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

Should you visit Tartu or Kathmandu?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tartu and Kathmandu 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: Tartu or Kathmandu?

Tartu

Tartu is a university town that is also the second largest city in Estonia. It has a population of about 100,000 and dates back to 1030, making it the oldest city in the country. The Emajogi River passes through town and it has a lovely old town that's pleasant to explore. The city is a great place to see day to day life in Estonia. It is a very real town with people going about their daily lives. If you find yourself here when the weather is nice, you'll be greeted by crowds of happy locals out enjoying the weather. They make full use of the warm, sunny weather with festivals, events, and concerts during the summer. This is easily the most fun and eventful time to visit the city.

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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Estonia, The Best Budget Tours to Estonia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.


Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu or Tartu?

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 Tartu is €132, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu is €48. 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 Tartu and Kathmandu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tartu 47
    Kathmandu 31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tartu 94
    Kathmandu 62
Compare Hotels in Tartu and Kathmandu

Looking for a hotel in Tartu 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.

Hotels in Tartu


Hotels in Kathmandu


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: Tartu Hotel Prices and Kathmandu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tartu 27
    Kathmandu 5.35

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Taxi Ride
    1.16

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: Kathmandu to Pokhara Hotels: $244
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
  • Kathmandu to Chitwan Transfer by Luxury Private Car: $200
  • Kathmandu to Pokhara Transfer by Luxury Private Car: $200
  • Buddha Air Mount Everest Experience with Transfers: $193
  • Mount Everest Scenic Flight by Shree Airlines with Free Transfers: $188
  • Mount Everest Scenic Flight by Buddha Air with Free Transfers: $185
  • Private Transfer to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $170
  • Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152

Is it cheaper to fly into Tartu or Kathmandu?

Prices for flights to both Kathmandu and Tartu 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
    Tartu 65
    Kathmandu 11
Typical Food Prices in Tartu

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tartu:


  • Danishes
    0.76
  • Lunch for Two
    4.93
  • Ice Cream
    1.27
  • Cookies
    0.51
  • Coffee & Cake
    3.47

Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Dessert
    1.04
  • Dinner for Two
    2.31

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 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
  • Momo Cooking Class -The Art Of Making MoMo with Home Chef: $35
  • Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights Kathmandu 14+ Tastings: $35
  • Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36
  • Exotic Food Tour Newari Flavors and Evening Trails 15 Tastings: $40
  • Walking Food tour: Food and Drink Tasting with Guide In Kathmandu: $40
  • Walking Street Food Tour in Kathmandu: $48
  • Women Empowerment Project(Nepali cooking class & jewelry workshop: $50

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tartu 16
    Kathmandu 6.18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tartu

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


  • Art Museum ticket
    0.95
  • Movie Ticket
    3.47

Tours and Activities in Tartu

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tartu.

  • Around Viljandi bike tour: $29
  • TARTU COUNTRY: SLED DOG TOUR AND KENNEL VISIT: $141
  • Private Horse-Drawn Sleigh Adventures: $211
  • Charming Viljandi Private Walking Tour for Couples: $255
  • Magical Tartu Romantic Private Walking Tour: $751
  • Dazzling Tartu City Cultural Private Walking Tour: $751

Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    1.16
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    2.89
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    1.16

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

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

  • "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu: $70
  • 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 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 Kathmandu City with Nagarkot Sunrise, Changu Narayan and Bhaktapur Tour: $236
  • 2 Day Kathmandu Sightseeing with Panauti, Namobuddha Tour from Kathmandu: $163
  • 2 Day Poon Hill Trek with 2 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $731
  • 2 Days Hindu Pilgrimage Tour in Nepal: $146

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tartu 16
    Kathmandu 4.44

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 Tartu and Kathmandu, we can see that Tartu is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tartu 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 Tartu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tartu 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 Tartu Expensive? and Is Kathmandu Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Tartu or Kathmandu?

Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Tartu. When comparing the sizes of Tartu 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.