Explore Cities/Compare Cities/Kathmandu vs Lucknow

Kathmandu vs Lucknow

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Lucknow 17% cheaper Kathmandu +24 Mbps Moderate / N/A
Nomad Cost

$998

Kathmandu

$830

Lucknow

Internet

85

Mbps

61

Mbps

Safety

Moderate

Kathmandu

N/A

Lucknow

Air Quality

5/5

Kathmandu

5/5

Lucknow

Healthcare

High

Kathmandu

N/A

Lucknow

Population

1.0m

Kathmandu

2.9m

Lucknow

Kathmandu (Nepal) and Lucknow (India) are both in Asia, offering different takes on the nomad lifestyle. Here is how they compare across the metrics that matter most.

Cost of Living

The cost difference is noticeable: Lucknow at $830/mo is 17% cheaper than Kathmandu at $998/mo, worth considering for extended stays.

For families, Kathmandu costs $1066.21348013077/mo compared to Lucknow's $668.408773077319/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

Remote workers will appreciate Kathmandu's 85 Mbps (global #101) — considerably faster than Lucknow's 61 Mbps (#0).

Quality of Life

Both Kathmandu and Lucknow share the same safety rating — travelers can feel equally comfortable in either city.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Kathmandu and Lucknow.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Kathmandu is April (around 29 degrees, 0mm rain, score 453), while Lucknow peaks in February (23 degrees, 0mm rain, score 375). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

KathmanduLucknow
Nomad$998/mo$830/mo
Expat$532/mo$484/mo
Local$305/mo$191/mo
Family$1,066/mo$668/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

KathmanduLucknow
City Speed
85 Mbps#101
61 Mbps
Country Speed74 Mbps61 Mbps

Environment & Health

KathmanduLucknow
Air Quality Score5/55/5
PollutionHighN/A
ClimateHighN/A
Humidity3218

Quality of Life

KathmanduLucknow
SafetyModerateN/A
HealthcareHighN/A

Monthly Weather Comparison

Kathmandu
Lucknow
Jan
14°
0mm413
19°
0mm335
Feb
17°
0mm413
23°
0mm375
Mar
22°
0mm428
30°
0mm375
Apr
29°
0mm453
38°
0mm325
May
30°
2mm392
42°
0mm315
Jun
33°
9mm243
44°
0mm315
Jul
32°
13mm181
40°
6mm191
Aug
31°
13mm243
38°
7mm196
Sep
31°
7mm366
37°
2mm303
Oct
26°
1mm425
36°
0mm375
Nov
21°
1mm409
29°
0mm375
Dec
17°
0mm413
22°
0mm355

Who Should Choose Kathmandu?

  • Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $998
  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $1066.21348013077/mo for families
  • Peak season in April — 29 degrees, score 453

Who Should Choose Lucknow?

  • Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $830
  • Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
  • Family-friendly at $668.408773077319/mo for families
  • Major city energy with 2.9m residents
  • Peak season in February — 23 degrees, score 375

Overall Verdict

For the typical digital nomad, Kathmandu is the stronger pick. At $998/mo it beats Lucknow's $830/mo by 17%, and the 85 Mbps internet handles video calls without issues.

Granular Price Comparison

Kathmandu Lucknow
ItemKathmanduLucknowDiff
🍽️Restaurants8 items
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$2.2$3.07
28%
Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$23.07$12.28
47%
McMeal or equivalent combo$7.69$3.07
60%
Cappuccino (regular)$1.42$1.57
10%
Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$2.31$1.84
20%
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3.08$3.68
16%
Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.44$0.35
20%
Water (0.33L)$0.18$0.18
=
🛒Markets19 items
Milk (1L)$0.76$0.68
11%
White bread (500g)$0.5$0.45
10%
White rice (1kg)$0.8$0.71
11%
Eggs (12)$1.56$1.03
34%
Chicken fillets (1kg)$3.27$3.48
6%
Beef round (1kg)$3.99$6.52
39%
Local cheese (1kg)$7.93$3.96
50%
Apples (1kg)$2.21$1.49
33%
Bananas (1kg)$0.98$0.58
41%
Oranges (1kg)$1.31$0.82
37%
Tomatoes (1kg)$0.64$0.43
33%
Potatoes (1kg)$0.48$0.25
48%
Onions (1kg)$0.6$0.35
42%
Lettuce (1 head)$0.31$0.43
28%
Water (1.5L bottle)$0.25$0.35
29%
Wine, mid-range bottle$7.3$6.14
16%
Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$2.16$1.81
16%
Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3.16$3.39
7%
Cigarettes (pack of 20)$3.08$4.05
24%
🚌Transport8 items
One-way local transport ticket$0.19$0.43
56%
Monthly transport pass$4.61$12.28
62%
Taxi start (normal tariff)$2.31$0.61
74%
Taxi per 1km$0.77$0.15
81%
Taxi 1hr waiting$3.84$1.23
68%
Gasoline (1L)$1.17$1.25
6%
Volkswagen Golf (new)$29,217.22$14,738.11
50%
Toyota Corolla (new)$47,611.06$24,393.62
49%
⚡Utilities3 items
Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$26.28$47.83
45%
Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$12.17$8.66
29%
Mobile prepaid per minute$0.02$0.02
=
🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items
Fitness club, monthly$28.16$19.96
29%
Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$8.25$10.23
19%
Cinema, 1 ticket$3.84$3.68
4%
👶Childcare2 items
Preschool, full-day private/mo$80.92$51.34
37%
International primary school/yr$3,102.64$1,271.16
59%
👗Clothing4 items
Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$24.73$27.55
10%
Summer dress (chain store)$31.77$34.39
8%
Nike running shoes (mid-range)$47.18$40.91
13%
Men's leather business shoes$41.55$38.92
6%
🏠Rent4 items
1-bedroom apartment, city centre$173.88$122.82
29%
1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$107.77$77.99
28%
3-bedroom apartment, city centre$356.25$305.51
14%
3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$218.87$180.13
18%
🏗️Buy2 items
Price per m², city centre$1,847.25$1,067.19
42%
Price per m², outside centre$886.59$599.7
32%
💰Finance2 items
Average monthly net salary$201.45$569.74
65%
Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$12.44$8.47
32%

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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