{"id":"np","country":"np","kind":"country","name":{"en":"Nepal","local":"नेपाल"},"languages":["ne","mai","bho","en"],"currency":"NPR","symbol":"रू","fxPerUsd":150.4,"cities":{"T1":"Kathmandu","T2":"Pokhara","T3":"Damak"},"basket":{"teaCup":35,"simpleMeal":200,"haircutMen":250,"milkLitre":103,"breadLoaf":74,"unskilledDayWage":900,"minWageMonthly":19550,"shopRentSqftMonth":{"T1":120,"T2":60,"T3":30},"electricityCommercialKwh":13,"lpgCommercialCylinder":2060,"petrolLitre":199},"tax":{"salesTax":"VAT 13% (many basic foods exempt)","smallBizThreshold":"VAT registration: Rs 50 lakh/yr for goods, Rs 30 lakh for services and mixed businesses; below that, presumptive income tax","localLevies":"Municipal business tax/registration fee (Local Government Operation Act), ward recommendation fee, signboard fee"},"licences":[{"name":"Sole proprietorship (private firm) registration","fee":"Est. Rs 1,000-5,000 by capital; cottage/small industry at CSIO/municipality","authority":"Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection / Cottage & Small Industries Office / municipality","source":"https://doc.gov.np"},{"name":"PAN (Permanent Account Number)","fee":"Free","authority":"Inland Revenue Department","source":"https://ird.gov.np"},{"name":"Ward recommendation and municipal business registration","fee":"Est. Rs 500-5,000/yr, set by each local government's finance act","authority":"Ward office / Metropolitan or Municipality","source":"https://kathmandu.gov.np"},{"name":"Food licence / registration for food businesses","fee":"Est. small fee; inspections periodic","authority":"Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC)","source":"https://dftqc.gov.np"}],"festivals":[{"name":"Tihar (Deepawali)","dates2026_27":"about 6–11 Nov 2026 (Laxmi Puja 8 Nov)","effect":"sweets (sel roti), marigold garlands, lights, clothing; shops stay open for Laxmi Puja; deusi-bhailo spending"},{"name":"Chhath","dates2026_27":"about 14–15 Nov 2026","effect":"fruit, sugarcane and puja goods demand in Madhesh/Terai"},{"name":"Maghe Sankranti / Losar","dates2026_27":"15 Jan 2027 / Jan–Feb 2027","effect":"ghee, chaku, sweet potato; Tamang/Sherpa/Gurung Losar feasts"},{"name":"Holi (Fagu Purnima)","dates2026_27":"about 21–22 Mar 2027","effect":"colours, water balloons, sweets; street trade closed half day"},{"name":"Nepali New Year (Navavarsha 2084)","dates2026_27":"14 Apr 2027","effect":"holiday; Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur"},{"name":"Teej","dates2026_27":"about Sep 2027","effect":"red sarees, bangles, blouses: tailors and cosmetics shops peak"},{"name":"Dashain","dates2026_27":"about Oct 2027 (2026 edition ended ~21 Oct)","effect":"biggest sales peak (goats, clothing, meat); Kathmandu empties ~10 days, many shops and helpers away"}],"seasons":[{"months":"Jun–Sep","what":"Monsoon: landslides and floods cut highways (2026 Bhotekoshi floods, Prithvi Highway disruption), raising LPG and goods prices in Kathmandu"},{"months":"Oct–Nov","what":"Festival + trekking peak: best trading months, tourist trade in Pokhara/Thamel"},{"months":"Dec–Feb","what":"Cold, fog in Terai; hot tea/soup/momo demand up; cold waves close Terai schools"},{"months":"Mar–May","what":"Pre-monsoon heat in Terai (40°C+), forest-fire smoke and air pollution in Kathmandu valley"}],"payments":{"digitalShare":"Est. 30-45% urban; Fonepay QR, eSewa and Khalti accepted even at tea and momo stalls in cities","credit":"udharo common at kirana pasal; credit from wholesalers"},"notes":"Nepal's prices track India's (the rupee is pegged at NPR 1.6 per INR and most goods, fuel and LPG come through India), but transport over mountain highways adds cost and makes supply fragile. Monsoon landslides or border disruptions quickly raise LPG and fuel prices. Fuel is sold at state-set prices in three distance zones (petrol Rs 197.50/199/200). Labour is scarce because millions work abroad; remittances are about a quarter of GDP and drive consumer spending, especially around Dashain and Tihar. The national minimum wage (Rs 19,550/month, July 2025) is lower than India's metro wages, but helpers are hard to keep. Small traders below the VAT threshold pay a flat presumptive income tax set by city type. QR payments (Fonepay) are surprisingly widespread. Chiya pasal (tea shops) serve milk tea at Rs 30-40 and black tea at Rs 20-25, usually alongside momo, samosa or sel roti. Momo stalls are the street-food staple instead of Indian chaat. Bandhs (strikes), political protests such as the Sept 2025 youth uprising with curfews, earthquakes and landslides are the main shocks.","regions":[{"id":"np-bagmati","name":"Bagmati Province","why":"Kathmandu valley rents and wages highest; metropolitan business tax rules; supply bottleneck via mountain highways"},{"id":"np-gandaki","name":"Gandaki Province","why":"Pokhara tourism economy, trekking-season swings"},{"id":"np-madhesh","name":"Madhesh Province","why":"open India border: cross-border shopping undercuts local prices; Chhath festival; heat and floods"},{"id":"np-koshi","name":"Koshi Province","why":"Biratnagar industrial belt, tea (Ilam) economy, Koshi floods"},{"id":"np-lumbini","name":"Lumbini Province","why":"Butwal/Bhairahawa border trade, Lumbini pilgrim tourism"},{"id":"np-karnali","name":"Karnali Province","why":"remote, highest transport costs, lowest incomes"},{"id":"np-sudurpashchim","name":"Sudurpashchim Province","why":"seasonal migration to India; Dhangadhi border trade; low wages"}],"factors":[{"id":"P01","cat":"Wages","name":"National minimum wage (all sectors except tea estates)","value":"Rs 19,550/month (basic Rs 12,170 + allowance Rs 7,380), from 17 Jul 2025; next review ~mid-2027","role":"HV","source":"https://en.himalpress.com/?p=75907","estimate":false},{"id":"P02","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum daily and hourly wage","value":"Rs 754/day; Rs 101/hour (part-time Rs 107/hour)","role":"HV","source":"https://wageindicator.org/ai/work/minimum-wage/updates/2025/minimum-wage-increased-in-nepal-from-17-july-2025-july-22-2025/","estimate":false},{"id":"P03","cat":"Wages","name":"Unskilled day labour (T2)","value":"Rs 800-1,000/day; higher in Kathmandu due to labour scarcity","role":"HV","source":"Est.: legal Rs 754/day plus market premium from out-migration","estimate":true},{"id":"P04","cat":"Wages","name":"Typical shop/tea-shop helper pay","value":"Rs 12,000-18,000/month plus meals and lodging","role":"HV","source":"Est.: below legal minimum common in informal sector; Numbeo avg net salary Rs 32,221 (Oct 2026)","estimate":true},{"id":"P05","cat":"Wages","name":"Social security contribution (SSF)","value":"31% of basic (11% employee + 20% employer) for formally registered employers","role":"PD","source":"https://ssf.gov.np","estimate":false},{"id":"P06","cat":"Rent","name":"Small shop rent, T1 Kathmandu (non-prime street)","value":"Rs 80-200/sq ft/month; ground-floor shutters in New Road/Thamel far higher","role":"HV","source":"Est.: from typical listings; no official rent series","estimate":true},{"id":"P07","cat":"Rent","name":"Small shop rent, T2 Pokhara and T3 Damak","value":"T2 Rs 50-70; T3 Rs 20-40 per sq ft/month","role":"HV","source":"Est.: scaled from T1","estimate":true},{"id":"P08","cat":"Energy","name":"Commercial electricity (NEA)","value":"Rs 13.00/kWh energy charge + Rs 100/month service charge (FY 2082/83 schedule, unofficial compilation)","role":"HV","source":"https://pricenepal.com/electricity-unit-price-nepal-nea-tariff-2026/","estimate":false},{"id":"P09","cat":"Energy","name":"VAT on commercial electricity","value":"Aug 2026 directive applies VAT to commercial electricity bills","role":"HV","source":"https://www.vatupdate.com/2026/08/27/nepal-introduces-vat-directive-for-electricity-services-with-household-and-commercial-rates/","estimate":false},{"id":"P10","cat":"Energy","name":"LPG 14.2 kg cylinder","value":"Rs 2,060 (within 50 km of plants); Kathmandu capped at Rs 2,165 during Sep 2026 highway disruption","role":"HV","source":"https://www.sharesansar.com/newsdetail/nepal-oil-corporation-keeps-fuel-prices-unchanged-despite-higher-ioc-rates-2026-09-16","estimate":false},{"id":"P11","cat":"Energy","name":"Petrol per litre (three zones)","value":"Rs 197.50 / 199 / 200 (held from 1 Oct 2026; NOC losing ~Rs 3.2 bn per fortnight)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.sharesansar.com/newsdetail/nepal-oil-corporation-keeps-fuel-prices-unchanged-despite-higher-import-costs-2026-10-01","estimate":false},{"id":"P12","cat":"Energy","name":"Load-shedding","value":"Ended in 2018; surplus hydro in monsoon, minor winter cuts","role":"HV","source":"Est.: NEA ended scheduled load-shedding May 2018","estimate":true},{"id":"P13","cat":"Prices","name":"Milk tea at chiya pasal (T2)","value":"Rs 30-40; black tea Rs 20-25","role":"HV","source":"Est.: milk Rs 103/L and LPG Rs 145/kg imply ~Rs 12-15 cost per cup; no 2026 survey","estimate":true},{"id":"P14","cat":"Prices","name":"Milk, 1 litre","value":"Rs 103 (range Rs 80-130)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Nepal","estimate":false},{"id":"P15","cat":"Prices","name":"White bread 500 g","value":"Rs 74","role":"HV","source":"https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Nepal","estimate":false},{"id":"P16","cat":"Prices","name":"Simple meal (dal bhat tarkari at a bhojanalaya)","value":"Rs 150-250; inexpensive restaurant Rs 300","role":"HV","source":"Est.: below Numbeo inexpensive restaurant Rs 300 https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Nepal","estimate":true},{"id":"P17","cat":"Prices","name":"Plate of momo (10 pcs, street)","value":"Rs 120-180 (buff), Rs 150-220 (chicken)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: street prices; no survey","estimate":true},{"id":"P18","cat":"Prices","name":"Men's haircut (T2)","value":"Rs 200-300","role":"HV","source":"Est.: no 2026 survey","estimate":true},{"id":"P19","cat":"Tax","name":"VAT rate","value":"13%","role":"HV","source":"https://lawalpine.com/blog/vat-in-nepal-rates-and-thresholds-2082-83","estimate":false},{"id":"P20","cat":"Tax","name":"VAT registration threshold","value":"Rs 50 lakh goods; Rs 30 lakh services/mixed (not changed in 2083/84 budget as far as found)","role":"HV","source":"https://lawalpine.com/blog/vat-in-nepal-rates-and-thresholds-2082-83","estimate":false},{"id":"P21","cat":"Tax","name":"Presumptive income tax for small traders","value":"Flat annual tax by location (roughly Rs 2,500-7,500; metro highest) for turnover under the threshold","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Income Tax Act 2058 s.4(4) presumptive regime; amounts from recent Finance Acts not verified for 2083/84 https://ird.gov.np","estimate":true},{"id":"P22","cat":"Tax","name":"Voluntary VAT registration","value":"Allowed below threshold; helps sell to businesses","role":"PD","source":"https://lookuptax.com/docs/country/nepal-vat-guidelines-indirect-tax","estimate":false},{"id":"P23","cat":"Licences","name":"Firm registration + PAN","value":"Firm registration at DOC/CSIO or municipality, PAN free from IRD; renew annually","role":"PD","source":"https://ird.gov.np","estimate":false},{"id":"P24","cat":"Licences","name":"Local business tax","value":"Set by each municipality's finance act; collected at registration/renewal","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Local Government Operation Act 2074; https://kathmandu.gov.np","estimate":true},{"id":"P25","cat":"Rules","name":"Street vending in Kathmandu","value":"KMC city police routinely evict footpath vendors; no formal vending zones","role":"RE","source":"Est.: repeated KMC anti-vendor drives 2022-26","estimate":true},{"id":"P26","cat":"Rules","name":"Mobile phone IMEI registration (MDMS)","value":"Imported phones must be registered with NTA; grey phones blocked","role":"HV","source":"https://nta.gov.np","estimate":false},{"id":"P27","cat":"Rules","name":"Weekend