:
-
1 Day - COFFEE TOUR IN NEPAL:
$440
-
1 Day - Kathmandu Valley Tour:
$132
-
1 Day Cultural Tour in Kathmandu:
$45
-
1 Day Kathmandu Valley Biking Tour (Hills, National Parks, Monasteries):
$103
-
1 Day Valley Rim Biking Tour in Kathmandu:
$113
-
1 Day West Kathmandu Biking Tour:
$113
-
1 Hour Scenic Flight to Mount Everest ( Everest Flight ) - Day Tour:
$199
-
1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour:
$105
-
1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Kathmandu:
$120
-
1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara or Kathmandu:
$95
-
1 Night Glimpse of Chitwan Tour from Kathmandu or Pokhara - Vice Versa:
$140
-
1 day Kathmandu World Heritage guided tour group join fixed departure everyday:
$21
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Moscow spend on average $8.00 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $5.14 on alcoholic beverages in Kathmandu per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Moscow
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Moscow:
-
Pub Crawl Moscow Guided Tour in Classic Soviet Van:
$79
-
Private Wine Tour in Moscow with History, Architecture and Friendly Local Guide:
$121
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Moscow and Kathmandu, we can see that Moscow is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Moscow is in Europe and Kathmandu is in Asia, 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 Moscow would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Moscow than you might in Kathmandu.
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