Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Dhaka

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $426 a month against $625 in Ambon, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ambon
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$625
/mo nomad
Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$426
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ambon and in Dhaka

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ambon and in Dhaka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $625 in Ambon versus $426 in Dhaka.

  • Ambon $625
  • Dhaka $426

Estimated couple costs with rent: $997 in Ambon versus $735 in Dhaka.

  • Ambon $997
  • Dhaka $735

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,368 in Ambon versus $1,043 in Dhaka.

  • Ambon $1,368
  • Dhaka $1,043

Living in Ambon is roughly 47% more expensive than in Dhaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ambon 53% lower, Dhaka 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ambon
Dhaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.10 Rp 19.6K
$2.49 ৳306
-55.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.77 Rp 246.4K
$13.06 ৳1,605
5.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.82 Rp 68.4K
$4.83 ৳594
-20.91%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.93 ৳606
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.10 ৳504
-
Cappuccino
$1.47 Rp 26.3K
$2.34 ৳287
-37.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,718
$0.30 ৳37.39
43.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 Rp 5,160
$0.16 ৳19.96
81.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.29 Rp 40.9K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 Rp 61.9K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ambon
Dhaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.07 Rp 19.2K
$0.80 ৳98.1
33.75%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 Rp 17.6K
$0.65 ৳79.3
52.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
$0.71 ৳87.3
12.68%
Eggs
$1.37 Rp 24.5K
$1.21 ৳149
13.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.33 Rp 131.2K
$8.67 ৳1,065
-15.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.93 Rp 52.4K
$3.21 ৳395
-8.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.72 Rp 138.1K
$6.70 ৳823
15.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.0K
$2.73 ৳335
-18.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 23.1K
$0.88 ৳109
46.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 Rp 30.3K
$2.37 ৳291
-28.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.6K
$0.65 ৳79.6
95.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 23.1K
$0.24 ৳29.20
437.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 Rp 35.7K
$0.49 ৳60.7
306.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.32 ৳38.88
128.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,718
$0.30 ৳37.31
43.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$12.07 ৳1,483
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$5.51 ৳677
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.66 ৳819
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 40.9K
$3.23 ৳396
-29.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.10 Rp 377.4K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 Rp 54.5K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ambon
Dhaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,723
$0.42 ৳52.1
-38.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.64 Rp 297.7K
$22.54 ৳2,770
-26.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 Rp 9,380
$1.19 ৳147
-56.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 Rp 6,408
$0.40 ৳48.60
-10.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 Rp 48.1K
$3.35 ৳411
-19.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.5K
$1.15 ৳141
-29.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K Rp 377.6M
$30.3K ৳3.7M
-30.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K Rp 487.5M
$33.0K ৳4.1M
-17.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
Dhaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.5 Rp 1.0M
$46.32 ৳5,692
24.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.48 Rp 98.0K
$4.33 ৳532
26.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.88 Rp 337.7K
$10.63 ৳1,306
77.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
Dhaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.58 Rp 332.3K
$16.37 ৳2,012
13.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.69 Rp 137.6K
$16.14 ৳1,983
-52.35%
Cinema Ticket
$1.37 Rp 24.5K
$4.13 ৳508
-66.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ambon
Dhaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.1 Rp 1.7M
$90.7 ৳11.1K
4.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,994 Rp 125.1M
$2,649 ৳325.5K
164.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
Dhaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.94 Rp 768.1K
$16.48 ৳2,025
160.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.09 Rp 574.1K
$21.00 ৳2,580
52.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.0 Rp 1.3M
$50.3 ৳6,175
45.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.7 Rp 1.3M
$36.46 ৳4,480
96.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ambon
Dhaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$207 Rp 3.7M
$152 ৳18.6K
36.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$127 Rp 2.3M
$73.6 ৳9,044
72.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 Rp 8.5M
$436 ৳53.6K
9.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$405 Rp 7.2M
$214 ৳26.3K
89.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,004 Rp 18.0M
$1,622 ৳199.3K
-38.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$915 Rp 16.4M
$761 ৳93.5K
20.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ambon
Dhaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$125 Rp 2.2M
$249 ৳30.6K
-49.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.46
10.48
-9.73%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ambon: October 6, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ambon
$194
Dhaka
$123 37% $72
Accommodation & Living
Ambon
$127
Dhaka
$74 42% $53
Clothing & Footwear
Ambon
$99
Dhaka
$56 43.5% $43
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ambon
$82
Dhaka
$61 25.1% $21
Eating Out
Ambon
$59
Dhaka
$64 8.7% $5.1
Sport & Entertainment
Ambon
$21
Dhaka
$25 15.6% $3.3
Getting Around
Ambon
$20
Dhaka
$27 37% $7.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $207 in Ambon and $152 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhaka pays 100% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $14.00 in Ambon vs $13.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $123 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ambon
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🕒 Local time
12:41 12:41 PM
09:41 9:41 AM
3 h behind Ambon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
275,888
21,741,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BDT, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,890 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,065 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.98 EUR).

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 123 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.14 USD). 1 EUR = 138 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.26 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ambon Dhaka 5,100 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ambon
  • Dhaka

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ambon vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ambon or Dhaka?
Dhaka wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Ambon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dhaka the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ambon or in Dhaka?
On paper, salaries run 100% lower in Dhaka. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ambon compared to Dhaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $207 in Ambon versus $152 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ambon compared to Dhaka?
All in, you'll spend $625 per month in Ambon versus $426 in Dhaka – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ambon compared to Dhaka?
A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 35% less than in Ambon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ambon or in Dhaka?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Dhaka gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ambon or Dhaka?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Ambon compared to Dhaka?
Safety-wise, Ambon and Dhaka are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Ambon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ambon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?