Nepal accepts most of the major currencies in cash, like USD, Euro, GBP, other European currencies, Chinese Yuan, Japanese Yuan, Korean Won, and all the Middle Eastern countries' money. The local currency is called Nepali Rupees and also Indian currency.
If you have foreign currencies, the best places to change them are at the banks and money changers. There are plenty of money changers in the Thamel area and most tourist destinations in Nepal, and also the banks are everywhere. It makes currency exchange in Kathmandu a better decision.
Digital payments are also accepted here, but bank transfers are subject to charge transfer fees from 5 USD to 50 USD, depending on how much you transfer from your home country's banks and by which transfer method, as there are cheaper ways to do bank transfers via Revolut, Wise, MoneyGram, Western Union, WorldRemit, etc.
Paying directly by card where you purchase the trips and goods is also possible, but Nepal banks take card handling fees of 2% to 4%, depending on which bank in Nepal and what kind of vendors.
What currency does Nepal use?
Nepali currency is called Nepali rupees, and you normally pay in Nepali rupees only, except some tourist places may pay in popular foreign currencies, but they return the change in local currency. So it’s the best if you pay everywhere in Nepali currency. You can exchange many currencies in Nepal, like USD, Euro, GBP, AUD, CAD, HKD, SGD, Chinese and Japanese yen, and Korean won, and all that money from the Middle East.
What rates do you get when you exchange foreign currencies in Nepal?
The exchange rates change day to day and sometimes change a few times a day. When the Indian rupee to Nepali rupee exchange remains constant, like 1.00 Indian rupee gets 1.60 Nepali rupees. The money changers at the tourist spots offer the same exchange rates on the board and say no commission, but the exchange is lower than the official rate so that they make some margins. When you exchange currency in banks, you get better rates. Here is the daily exchange rate published by Nepal Rastra Bank:
| Currency | UNIT | BUY | SELL |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD (U.S. Dollar) | 1 | 152.84 | 153.44 |
| EUR (European Euro) | 1 | 176.39 | 177.09 |
| GBP (UK Pound Sterling) | 1 | 204.26 | 205.06 |
| CHF (Swiss Franc) | 1 | 192.00 | 192.75 |
| AUD (Australian Dollar) | 1 | 108.12 | 108.54 |
| CAD (Canadian Dollar) | 1 | 109.70 | 110.13 |
| SGD (Singapore Dollar) | 1 | 118.72 | 119.18 |
| JPY (Japanese Yen) | 10 | 9.55 | 9.59 |
| CNY (Chinese Yuan) | 1 | 22.53 | 22.62 |
| SAR (Saudi Arabian Riyal) | 1 | 40.70 | 40.86 |
| QAR (Qatari Riyal) | 1 | 41.92 | 42.09 |
| THB (Thai Baht) | 1 | 4.66 | 4.68 |
| AED (UAE Dirham) | 1 | 41.61 | 41.77 |
| MYR (Malaysian Ringgit) | 1 | 37.52 | 37.67 |
| KRW (South Korean Won) | 100 | 9.99 | 10.03 |
| SEK (Swedish Kroner) | 1 | 16.23 | 16.29 |
| DKK (Danish Kroner) | 1 | 23.60 | 23.69 |
| HKD (Hong Kong Dollar) | 1 | 19.50 | 19.58 |
| KWD (Kuwaity Dinar) | 1 | 497.45 | 499.40 |
| BHD (Bahrain Dinar) | 1 | 405.30 | 406.89 |
| OMR (Omani Rial) | 1 | 396.97 | 398.52 |
| Note: Exchange Rate for June 9, 2026 |
Exchange euros, USD, GBP & Indian rupees.
These are popular currencies in Nepal so that you can easily get exchanged almost everywhere, like in a small town, even when other currencies can be exchanged only at the tourist spots like in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini etc.
How widely is Indian currency accepted in Nepal?
Nepal accepts Indian rupees widely, especially in the south, as they are bordered by India; it’s a bit difficult to pay with Indian rupees in the mountain area and smaller villages when bigger cities and towns don't take them. One may get only 1.55 or 1.50 Nepali rupees from 1 Indian rupee, though official rate is 1=1.60
Best place for money exchange in kathmandu
Well, getting the best exchange rate depends on how much you exchange and how high the currencies are in demand at the moment you exchange. Every year many thousands of students go to study abroad, and popular currencies like the euro, USD, GBP, and Japanese yen can have big demands on student enrollment season. Banks are good for exchanging, and money changers are good when you can bargain the exchange rates. I do not recommend exchanging at the airport, as you always get bad rates compared to in the town.
How easy and reliable are ATM cards to use in Nepal?
It’s normally very safe to use ATM cards in Nepal. It's also easy to find ATM machines all over Nepal in the cities, towns, and big villages, but smaller villages in the mountains may not have ATMs.
The ATM machines may give a smaller amount, like 10 thousand or 20 thousand Nepali rupees per withdrawal in small towns and non-touristic areas, when you can withdraw 35 thousand Nepali rupees in one withdrawal in the big cities and tourist places. As you pay the ATM fee for each withdrawal, it is best to use an ATM that gives 35 thousand, which is about 230 USD.
Is PayPal working in Nepal
According to the Nepal government rule, PayPal is not possible to use in Nepal. It's not allowed to open a PayPal account with a Nepali phone number, so one needs a foreign phone number and address in order to open a PayPal account.
What cards can be used in Nepal?
Nepal accepts Visa and Mastercard very widely, while some places accept American Express and UnionPay cards. Please remember the card payment always cost you a fee. Please check above for the stricter of card payment fees.
Essential Money Tips
- Always carry your passport, as money exchanges and banks need to legally verify your identity before exchanging large sums of currency.
- After exchanging your foreign currency to Nepali currency, always keep the receipt with you. It's required to turn Nepalese currency left over into foreign currency.
- Always carry cash in smaller denominations before starting your trek, as it would be convenient in a mountain area.
- If you are an Indian tourist, you can pay through QR with your mobile banking with transaction limit of INR 1 lakh
- Bring dollars dated after 2000 and make sure you get bigger denomination notes, as they provide a better exchange rate.