😐A single person spends $416 per month in Dhaka vs $354 in Chittagong, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $705 per month in Dhaka vs $611 in Chittagong, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $995 per month in Dhaka vs $868 in Chittagong, rent included.
😐Dhaka costs about 17% more than Chittagong, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Dhaka and Chittagong are more affordable than the global median – Dhaka69% lower, Chittagong73% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Chittagong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.50৳309
$1.62৳200
54.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.59৳1,552
$14.86৳1,831
-15.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.98৳614
$7.23৳891
-31.12%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.98৳491
$5.84৳720
-31.85%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79৳590
$4.17৳514
14.87%
Cappuccino
$2.20৳271
$1.68৳208
30.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34৳42.36
$0.39৳47.48
-12.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19৳23.65
$0.17৳20.71
11.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Chittagong
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82৳101
$0.75৳91.9
9.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.70৳86.6
$0.57৳70.6
22.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.65৳80.2
$0.64৳79.2
1.56%
Eggs
$1.26৳155
$1.18৳145
6.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.97৳859
$9.04৳1,114
-22.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.39৳417
$1.68৳207
101.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.44৳794
$7.44৳917
-13.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.84৳350
$2.18৳269
30.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12৳139
$0.95৳117
17.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55৳314
$2.06৳254
23.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.90৳111
$0.86৳106
4.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.43৳53.0
$0.44৳54.1
-2.27%
Onion(1kg)
$0.83৳103
$0.85৳104
-2.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33৳40.31
$0.37৳46.00
-10.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30৳37.46
$0.27৳33.53
11.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$12.03৳1,483
$8.45৳1,042
42.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.91৳482
$0.84৳104
365.48%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.13৳879
$1.52৳187
369.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99৳369
$2.90৳357
3.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Chittagong
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43৳52.8
$0.14৳17.08
207.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.18৳2,980
$4.08৳503
492.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.21৳149
$0.86৳105
40.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43৳52.9
$0.43৳52.4
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.15৳388
$2.50৳308
26.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03৳127
$1.00৳123
3.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K৳3.6M
$33.2K৳4.1M
-11.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K৳3.5M
$34.2K৳4.2M
-16.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Chittagong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.72৳4,033
$23.04৳2,840
42.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.78৳589
$5.60৳691
-14.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.15৳1,621
$12.98৳1,600
1.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Chittagong
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.26৳2,374
$15.36৳1,893
25.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.25৳1,757
$11.32৳1,395
25.88%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99৳492
$3.27৳402
22.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Chittagong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.08৳5,926
$29.29৳3,611
64.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,996৳246.0K
$1,342৳165.4K
48.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Chittagong
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.81৳2,319
$20.70৳2,551
-9.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.73৳2,925
$18.72৳2,308
26.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.25৳5,700
$51.1৳6,293
-9.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.71৳4,524
$33.32৳4,106
10.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Chittagong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$118৳14.5K
$129৳15.9K
-8.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$63.3৳7,800
$59.5৳7,339
6.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$309৳38.0K
$250৳30.9K
23.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$190৳23.4K
$149৳18.4K
27.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,569৳193.3K
$794৳97.8K
97.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$764৳94.2K
$473৳58.3K
61.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Chittagong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$278৳34.2K
$282৳34.8K
-1.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.52
11.67
-9.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dhaka: July 14, 2026
Last update for Chittagong: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Dhaka versus $129 in Chittagong. 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 2% higher in Chittagong, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Dhaka versus $15.00 in Chittagong. Groceries tell a different story – $124 in Dhaka vs $115 in Chittagong – 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
Dhaka vs Chittagong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Dhaka and in Chittagong compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $416 in Dhaka, $354 in Chittagong – roughly 17% apart. Dhaka costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Dhaka compared to Chittagong?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $623 per month in Dhaka and $531 in Chittagong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Dhaka and Chittagong?
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: Dhaka or Chittagong?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $416 in Dhaka and $354 in Chittagong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Dhaka and in Chittagong?
Public transport costs about 493% less in Chittagong. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How far does $1,200 go in Dhaka compared to Chittagong?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $416 in Dhaka and $354 in Chittagong, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Dhaka or Chittagong?
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 Dhaka and Chittagong?
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.