What if you were born in Nepal?

If you had grown up in Nepal instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Kathmandu could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Kathmandu Valley with the Himalayas behind. Photo: Shadow Ayush, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Nepal

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in NPR and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Nepal: NPR 23,300Rs 43,000
Rent (city centre): NPR 6,730
Transport (public transport): NPR 1,580
Food: NPR 3,370
Saved: NPR 3,490

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Nepal: NPR 53,500Rs 98,800
Rent (suburbs): NPR 13,600
Transport (public transport): NPR 3,640
Food: NPR 9,100
Saved: NPR 8,030

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Nepal: NPR 86,700Rs 160,000
Rent (city centre): NPR 21,200
Transport (car): NPR 8,120
Food: NPR 10,600
Saved: NPR 24,300

Try it with my own income

A day in Kathmandu

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Kathmandu, a city of mild winters around 11°C and warm summers around 25°C.
Commute
Public transport is limited here, so you share rides or use taxis and buses for a longer commute.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Nepali at work; English helps in the big cities.
Lunch
Lunch might be dal bhat (lentils and rice) and momo dumplings.
Evening
You get home with NPR 8,030 saved each month. Most neighbourhoods feel safe after dark.
Weekend
Weekends are for the mountains.

Nepal compared with Pakistan

	Nepal	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	1.1× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	71 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	53 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	10.5%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	19°C	26°C
Languages	Nepali	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	NPR	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Nepal, living in Nepal and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Nepal?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around NPR 53,500 a month at the same level in Nepal (about Rs 98,800 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Nepal more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 1.1 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Nepal?

Mainly Nepali. English is spoken by some people, mostly in cities.

Can I actually move to Nepal?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Nepal page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.