Kathmandu - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Large community with high morale. Many foreigners return to Kathmandu for multiple tours because they like it so much. It is a tough but rewarding place to live. - Apr 2025
It's in the hundreds and I think morale is typically good. We don't tend to frequent the expat spots, so I can't speak to this in depth. - Jun 2024
Morale is good. I think the expat community was a lot bigger before Covid-19, but it is coming back. - Aug 2022
It's a mid-sized post. There are some expats here, but not many. Embassy morale is not great; Kathmandu is a hard place to live and work. There are some Embassy events. I was expecting more excursion type events like they do at other posts, but so far there have been few. This is definitely a house-centric, and make your own fun kind of place. If you want to do something, ask around, you may find someone who knows where to find it. - Aug 2019
Much smaller after the earthquake. Morale is okay, there is a lot to do and see. It can be hard to live here, especially if you need Western things (like paved roads!), so some people have a harder time than others. Things are slowly getting back to normal, so hopefully the expat community will begin to rebuild. - Aug 2015
Medium to large but it can feel a little claustrophobic sometimes because Kathmandu is so isolated. - Jul 2014
Large, diverse and interesting. Morale is high except for those who come expecting something else. - May 2014
Huge expat community and pretty good morale. If you have chosen to live here, there must be some reason you are here and you are most often happy. - Apr 2014
Great expat community. Inclusive and friendly. - Dec 2013
Huge - There is an amazingly large expat community in Kathmandu which creates a very fun and active social scene. It's quite common to have social committments every night of the week. - Jun 2013
Very large - there are expats of all types, but mainly of the NGO/volunteer variety and very few corporate types. - Jun 2011
I hear that there are 1700 Americans living in town, and we have all other nations here as well. Large enough to direct the economy of the tourist industry. - Sep 2010
Quite large. The people are unique, especially those who have lived there for more than 3 years. Most expats are with NGOs or with the State Dept. - Jan 2010
Unsure. Fairly large for a place like KTM. - May 2008
