Essentials
- City
- Lalitpur (Patan), Bagmati Province, Nepal
- Population
- Approximately 300,000
- Internet Speed
- 40-100 Mbps via WorldLink or Vianet; 4G/LTE is stable
- Currency & Banking
- Nepalese Rupee (NPR). 1 USD ≈ 133 NPR
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled (30 NPR) or jar water (50 NPR/20L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/D/M sockets. Power cuts are rare now but UPS is common.
- SIM Card
- Ncell or Nepal Telecom (NTC). ~500 NPR for 20GB data
- Banking for Expats
- Standard Chartered, Nabil Bank. ATMs charge ~500 NPR per withdrawal
- Accommodation
- Boutique apartments in Patan or shared houses in Sanepa/Kupondole
- Cashless Friendly
- Increasingly common via Fonepay/eSewa; cards accepted in major cafes
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, or 'Kathmandu Expats' Facebook group
- Budget Accommodation
- Sparkly Turtle Backpackers Hostel (~$8/night), Kwabahal
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Patan Durbar Square area for history and heritage
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Sanepa or Jhamsikhel (The 'Jhamel' area) for cafes and community
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Work Around (Jhamsikhel) - ~12,000 NPR/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Cloud 89 (Jhamsikhel) or Kar.ma Coffee (Gyan Mandala)
- Networking Events
- Events at Next Ventures or 'Kathmandu Coffee and Code' meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Friday Night live music at Moksh, Jhamsikhel
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Pathao or InDrive (reliable and cheaper than street taxis)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Catmandu Rentals or Antidote Bike Rentals (~1,500 NPR/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- None (Landlocked); closest water is Riverside at Kurintar (3 hours)
- Top Regional Airline
- Buddha Air (Based at nearby TIA airport)
- Top International Airline
- Qatar Airways, FlyDubai, Air India
- Highway Access
- Prithvi Highway (West) and Araniko Highway (East) accessible via Ring Road
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Lagankhel Bus Park (for local/regional buses)
- Public Transport Passes
- No formal passes; pay cash (20-30 NPR) per trip to conductor
- Regional Travel
- Tourist buses to Pokhara/Chitwan from Sorhakhutte (Kathmandu)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Patan Hospital (Lagankhel) or Mediciti (Bhaisepati)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Pranamaya Yoga (Patan) - ~1,000 NPR per drop-in
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- The Pump (Jhamsikhel) for CrossFit/Gym - ~6,000 NPR/month
- Laundry Services
- Fresh Laundry (Jhamsikhel) - ~150 NPR per kg
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodmandu or Bhojdeals
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Choila and Kachila (Newari cuisine) at Honacha, Patan
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Citta Vegan (Jhamsikhel) or OR2K (Mandala Street)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Dhau (Yogurt) at King Curd (Juju Dhau) stalls in Patan
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket (Krishna Galli)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Daraz Nepal
- Grocery Delivery
- MeroKirana or Muncha
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Jhamsikhel (Jhamel) - Base Camp, Evoke
- Local Brewery
- Yeti Brewing or Sherpa Brewery (Craft beers available at local bars)
- Wine Bars
- Vesper House (Jhamsikhel)
- Street Food Stalls
- Patan Durbar Square for Panipuri and Chatpate
- Popular International Cuisine
- Roadhouse Cafe (Pizza) or Higher Ground (Bakery/Cafe)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Patan Durbar Square (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Patan Museum (Inside Durbar Square) - 1,000 NPR fee for tourists
- Historical Sites
- The Golden Temple (Hiranya Varna Mahavihar)
- Religious Sites
- Banglamukhi Temple and Kumbheshwar Temple
- Annual Events
- Rato Machindranath Jatra (Chariot festival, usually April/May)
- Cultural Districts
- Mangal Bazar and the surrounding craft workshops
- Theater Venues
- Kausi Theatre (Teku, nearby) or Shilpee Theatre
- Local Markets
- Mangal Bazar for traditional metalware and textiles
- Music Scene
- Jazz Upstairs (nearby Lazimpat) or live bands at Moksh
- Street Art
- Artudio (Chhauni/Patan areas) for contemporary murals
- Cooking Classes
- Social Cooking classes at Social Café (Patan)
- Art Galleries
- Mcube Gallery (Chakupat)
- Historic Buildings
- Patan Palace complexes
- Local Heritage
- The master metalworkers of Patan (lost-wax casting)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Godawari Botanical Gardens (30 mins drive)
- National Parks Nearby
- Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (1 hour drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Trails around Phulchowki Hill for mountain biking
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Chobhar Hill or Hattiban Resort for valley views
- Birdwatching Locations
- Godawari and Taudaha Lake
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Camping grounds in Lakuri Bhanjyang
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL (Kupondole) or Aramex
- Tech Repair Services
- Pako (New Road, nearby) for specialized laptop/phone repair
- Table Tennis Spots
- National Table Tennis Training Center (Lainchaur)
- Language Classes
- Bishwa Bhasa Campus (Exhibition Road) for Nepali classes
- Libraries & Study Spots
- AWON Library (Kupondole)
- Community Centers
- Gyan Mandala (Jhamsikhel)
- Gaming Lounges
- Sector 7 Gaming Zone (nearby Kathmandu)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Mahjong (Soaltee Hotel, nearby)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 200,000 NPR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 8,000,000 NPR / ~$60k)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 130,000 NPR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 5,200,000 NPR / ~$39k)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 185,000 NPR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 11,100,000 NPR / ~$83k)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 120,000 NPR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 7,200,000 NPR / ~$54k)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 175,000 NPR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 14,000,000 NPR / ~$105k)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 110,000 NPR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 8,800,000 NPR / ~$66k)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (General business rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents (183+ days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 39% (for income above 5 million NPR)
- VAT
- 13%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Limited; mostly focused on residents and local entities
- Property Tax
- Yes, progressive rates managed by local municipalities
- Property Transaction Tax
- 2% to 5% registration fee depending on location
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; most stay on tourist visas (limited to 150 days/year)