Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu or Skopje?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Skopje or Kathmandu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Skopje or Kathmandu? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Skopje or Kathmandu?
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 Adventure Tours to North Macedonia, The Best Budget Tours to North Macedonia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
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Skopje Prices
North Macedonia PricesKathmandu Prices
Nepal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySkopje $74Kathmandu $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Skopje is $74, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is $55. 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 Skopje and Kathmandu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSkopje $53Kathmandu $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSkopje $106Kathmandu $70
Compare Hotels in Skopje and Kathmandu
Looking for a hotel in Skopje 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: Skopje Hotel Prices and Kathmandu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Skopje $5.30Kathmandu $6.09
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$1.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Airport Transfers in Kathmandu – Pickup OR Drop-Off Service: $15
- Buddha Air Mount Everest Experience with Transfers: $185
- Chitwan to Pokhara Transfer by Private AC Car (One Way): $80
- Kathmandu ↔ Chitwan Private Transfer: $131
- Kathmandu - Private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport: $15
- Kathmandu Airport Departure Transfer – Easy, Safe & Hassle-Free: $9.00
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer Service: $17
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer: Arrival or Departure Service: $15
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $16
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer (Airport to Hotel or Hotel to Airport): $8.00
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer to hotels – Easy, Safe & Hassle-Free: $20
- Kathmandu VIP Airport Arrival Meet & Greet with Private Transfer: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Skopje or Kathmandu?
Prices for flights to both Kathmandu and Skopje 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 daySkopje $12Kathmandu $13
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.18
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Dinner for Two$2.63
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: $10
- Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu: $17
- Home Made Authentic Nepali Dinner (veg/non vegg): $18
- Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
- Authentic Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $23
- 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
- Patan Food Tour Walking and Food Testing: $35
- Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36
- Kathmandu Kitchens Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Skopje -Kathmandu $7.03
Tours and Activities in Skopje
Here are a few actual costs in Skopje for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Skopje Classic one-day tour from Sofia: $135
- Skopje Day Trip from Sofia – Small Group Tour: $141
- 2 days tour from Sofia to North Macedonia: $304
- From Sofia: Kosovo and North Macedonia 2-Day Tour: $393
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$1.32
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.29
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.32
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- Chandragiri Cable Car Ride & Monkey Temple Tour - Private/Group: $5.00
- Full Day Guided Tour in Kathmandu: $5.00
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $8.00
- Tourist Bus Kathmandu to Chitwan: $9.50
- Private Full Day Kathmandu Day Tour | Top 4 UNESCO Heritage Sites: $10
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Heritage Private Tour with Lunch.: $10
- Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha Hike & Tour - Private/Group: $10
- Kathmandu UNESCO Tour with 1 Hour Sound Healing Session: $10
- VIP Sofa Tourist Bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara: $11
- Chitwan to Kathmandu Tourist Bus Luxury Sofa Seater: $11
- Chitwan to Kathmandu Tourist Bus Tickets: $11
- Tourist Bus Kathmandu to Pokhara (Luxury Sofa Seat): $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySkopje -Kathmandu $5.01
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
- Kathmandu Nightlife and Pub Crawl Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Skopje and Kathmandu, we can see that Skopje is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Skopje 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 Skopje would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Skopje 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 Skopje Expensive? and Is Kathmandu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Skopje or Kathmandu?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Skopje. When comparing the sizes of Skopje 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.