Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Bandung

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $426 a month against $641 in Bandung, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$426
/mo nomad
Bandung
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$641
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Bandung

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $426 in Dhaka versus $641 in Bandung.

  • Dhaka $426
  • Bandung $641

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Dhaka versus $947 in Bandung.

  • Dhaka $735
  • Bandung $947

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,043 in Dhaka versus $1,252 in Bandung.

  • Dhaka $1,043
  • Bandung $1,252

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 34% less than in Bandung, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 68% lower, Bandung 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Bandung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49 ৳305
$1.42 Rp 25.4K
75.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.06 ৳1,604
$14.13 Rp 252.5K
-7.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.83 ৳594
$3.31 Rp 59.1K
45.92%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 ৳606
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10 ৳504
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.34 ৳287
$1.48 Rp 26.5K
58.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ৳37.38
$0.47 Rp 8,397
-36.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.96
$0.22 Rp 3,921
-27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09 Rp 55.1K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Bandung
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.80 ৳98.1
$1.13 Rp 20.1K
-29.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 ৳79.3
$0.99 Rp 17.7K
-34.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.71 ৳87.2
$0.88 Rp 15.7K
-19.32%
Eggs
$1.21 ৳149
$1.47 Rp 26.3K
-17.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.67 ৳1,065
$7.36 Rp 131.6K
17.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.21 ৳395
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
14.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.70 ৳823
$7.75 Rp 138.6K
-13.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 ৳335
$2.19 Rp 39.1K
24.66%
Banana (1kg)
$0.88 ৳108
$1.07 Rp 19.1K
-17.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 ৳291
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
58.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.65 ৳79.5
$0.96 Rp 17.1K
-32.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ৳29.19
$1.10 Rp 19.6K
-78.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ৳60.6
$1.95 Rp 34.8K
-74.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.32 ৳38.87
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-54.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 ৳37.30
$0.43 Rp 7,728
-30.23%
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 ৳818
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23 ৳396
$2.62 Rp 46.9K
23.28%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$22.77 Rp 407.0K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.82 Rp 32.6K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18 Rp 56.8K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Bandung
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ৳52.1
$0.27 Rp 4,788
55.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.54 ৳2,769
$9.61 Rp 171.7K
134.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ৳147
$0.86 Rp 15.3K
38.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 ৳48.58
$0.55 Rp 9,771
-27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.35 ৳411
$2.23 Rp 39.8K
50.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ৳141
$0.90 Rp 16.1K
27.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K ৳3.7M
$21.1K Rp 376.3M
43.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K ৳4.1M
$29.2K Rp 522.8M
12.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Bandung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.32 ৳5,690
$33.58 Rp 600.2K
37.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.33 ৳531
$4.25 Rp 75.9K
1.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.63 ৳1,306
$19.25 Rp 344.1K
-44.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Bandung
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.37 ৳2,011
$18.05 Rp 322.6K
-9.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.14 ৳1,982
$6.00 Rp 107.3K
169.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 ৳508
$2.84 Rp 50.8K
45.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Bandung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.7 ৳11.1K
$95.7 Rp 1.7M
-5.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,649 ৳325.4K
$8,240 Rp 147.3M
-67.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Bandung
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.48 ৳2,024
$39.08 Rp 698.5K
-57.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.00 ৳2,579
$32.18 Rp 575.3K
-34.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.3 ৳6,173
$76.5 Rp 1.4M
-34.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.46 ৳4,478
$69.5 Rp 1.2M
-47.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Bandung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$152 ৳18.6K
$214 Rp 3.8M
-29.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$73.6 ৳9,041
$178 Rp 3.2M
-58.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$436 ৳53.5K
$381 Rp 6.8M
14.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$214 ৳26.3K
$266 Rp 4.8M
-19.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,622 ৳199.2K
$725 Rp 13.0M
123.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$761 ৳93.5K
$312 Rp 5.6M
143.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Bandung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$249 ৳30.6K
$281 Rp 5.0M
-11.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.48
11.38
-7.91%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 4, 2026

Last update for Bandung: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$123
Bandung
$194 58.5% $72
Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$74
Bandung
$178 142% $105
Eating Out
Dhaka
$64
Bandung
$63 1.6% $1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$61
Bandung
$57 6.9% $4.2
Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$56
Bandung
$98 75% $42
Getting Around
Dhaka
$27
Bandung
$14 47.9% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$25
Bandung
$24 3.7% $0.9

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $152 in Dhaka and $214 in Bandung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bandung pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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

Good to know
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🇮🇩 Bandung
🕒 Local time
16:34 4:34 PM
17:34 5:34 PM
1 h ahead of Dhaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,741,000 Capital
2,390,120
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

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 = 7.27 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,030 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dhaka Bandung 3,890 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Dhaka
  • Bandung

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
Dhaka vs Bandung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dhaka or Bandung?
Dhaka wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Bandung. 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 Dhaka or in Bandung?
On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Bandung. 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 Dhaka compared to Bandung?
Rent for a central apartment: $152 in Dhaka versus $214 in Bandung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Dhaka or in Bandung?
Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Bandung. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Dhaka and in Bandung?
Dining out is cheaper in Dhaka – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $14.00 in Bandung. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Dhaka or in Bandung?
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 is better for digital nomads, Dhaka or Bandung?
Both work as nomad bases, but Dhaka delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $426 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dhaka hard to pass up.
How safe is Dhaka compared to Bandung?
Safety-wise, Dhaka and Bandung 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 50% less than in Bandung. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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