and holidays","value":"Saturday weekly holiday; many public holidays (30+); Dashain/Tihar ~2-week slowdowns","role":"HV","source":"Est.: official calendar","estimate":true},{"id":"P28","cat":"Payments","name":"QR payments","value":"Fonepay QR, eSewa, Khalti widely accepted in cities, est. 30-45% of urban small-shop sales","role":"HV","source":"Est.: NRB payment statistics show rapid QR growth; no merchant-level share","estimate":true},{"id":"P29","cat":"Payments","name":"Udharo (credit)","value":"Kirana pasal carry regulars on credit, settled monthly or around Dashain","role":"PD","source":"Est.: trade custom","estimate":true},{"id":"P30","cat":"Finance","name":"Loans for small businesses","value":"Concessional loans (women, youth, returnee migrants) via banks under NRB interest subsidy; cooperatives and microfinance","role":"PD","source":"https://www.nrb.org.np","estimate":false},{"id":"P31","cat":"Calendar","name":"Dashain-Tihar peak","value":"Oct-Nov: clothing, meat, sweets, gifts; 2-3x normal sales for many retailers; staff go home","role":"HV","source":"Est.: annual pattern","estimate":true},{"id":"P32","cat":"Calendar","name":"Teej tailoring rush","value":"Blouse/kurta stitching orders surge 2-3 weeks before Teej","role":"HV","source":"Est.: annual pattern","estimate":true},{"id":"P33","cat":"Climate","name":"Monsoon landslides","value":"Highways blocked for days; Kathmandu LPG/goods prices rise","role":"RE","source":"https://www.sharesansar.com/newsdetail/nepal-oil-corporation-keeps-fuel-prices-unchanged-despite-higher-ioc-rates-2026-09-16","estimate":false},{"id":"P34","cat":"Risk","name":"Bandh / protests / curfew","value":"Sept 2025 youth protests: curfews and closures for days; bandhs close markets","role":"RE","source":"Est.: Sept 2025 events; recurring bandhs","estimate":true},{"id":"P35","cat":"Risk","name":"Earthquake","value":"High seismic risk (2015 Gorkha quake); rare but severe","role":"RE","source":"Est.: seismic hazard history","estimate":true},{"id":"P36","cat":"Risk","name":"India border/supply disruption","value":"2015 blockade showed fuel/LPG shortages; half-weight LPG cylinders in 2026 shortage","role":"RE","source":"https://www.sharesansar.com/newsdetail/full-weight-lpg-cylinders-return-to-market-as-supply-normalizes-2026-07-15","estimate":false},{"id":"P37","cat":"Risk","name":"Fuel price revision","value":"NOC reviews fortnightly; Rs 3.2 bn/fortnight loss signals a hike","role":"RE","source":"https://www.sharesansar.com/newsdetail/nepal-oil-corporation-keeps-fuel-prices-unchanged-despite-higher-import-costs-2026-10-01","estimate":false},{"id":"P38","cat":"Language","name":"Business language","value":"Nepali; Maithili and Bhojpuri in Terai; Newari in Kathmandu valley trade; Hindi widely understood","role":"HV","source":"Est.: 2021 census language data https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np","estimate":true},{"id":"P39","cat":"Economy","name":"Per-capita income","value":"About US$1,450","role":"HV","source":"Est.: NSO FY2081/82 estimate ~US$1,447 https://nsonepal.gov.np","estimate":true},{"id":"P40","cat":"Economy","name":"Remittances","value":"About 25% of GDP; drives festival spending and labour shortages","role":"HV","source":"Est.: NRB macroeconomic data https://www.nrb.org.np","estimate":true},{"id":"P41","cat":"Economy","name":"Urbanisation","value":"About 22% urban (World Bank); 66% live in municipalities by administrative definition","role":"HV","source":"Est.: World Bank WDI and 2021 census","estimate":true},{"id":"P42","cat":"Economy","name":"Currency peg","value":"NPR 1.6 per INR, so Indian price moves pass straight through","role":"HV","source":"https://www.nrb.org.np","estimate":false},{"id":"P43","cat":"Business","name":"Chiya pasal + momo format","value":"Tea shops pair chiya with momo, samosa, sel roti, chowmein; momo replaces chaat as top street food","role":"HV","source":"Est.: observation of standard menus","estimate":true}]}