Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu or Moscow?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Moscow or Kathmandu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Moscow or Kathmandu?
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in Nepal, and The Best Luxury Tours to Nepal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMoscow $65Kathmandu $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Moscow is $65, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $56. 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 Moscow and Kathmandu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMoscow $41Kathmandu $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMoscow $82Kathmandu $80
Compare Hotels in Moscow and Kathmandu
Looking for a hotel in Moscow or Kathmandu? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Moscow $6.29Kathmandu $6.88
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Moscow
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Moscow are as follows:
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Two Metro Passes$1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Moscow
Also for Moscow, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Tangkerang Labuai: $42
- Private Transfer from Tengkerang Tengah to Pekanbaru Airport (PKU): $42
- Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Kedungsari: $42
- Private Transfer from Kedungsari to Pekanbaru Airport (PKU): $42
- Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Tengkerang Barat: $42
- Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Cinta Raja: $44
- Private Transfer from Pekanbaru City to Pekanbaru Airport (PKU): $44
- Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Kampung Bandar: $44
- Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Kota Baru: $44
- Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Harjosari: $44
- Private Transfer from Pekanbaru Airport (PKU) to Kampung Dalam: $44
- Private Transfer from Kampung Bandar to Pekanbaru Airport (PKU): $44
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$1.49
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
- Shared Bus Transfer from Kathmandu to Salleri: $50
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle : $20
- Private Transfer to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $170
- Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Nagarkot with return transfers from Kathmandu: $129
- Private Luxury Car Transfer all over Nepal: $93
- Private Day Hike from Nagarkot to Changu Narayan with Transfer: $130
- Private Car Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara or Chitwan or Vv: $90
- Private Arrival Transfer Kathmandu Airport to Kathmandu, Nepal: $45
- Pokhara: Private Transfer to Kathmandu by Car: $93
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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayMoscow $15Kathmandu $8.22
Typical Food Prices in Moscow
For Moscow, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$6.11
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Lunch in the Center Market$3.33
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Breakfast for 2$11
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.34
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Dinner for Two$2.97
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Nepali Dinner and cultural dance Show: $5.00
- Nepali Cooking Class & Momo Making with Pickup: $5.42
- Nepali Cooking Class & Momo Making with Pickup: $6.00
- Nepali Cooking Class & Momo Making with Pickup: $8.00
- Best Half day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu with Pickup: $10
- Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $17
- Cooking Class in Nepal: $25
- Private Half -Day Cooking Class with Meals: $26
- Private Nepali Cooking Class (Dal Bhat and MoMo): $27
- Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
- Local Food Tour in Thamel Kathmandu: $30
- Half day cooking class in Thamel kathmandu: $31
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Moscow $16Kathmandu $7.95
Typical Entertainment Prices in Moscow
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Moscow's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Theater Tickets$13
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Kremlin Entry (2)$11
Tours and Activities in Moscow
For Moscow, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Custom Private Tour in Palembang with English Speaking Driver: $85
- 2-Hour Private Guided Walking Tour in Bengkulu: $148
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$1.49
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.72
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.49
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- 1 Nights 2 Days Private Nagarkot Tour Package from Kathmandu: $150
- 4-Hour Private Car Sunrise tour over Mount Everest in Nagarkot: $129
- Chandragiri Hills Private Tour: $20
- Discover Kathmandu Valley: A Day Tour Through Time and Tradition: $96
- Hire Tour Guide Nepal : $81
- One Day Tour inside Chitwan National Park: $116
- Private Full Day Bhaktapur and Patan Durbar Square Sightseeing from Kathmandu: $145
- Two Days Sightseeing in Kathmandu Tour UNESCO Heritage sites: $150
- "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu : $70
- 1 Day Cycling Tour in Kathmandu: $310
- 1 Day Rock Climbing Tour near Kathmandu Valley: $190
- 1 Day Valley Rim Biking Tour in Kathmandu: $160
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMoscow $8.08Kathmandu $5.71
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
- Nightlife and Pub Crawl Tour: $12
- Local Food and Wine Tasting in Kathmandu : $65
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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Moscow Expensive? and Is Kathmandu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Moscow or Kathmandu?
Moscow has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Kathmandu. When comparing the sizes of Moscow and Kathmandu, 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.