Can I use a card to pay for taxis in Nepal, or should I carry local cash?
After two trips to Nepal, I can confirm that cash is the only way to pay taxis there. Even in Thamel, the most touristy part of Kathmandu, drivers expect rupees. One driver even joked that he wouldn’t know what to do if someone tried to hand him a credit card. My advice is to withdraw enough cash when you find a good ATM, keep smaller notes handy, and not expect any taxi to offer a digital payment option. It just doesn’t exist.
I wouldn’t even bother asking about card payments in Nepali taxis. Drivers simply won’t have machines. They prefer cash, and since rides are relatively inexpensive, it’s not a huge inconvenience. What’s more important is having the right small bills because negotiating with a driver and then handing over a 1,000 rupee note often causes issues. In Kathmandu especially, traffic is chaotic, and taxis are plentiful, but don’t rely on digital payments. Treat taxis as a strictly cash-based option.
Nepal doesn’t really have a taxi card culture. Every single cab I used in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Pokhara wanted rupees in hand. It’s best to have cash ready before you even step into the car because fares are usually bargained beforehand. I also noticed drivers don’t carry much change, so exact amounts help. Card usage is growing in hotels and bigger restaurants, but taxis aren’t part of that system yet. Cash is king here, and it makes rides quicker and easier.
In Kathmandu and Pokhara, taxis are absolutely cash-only. I tried asking a driver about cards once, and he laughed. The rides are cheap by international standards, but you’ll need to negotiate fares and pay in Nepalese rupees every time. ATMs are common in the cities, so it’s easy to withdraw what you need. Don’t expect apps like Uber to work here either. Carry small notes because drivers rarely have change. Nepal is still very much a cash-driven country for taxis.