South Asia
Money, cards and tipping in Nepal
NPRRupee
Money in Nepal
Mostly cash Cash rules outside hotels and Thamel or Lakeside shops. Carry enough rupees on treks; there are no ATMs above the main trailhead villages. US$1 ≈ Rs154.20 (03 Oct 2026).
Key facts
- Tipping: Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge plus 13% VAT. Tip trekking guides and porters about 10–15% of the trek cost.
- ATMs: ATMs often charge foreign cards about NPR 500 per withdrawal and cap withdrawals at NPR 10,000–35,000.
- Paying by phone: Fonepay and eSewa QR codes are everywhere but need a Nepali account; Indian visitors can pay them by UPI.
- Price level: about 24% of US prices (World Bank PPP).
Cash or card, by place
| Place | Cards | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu | Mixed: cards and cash | Cards in hotels, upscale restaurants and larger shops; cash for taxis, momo stalls, markets and trekking agencies. |
| Pokhara | Mixed: cards and cash | Cards in hotels and bigger restaurants; cash for taxis, small cafés, boat hire and trekking supplies. |
| Chitwan | Mostly cash | ATMs in Sauraha and Bharatpur; most guesthouses, safari agencies and shops want cash. Cards at larger lodges with a surcharge. |
| Namche Bazaar | Mostly cash | A few ATMs exist but run out of cash or fail. Carry all rupees you need for lodges, food, wifi and tips from Kathmandu. |
| Bhaktapur | Mixed: cards and cash | Cards in a few hotels and bigger restaurants; cash for pottery, small cafés, buses and market stalls. |
| Lumbini | Mostly cash | ATMs in Lumbini Bazaar and Bhairahawa; monasteries, small guesthouses and rickshaws want cash. Entry to temples may require rupees. |
| Patan | Mostly cash | Cash rules in markets, buses and taxis; cards at hotels and a few cafés. ATMs cap withdrawals and charge fees. |
Quick answers
Do you tip in Nepal?
Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge plus 13% VAT. Tip trekking guides and porters about 10–15% of the trek cost.
Is Nepal cashless?
Mostly cash. Cash rules outside hotels and Thamel or Lakeside shops. Carry enough rupees on treks; there are no ATMs above the main trailhead villages.
What currency does Nepal use?
The Rupee (NPR). US$1 ≈ Rs154.20 (03 Oct 2026).
Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- US State Department travel advisory
- Nepal Tourism Board: Tourist Visa
- Nepal Tourism Board: TIMS Card and guide rule
- Department of Immigration online services
- Ncell Tourist SIM
- Speedtest Global Index: Nepal
- World Bank open data
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