15/07/2025
In Kathmandu in 1978, renting a bicycle typically cost between 2 to 5 Nepalese rupees (NPR) per day, depending on the type of bike and where you rented it. Standard Indian-made roadsters (the most common rental bikes) were usually 2 to 3 rupees per day - for better-condition bikes or newer models, some shops charged 4 to 5 rupees per day.
For comparison, a simple hotel room in Kathmandu in 1978 might have cost 5 to 10 rupees per night, and a meal of dal bhat was around 1 to 2 rupees.
Foreign exchange rate (1978 average) -
USD $1 = approx. 12–13 NPR
AUD $1 = approx. 10–11 NPR
Trekking permit (Annapurna, Everest) - 50–100 NPR
Kathmandu to Pokhara bus - 15–20 NPR
Chai tea - 10–15 paisa per cup
Hashish - 5–10 NPR for a 12 gram tola
