Moving to Nepal from California
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from California to Nepal — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from California to Nepal, you would find that Nepal is 72.5% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly NPR3,315,970 in Nepal to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Nepali. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from California to Nepal.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → NPR3,315,970
To maintain the same standard of living in Nepal
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 79.7% less
Groceries
pay 71.1% less
Transportation
pay 36.4% less
Housing
pay 92.8% less
Childcare
pay 94.4% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 75.4% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Key Indicator Comparison
How California and Nepal stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Nepal performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Nepal across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California performs better than Nepal across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
California performs better than Nepal across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Kathmandu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 69°/40°F (21°/4°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 82°/67°F (28°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 73°/46°F (23°/8°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Kathmandu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 64°/36°F (18.0°/2.1°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 68°/39°F (20.2°/3.8°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 76°/46°F (24.3°/7.5°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 81°/52°F (27.4°/11.3°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 83°/60°F (28.2°/15.5°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 83°/66°F (28.3°/19.0°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 82°/68°F (27.7°/20.0°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 82°/67°F (28.0°/19.7°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 81°/65°F (27.2°/18.2°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 78°/55°F (25.8°/13.0°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 73°/45°F (22.7°/7.4°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 67°/37°F (19.4°/3.0°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Department of Hydrology and meteorology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Nepal. To live, work, or study long-term in Nepal, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Nepal's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Nepal
Visa on Arrival
Nepal passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Nepal than California?
Generally yes: Nepal runs about 71% cheaper than California on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Nepal?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around NPR828,992 in Nepal for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Nepal?
Working remotely from Nepal's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in California and Nepal.
How is healthcare in Nepal compared to California?
Nepal performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Nepal compared to California?
The average high temperature in Kathmandu is 77°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Kathmandu receives around 56.1 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Nepal?
The official language in Nepal is Nepali. In California, the official language is English.
