Money & Currency in Nepal: ATMs, Cash and Cards (2026)

Of all the things that confuse travellers before Nepal, money sits at the top. It is not the eurozone, it is not a country where you tap your card everywhere, and the local currency hides a rule many learn too late: it does not leave the country. If you understand in advance how money moves in Nepal — how much cash, in which currency, from where and when — you save yourself stress, wasted hours in ATM queues and useless rupees in your pocket on departure.

This guide explains it all in practical terms, with real 2026 figures in euros and in Nepalese rupees (NPR): the currency, the order of magnitude of the exchange rate, ATMs (limits and fees), when a card works, currency exchange, how much cash to carry on a trek where there is no ATM, and the tipping culture. If you are planning the wider trip, read it alongside the complete Nepal travel guide.

The Nepalese rupee (NPR): what you need to know

The official currency is the Nepalese rupee, with the international code NPR and the symbol "रू" or "Rs". It circulates in notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 rupees; coins are rare in daily life. The largest note, 1,000 NPR, is worth about €6.50 — keep that in mind, because a "big" note here does not mean much money.

Two things make the rupee special:

• It is pegged to the Indian rupee. The rate is fixed: 1 Indian rupee = 1.60 NPR. That is why prices are relatively stable against India, but fluctuate against the euro depending on the dollar.
• It is a "closed" currency. It is not sold abroad and, officially, you are not allowed to take it out of the country. In practice, you can only obtain rupees inside Nepal (more on that below).

What's it worth? Exchange rate and prices, order of magnitude

The rate moves, so hold on to an order of magnitude rather than an exact number. In 2026 we count roughly:

• €1 ≈ 145–150 NPR
• $1 ≈ 133–138 NPR (useful, because the visa and some permits are paid in dollars)

An easy mental rule: divide the rupees by 150 and you get roughly the euros. Nepal remains one of the most affordable destinations in the world; a full meal costs about the same as a coffee in Athens. Some indicative prices:

For a total daily budget, the budget traveller manages on NPR 3,500–6,000/day (~€25–40) and the mid-range one on NPR 6,000–15,000/day (~€40–100), excluding the flight. Detailed figures and costs by category are in the main travel guide.

ATMs in Nepal: limits, fees and where they are

In the cities, ATMs are everywhere. In Kathmandu (especially Thamel), Pokhara (Lakeside) and the urban centres you easily find machines that accept Visa and Mastercard (more rarely Maestro). Before you rejoice, though, learn the two rules that cost money:

• Limit per transaction: most ATMs dispense NPR 10,000–15,000 at a time (~€70–100). The exception is Nabil Bank, which goes up to NPR 35,000 (~€240) per withdrawal — which is why travellers seek it out.
• Flat fee: almost every Nepalese bank keeps NPR 400–500 (~€3) per withdrawal, regardless of the amount — and on top of that comes your own bank's foreign transaction fee. If you withdraw small amounts often, the fees eat a noticeable chunk.

The practical takeaway: withdraw the maximum possible each time (ideally from Nabil), to spread the flat fee over a larger amount. Other reliable banks: Global IME, Himalayan Bank, Standard Chartered, NIC Asia. Make the withdrawal during bank business hours, at a machine inside or next to a branch — if it "swallows" your card, you get it back the same day rather than being left with nothing. And warn your bank that you are travelling, so it does not block your card as a suspicious transaction.

Cash or card? Where plastic works

Plainly: Nepal is a cash economy. The card is useful for withdrawing rupees from an ATM, not for paying. Where plastic actually works:

• Yes, usually: mid-to-upper hotels, some tourist restaurants in Thamel/Lakeside, airline offices, large trekking agencies. Watch out for the 3–4% surcharge they often pass on to the card.
• No, almost never: taxis, small guesthouses, local restaurants and shops, stalls, bus tickets and — of course — the teahouses in the mountains.

Local digital wallets (eSewa, Khalti, IME Pay) are huge for locals, but they require a Nepalese bank account/number, so in practice they do not concern you as a tourist. The rule stands: always carry cash on you.

US dollars in cash: visa, permits and restricted areas

There are specific payments that require US dollars in cash, not rupees:

• The visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport: $30 for 15 days, $50 for 30, $125 for 90. Pay in clean, whole dollar bills — bring them with you from Greece.
• Restricted permits (Upper Mustang, Manaslu, Dolpo) are priced in dollars. See the detail in the guide to trekking permits.

