This guide explains how the gold price in Nepal is calculated, why it is quoted in NPR and per tola, and where to buy gold in Kathmandu. The first thing to know is the most important: there is no separate Nepali gold price. Gold trades at one global price per troy ounce, converted into rupees at the live rate.
How the gold price in Nepal is calculated
The calculation has two parts, both live numbers. First, the global spot price: gold is traded worldwide at one price per troy ounce in US dollars. One troy ounce is 31.1034768 grams. Divide the spot price by 31.1034768 and you have the price of one gram of pure (24K) gold in dollars. Second, the exchange rate: that dollar price per gram is converted into Nepalese rupees at the live USD/NPR rate, and the karat fraction gives the price for lower karats — 22K gold is 22/24 pure, so its price per gram is 22/24 of the 24K price. That is exactly how the Gold Price in Nepal page works: live USD spot gold from AlyawmGold, converted at the live NPR rate, shown per gram, per troy ounce and per tola. The prices are the raw spot rate before dealer commission and labour charges.
The rupee, the tola and the gold price
Two local facts shape the price in Nepal. The first is the currency. The Nepalese rupee (NPR) is pegged to the Indian rupee at 1.60 NPR per Indian rupee, in place since 1994. Because of the peg, the NPR price of gold also tracks how the Indian rupee moves against the dollar: if the Indian rupee weakens, the gold price in Nepal rises in rupees even when the global gold price is flat. The second is the unit. Gold in Nepal is traditionally quoted per tola, and the tola is still the standard trading unit: the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association (FENEGOSIDA) quotes its official daily rates per tola. One tola equals 11.6638 grams. Grams are used too — shop bills usually state the weight in both — but when a Nepali shop quotes a price, it is usually a per-tola price. To compare a per-tola quote with a per-gram quote, divide the per-tola price by 11.6638, or use the Gold Price per Gram, Tola and Ounce Converter to put both on the same unit first.
Karats in Nepal: 22K for jewellery, 24K for bullion
In Nepal, 22K is the standard karat for jewellery. Most rings, bangles, necklaces and earrings sold in Nepali shops are 22K gold — 91.67% pure (916 fineness), hard enough for everyday wear. Bullion — bars and coins bought as an investment — is 24K gold, pure at 99.9% fineness. 24K is too soft for everyday jewellery, so it is used mainly for bars, coins and investment.
For pricing, 24K is the reference purity, and the price for 22K follows from the karat fraction: a piece of 22K jewellery has a metal value of the 24K price per gram multiplied by 22/24. The Gold Value Calculator does that calculation with the live price. To check how much pure gold is in a piece, use the Gold Weight and Purity Calculator: a 10-gram piece of 22K gold holds 9.1667 grams of pure gold, and a one-tola piece of 22K (11.6638 grams) holds 10.6845 grams. Nepal has no mandatory nationwide hallmarking system, so look for a purity stamp — 916 for 22K — and buy from a FENEGOSIDA-registered dealer.
Where to buy gold in Nepal
Gold buying in Nepal is concentrated in Kathmandu: a dense jewellery cluster on New Road, the historic bazaar around Asan and Indra Chowk, and the upmarket street of Durbar Marg. All three are close together, so comparing shops in one trip is easy.
New Road and Bishal Bazar — the main gold cluster
The densest concentration of gold showrooms in Nepal is on New Road (Naya Sadak), centred on Bishal Bazar on Sukra Path. Dozens of gold, diamond and silver showrooms sit within a few streets, selling traditional and modern 22K jewellery, bridal sets, necklaces, bangles and rings. Long-established names include Shalimar Jewellers (Shop No. 5, since 1994) and R.B. Diamond Jewellers (Shop No. 2, since 1997). Most shops keep Sunday-to-Friday hours, roughly 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM. View Bishal Bazar on Google Maps.
Asan and Indra Chowk — the historic bazaar
Asan, adjoining Indra Chowk in central Kathmandu, is one of the city’s oldest bazaars — a historic India–Tibet trade-route marketplace where gold and silver jewellers sit among stalls selling spices, textiles and electronics. Gold shops here are small and family-run, and buying means bargaining over the counter rather than fixed tag prices. An established name is New Gadimai Gold and Silver Jewelry, in Asan, in business since the 1970s, selling gold necklaces, earrings and bangles with a buy-back guarantee. Asan is a square, not a single building — ask for Asan Dabu, the main square. View Asan Bazaar on Google Maps.
