Living in Pokhara, Nepal

Pokhara is a mid-sized inland city in Gandaki Pradesh, Nepal (250,000 to 1 million people in the city proper). It has a mild climate, averaging 19°C over the year with about 2,743 mm of rain. We estimate a couple needs about €2,053 a month to live centrally. For foreigners, long-term residency in Nepal is possible, with conditions, with a self-funded route from about $1,667 a month in income.

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Est. cost: €2,053; a month for a couple
Climate: 19°C; 2,743 mm rain a year
Size: Mid-sized; 250,000 to 1 million people
Safety: 59/100; country-level
Residency: Possible, with conditions; for most foreigners

Limited data for Nepal. Figures for safety, healthcare, cost of living and political stability in Nepal are country-level estimates from World Bank indicators, each named with its year. We have no tax, English, social openness or internet speed figures for Nepal, so the quiz scores those factors conservatively and this page leaves them out.

What stands out about Pokhara

Self-funded residency from about $1,667 a month in income
More affordable than 89% of the cities we compare
Wet: about 2,743 mm of rain a year

Residency and visas

Possible, with conditions. Long-term stay is via a renewable residential visa open to investors in a Nepali industrial enterprise, retirees with sufficient means, spouses of Nepali citizens, or those of outstanding national contribution, but it stays conditional and never converts to permanent residence or citizenship for ordinary foreigners.

The cheapest self-funded routes we track for Nepal:

Income: about $1,667 a month (Nepal residential visa, non-business/sufficient-means route: USD 20,000/yr certified source of income (plus USD 20,000 bank balance), requires age 60+ or proof of retirement; as of June 2026)
Investment: about $100k (Nepal residential (investor) visa: USD 100,000 one-time invested in a Nepali industrial enterprise; as of June 2026)

For short visits, 1 of 198 passports can enter visa-free, 185 can get an e-visa or visa on arrival and 12 need a visa in advance.

Source: OurNextCity residency dataset, hand-reviewed approximations researched against published immigration rules, figures as of June 2026. Not legal advice: check the official source before you apply. Short-stay entry from the passport-index dataset (ilyankou, MIT).

Healthcare

Nepal scores 49 out of 100 for healthcare, stronger than 6% of the cities we compare.

Source: Country-level estimate, the same for every city in Nepal: life expectancy at birth (SP.DYN.LE00.IN, 2024) and current health spending per person in US dollars (SH.XPD.CHEX.PC.CD, 2023), calibrated to the 0 to 100 scale of our reference tables. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Climate

Pokhara averages 19°C across the year with about 2,743 mm of rain, which makes it mild and very wet. It is warmer than 50% of the 1225 cities we track.

Source: Temperature from the Open-Meteo historical weather archive, daily means for 2019 to 2023; rainfall from TerraClimate (University of Idaho) 1991 to 2020 normals. Annual averages; monthly breakdowns are not in our dataset yet.

Cost of living

We estimate a couple needs about €2,053 a month to live centrally in Pokhara, 25% below the €2,729 median across the 900 cities we compare. That makes it more affordable than 89% of them.

Source: OurNextCity model from the price level of GDP relative to the United States, from GDP per person in US dollars and at purchasing power parity (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD/NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD, 2025), calibrated to our country-level cost index (New York = 100) and scaled up for larger cities. An estimate for comparing cities, not a budget. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Safety and stability

Nepal scores 59 out of 100 on safety, safer than 47% of the cities we compare. Its estimated democracy score is 5.6 out of 10.

Source: Country-level estimate, the same for every city in Nepal: country-level homicide rate per 100,000 people (VC.IHR.PSRC.P5, 2020) and Worldwide Governance Indicators Political Stability and Absence of Violence estimate (GOV_WGI_PV.EST, 2025), calibrated to the 0 to 100 scale of our reference tables (higher is safer). Stability: Worldwide Governance Indicators Voice and Accountability estimate (GOV_WGI_VA.EST, 2025), calibrated to the EIU Democracy Index scale. Source: The World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), CC BY 4.0.

Questions couples ask about Pokhara

Is Pokhara a good place to live for couples?

It depends on what the two of you weigh most. Compared with the other cities we track, Pokhara scores well on affordability. It is weaker on healthcare. Our figures for Nepal are partial: no tax, English, social openness or internet speed data, and country-level World Bank estimates for the rest. Expect a mild, very wet climate (19°C average). OurNextCity has each partner answer 12 questions privately, then ranks Pokhara and 914 other cities for both of you at once.

How much does it cost a couple to live in Pokhara?

We estimate about €2,053 a month for a couple living centrally, 25% below the €2,729 median across the cities we compare. It is a model estimate from the World Bank price level of GDP for Nepal, calibrated to our country-level cost index adjusted for city size, so use it to compare cities rather than to set a budget.

Can foreigners live in Nepal long term?

Our assessment: possible, with conditions. Long-term stay is via a renewable residential visa open to investors in a Nepali industrial enterprise, retirees with sufficient means, spouses of Nepali citizens, or those of outstanding national contribution, but it stays conditional and never converts to permanent residence or citizenship for ordinary foreigners. The cheapest self-funded routes we track: income, about $1,667 a month (as of 2026-06); investment, about $100k (as of 2026-06).

What is the weather like in Pokhara?

Pokhara averages 19°C across the year with about 2,743 mm of rain, which makes it mild and very wet. It is warmer than 50% of the cities we track.