Moving to Nepal from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Nepal? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to Nepal, you would find that Nepal is 65.5% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly NPR4,727,368 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. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kathmandu averages 77°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iowa and Nepal.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → NPR4,727,368
To maintain the same standard of living in Nepal
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 76.0% less
Groceries
pay 62.4% less
Transportation
pay 13.3% less
Housing
pay 90.0% less
Childcare
pay 91.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 69.4% 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
The numbers behind daily life in Nepal compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Nepal performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa 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
Iowa performs better than Nepal across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa 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 | Des Moines | Kathmandu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 69°/40°F (21°/4°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 82°/59°F (28°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 82°/67°F (28°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 73°/46°F (23°/8°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Kathmandu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 64°/36°F (18.0°/2.1°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 68°/39°F (20.2°/3.8°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 76°/46°F (24.3°/7.5°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 81°/52°F (27.4°/11.3°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 83°/60°F (28.2°/15.5°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 83°/66°F (28.3°/19.0°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 82°/68°F (27.7°/20.0°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 82°/67°F (28.0°/19.7°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 81°/65°F (27.2°/18.2°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 78°/55°F (25.8°/13.0°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 73°/45°F (22.7°/7.4°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°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 Iowa?
On average Nepal is about 59% less expensive than Iowa, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Nepal?
Budget about NPR1,181,842 for 3 months in Nepal (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Nepal?
From major Nepal cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Nepal are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Nepal compared to Iowa?
Nepal performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Nepal compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Kathmandu is 77°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Kathmandu receives around 56.1 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Nepal?
The official language in Nepal is Nepali. In Iowa, the official language is English.