Durbar Marg — the upmarket street
For fine jewellery and fixed, tag-priced showrooms, Durbar Marg is Kathmandu’s upmarket shopping street. The showrooms here sell certified diamonds and pure gold in modern and bridal designs, and some offer EMI payment — a contrast to the bargaining bazaars above. Names include Urja Jewels, opposite Nepal Investment Bank on Durbar Marg, and Asri Jewelers, which has stores on both New Road and Durbar Marg. Shops here keep similar hours. View Durbar Marg on Google Maps.
What you will actually pay in a Kathmandu shop
The final price of a piece of gold jewellery in Kathmandu is the metal value plus the shop’s charges: making charges for the craftsmanship, labour and its own margin. Making charges are the biggest reason quotes differ — they vary by design, brand and shop, and in the bazaars they are negotiable. So compare the total price of the same piece in two or three shops, not just the per-tola rate: work out the metal value first with the Gold Value Calculator, and the difference from the shop’s total price is what you are paying for craftsmanship, brand and the shop itself. For bars and coins, 24K is the usual choice. For everyday jewellery, 22K is the standard — and because a tola of 22K gold holds 10.6845 grams of pure gold, not 11.6638, always check the pure-gold content, not just the total weight. Taxes on gold in Nepal have changed often, so ask the dealer for the current tax position.
Buying tips for Nepal
- Check the live price on the day you buy, and value the piece first with the Gold Value Calculator.
- Compare making charges across two or three shops — on New Road the shops are side by side.
- Check the purity stamp — 916 means 22K gold. Nepal has no mandatory nationwide hallmarking system, so buy from a FENEGOSIDA-registered dealer.
- Weigh the piece and check the pure-gold content with the Gold Weight and Purity Calculator — stones and clasps add weight without adding gold.
- Compare on the same unit — use the Gold Price per Gram, Tola and Ounce Converter if one shop quotes per tola and another per gram. One tola is 11.6638 grams.
- Keep the receipt and certificate — you will need them if you ever resell the piece.
- Match the area to the purchase: New Road for choice, Asan for bazaar buying, Durbar Marg for fine jewellery.
For the live price, start at the gold price in Nepal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the gold price in Nepal today?
The live gold price in Nepal is shown in NPR on the Gold Price in Nepal page, per gram, per troy ounce and per tola, with the last-updated time.
How is the gold price in Nepal calculated?
From one global spot price per troy ounce in US dollars, converted into Nepalese rupees at the live USD/NPR rate. Divide the spot price by 31.1034768 to get the price per gram in dollars, then convert at the live rate.
Why is gold quoted per tola in Nepal?
The tola is Nepal’s traditional and standard gold-trading unit — one tola equals 11.6638 grams — and FENEGOSIDA quotes its official daily rates per tola. Grams are used too, and shop bills usually state the weight in both.
Which karat of gold is best to buy in Nepal?
For jewellery, 22K is the standard in Nepal — 91.67% pure gold, hard enough for everyday wear. For investment bars and coins, 24K gold is the usual choice. For pricing, 24K is the reference and the 22K price follows from the karat fraction (22/24).
What is the 24K gold price per gram in Nepal?
The live 24K gold price per gram in Nepal is shown in NPR in the table on the Gold Price in Nepal page. It follows the live spot price and the exchange rate, so check the last-updated time.
Where is the best place to buy gold in Kathmandu?
For the widest choice, New Road and Bishal Bazar, where dozens of showrooms sit side by side. For traditional bazaar buying, Asan and Indra Chowk. For fine jewellery and fixed tag prices, Durbar Marg.
Is gold cheaper in New Road or on Durbar Marg?
There is no fixed rule. New Road’s competing showrooms make making charges easy to compare and negotiate, while Durbar Marg’s showrooms sell fine jewellery at fixed tag prices. The metal value is the same everywhere — compare the total price of the same piece in both areas.
How do I check the live gold price before buying?
Open the Gold Price in Nepal page and check the per-gram or per-tola price for your karat, then use the Gold Value Calculator to work out the metal value of the exact weight you plan to buy.
What is the difference between the spot price and the shop price in Nepal?
The spot price is the raw market rate. Shops in Nepal add making charges, labour and their margin, so the shop price is usually higher. Work out the metal value with the Gold Value Calculator and compare it with the shop’s total price.
What should I check before paying for gold in Nepal?
Check the purity stamp and karat (916 for 22K), weigh the piece, work out the pure-gold content, compare the total price across two or three shops, and keep the receipt and any certificate. Buy from a FENEGOSIDA-registered dealer.