A useful rule: bring $200–400 in cash (clean notes, not torn or very old — they get rejected) for the visa, permits and as a safety net. The rest you withdraw in rupees on the spot.

Currency exchange: where and how

If you prefer cash over ATMs, bring dollars or euros and change them at licensed exchange offices. Where it pays off:

• Best rate: at the exchange offices of Thamel (Kathmandu) and Lakeside (Pokhara). Rates are competitive and you can easily compare from shop to shop.
• Worst rate: at the airport and at banks. At the airport change only a small amount for a taxi/first day, and do the rest in town.
• Keep the receipts. You need them if you want to convert rupees back into dollars/euros on departure.

Careful with Indian rupees: if you are coming from India, the 500 and 2,000 Indian rupee notes are not officially accepted in Nepal. Do not rely on them.

The rupee does NOT export — don't withdraw too much

This is the point most people forget. The Nepalese rupee is a closed, non-convertible currency:

• You cannot buy it in Greece before you leave — no Greek bank holds it.
• You are officially not allowed to take it out of the country, and in any case it is practically useless outside Nepal: no exchange office in Europe will change it.

The practical takeaway: do not withdraw large amounts towards the end of the trip. Estimate your last days and spend or convert your leftover rupees before departure. Kathmandu airport has a counter that converts rupees back into dollars (with your exchange receipts), but at a worse rate and with queues — better not to arrive there with a fat wad of rupees. A small note kept as a souvenir is fine; a 20,000-rupee bundle is lost money.

How much cash for a trek (there are no ATMs on the trails)

This is where the most important part plays out. On the mountain trails there are no ATMs. The only "exception" is one or two ATMs at hubs like Namche Bazaar in the Everest region — but they are unreliable, often out of service or out of cash, with a steep fee. Do not rely on them. The rule is simple: withdraw everything you will need before you go up, in Pokhara or Kathmandu.

In the mountains everything is cash, in rupees, and prices rise as you climb (every item is carried by a porter or a mule — sometimes a helicopter). Indicative prices up on the trail: a meal NPR 800–1,500, bottled water NPR 100–400, phone charging NPR 200–500/hour, a hot shower NPR 300–600, Wi-Fi NPR 500+. How much to carry, if you are paying for food and lodging yourself (i.e. not everything is prepaid in the package):

If you are on an organised programme where food and accommodation are prepaid, you carry much less — only for drinks, snacks, souvenirs and tips, around NPR 15,000–25,000. Two last tips: (1) take small notes (100 and 500), because high up the mountain nobody has change for a 1,000 note; (2) split your cash across two or three places (money belt, backpack, pocket) for safety. Before you choose a route, see the Himalaya trekking guide and the packing list.

Tipping: how much and to whom

In Nepal tipping was not traditionally obligatory, but in tourism it is now well established and forms a significant part of the income of those who serve you. A practical guide:

The trek tip is usually given at the end, in an envelope, separately for the guide and for each porter. Ideally give it in rupees: for the local they are immediately usable, whereas dollars have to be exchanged at a loss. If you are in a group, it is customary to "pool" it together and give it as one.

Practical tips for travellers from Greece

• Bring $200–400 in cash from Greece (clean notes) for the visa, permits and safety, and withdraw the rest in rupees on the spot.
• Withdraw the maximum per transaction (ideally Nabil, NPR 35,000) to spread the flat NPR 400–500 fee.
• Always carry cash on you — outside the good hotels, the card will not save you.
• Notify your bank that you are travelling to Nepal, so the card is not blocked.
• Don't withdraw too much near the end: the rupee does not export and cannot be changed in Europe.
• Before a trek, load up on cash in a city and take small notes — there is no ATM on the trail.
• Money belt or hidden pocket: for safety, split your cash and do not keep it all in one place.

If you would rather not deal at all with ATMs, exchange offices and cash that "runs out" on the mountain, there is also the relaxed way. On an organised, high-end trip, the logistics — from permits and accommodation to the team's tips — are arranged in advance, so you carry minimal cash just for your personal spending. See the premium partnership Elysian Himalaya for a trip to the Himalaya where the only thing on your mind is the view.