Cost of Living Comparison Between Chittagong and Dhaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Chittagong and Dhaka

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $358 per month in Chittagong vs $417 in Dhaka, rent included.

A couple spends around $601 per month in Chittagong vs $707 in Dhaka, rent included.

A family of three spends $844 per month in Chittagong vs $997 in Dhaka, rent included.

Chittagong is about 14% cheaper than Dhaka, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Chittagong and Dhaka are more affordable than the global median – Chittagong 73% lower, Dhaka 69% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chittagong
Dhaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.65 ৳203
$2.40 ৳295
-31.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.96 ৳1,835
$12.97 ৳1,591
15.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.20 ৳883
$4.88 ৳599
47.54%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.88 ৳722
$3.99 ৳489
47.37%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18 ৳512
$5.01 ৳614
-16.57%
Cappuccino
$1.63 ৳200
$2.27 ৳278
-28.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ৳44.03
$0.32 ৳38.76
12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 ৳16.60
$0.15 ৳17.91
-6.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chittagong
Dhaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.78 ৳95.7
$0.83 ৳101
-6.02%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 ৳70.4
$0.71 ৳86.5
-19.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.65 ৳79.2
$0.65 ৳80.3
-
Eggs
$1.22 ৳149
$1.29 ৳158
-5.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.28 ৳1,139
$6.74 ৳827
37.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$1.60 ৳197
$3.45 ৳423
-53.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.25 ৳889
$6.66 ৳817
8.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 ৳275
$2.74 ৳336
-18.25%
Banana (1kg)
$0.96 ৳118
$1.14 ৳140
-15.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 ৳258
$2.67 ৳327
-21.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 ৳97.7
$0.91 ৳111
-12.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.45 ৳54.9
$0.44 ৳53.7
2.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 ৳109
$0.79 ৳96.6
12.66%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.41 ৳49.79
$0.35 ৳43.42
17.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 ৳30.41
$0.30 ৳37.07
-16.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$8.59 ৳1,053
$12.06 ৳1,480
-28.77%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ৳102
$3.89 ৳477
-78.66%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 ৳179
$6.93 ৳850
-78.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89 ৳354
$3.03 ৳372
-4.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Chittagong
Dhaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 ৳20.03
$0.39 ৳48.34
-58.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.12 ৳505
$24.89 ৳3,054
-83.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.79 ৳97.1
$1.22 ৳149
-35.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 ৳52.1
$0.43 ৳52.7
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.50 ৳306
$3.06 ৳375
-18.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 ৳123
$1.04 ৳127
-2.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K ৳4.1M
$28.9K ৳3.5M
14.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3K ৳4.2M
$28.5K ৳3.5M
20.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chittagong
Dhaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$22.78 ৳2,794
$32.66 ৳4,006
-30.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.77 ৳708
$4.75 ৳583
21.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.20 ৳1,619
$12.98 ৳1,593
1.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chittagong
Dhaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.43 ৳1,892
$19.31 ৳2,369
-20.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.26 ৳1,381
$14.78 ৳1,813
-23.82%
Cinema Ticket
$3.35 ৳410
$4.11 ৳504
-18.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chittagong
Dhaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$29.33 ৳3,597
$46.92 ৳5,756
-37.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,343 ৳164.7K
$1,979 ৳242.8K
-32.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chittagong
Dhaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.49 ৳2,513
$18.61 ৳2,283
10.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.22 ৳2,235
$24.19 ৳2,967
-24.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.0 ৳6,382
$46.70 ৳5,728
11.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.34 ৳4,089
$36.80 ৳4,514
-9.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chittagong
Dhaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$131 ৳16.0K
$117 ৳14.3K
11.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$59.5 ৳7,294
$63.5 ৳7,785
-6.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$243 ৳29.8K
$316 ৳38.8K
-23.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$148 ৳18.2K
$184 ৳22.5K
-19.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$805 ৳98.8K
$1,493 ৳183.2K
-46.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$462 ৳56.7K
$659 ৳80.8K
-29.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chittagong
Dhaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$264 ৳32.4K
$286 ৳35.1K
-7.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.67
10.52
10.93%

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

Last update for Chittagong: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $131 in Chittagong versus $117 in Dhaka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 8% higher in Dhaka, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Chittagong versus $13.00 in Dhaka. Groceries tell a different story – $116 in Chittagong vs $124 in Dhaka – so Chittagong wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Chittagong vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Chittagong and Dhaka compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $358 in Chittagong, $417 in Dhaka – roughly 16% apart. Dhaka costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Chittagong compared to Dhaka?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $537 per month in Chittagong and $625 in Dhaka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Chittagong and Dhaka?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chittagong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Chittagong or Dhaka?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $358 in Chittagong and $417 in Dhaka. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Chittagong and Dhaka?
Public transport costs about 504% less in Chittagong. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How far does $1,200 go in Chittagong vs Dhaka?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $358 in Chittagong and $417 in Dhaka, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Chittagong or Dhaka?
Families tend to lean toward Chittagong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Chittagong and Dhaka?
If budget matters most, go with Chittagong. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dhaka makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Chittagong vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities