BUDGET UP TO - US$40
Budget hotel room in Kathmandu: US$5–20
Dinner & breakfast in a trekking lodge: US$10–12
Trekking porter/guide: US$13/20 per day
MIDRANGE - US$40–100
Organised camping trek: US$50–80 per person per day
Midrange meal in Kathmandu: US$7–10
Midrange hotel: US$20–80
TOP END OVER - US$100
Top-end hotel in Kathmandu or lodge in Chitwan: US$150–250
Mountain flight: US$171
Mustang trekking permit: US$500 per week
The Nepali rupee (Rs) is divided into 100 paisa (p). There are coins for denominations of one, two, five and 10 rupees, and banknotes in denominations of one, two, five, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 rupees. Since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008, images of Mt Everest have replaced the king on all banknotes.
Away from major centres, changing a Rs 1000 note can be difficult, so it is always a good idea to keep a stash of small-denomination notes. Even in Kathmandu, many small businesses – especially rickshaw and taxi drivers – simply don’t have sufficient spare money to allow them the luxury of carrying a wad of change.