Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Gili Trawangan

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $428 a month against $948 in Gili Trawangan, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$428
/mo nomad
Gili Trawangan
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$948
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Gili Trawangan

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 Gili Trawangan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $428 in Dhaka versus $948 in Gili Trawangan.

  • Dhaka $428
  • Gili Trawangan $948

Estimated couple costs with rent: $724 in Dhaka versus $1,580 in Gili Trawangan.

  • Dhaka $724
  • Gili Trawangan $1,580

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,019 in Dhaka versus $2,213 in Gili Trawangan.

  • Dhaka $1,019
  • Gili Trawangan $2,213

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 55% less than in Gili Trawangan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 68% lower, Gili Trawangan 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Gili Trawangan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.50 ৳309
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
11.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.26 ৳1,638
$23.76 Rp 427.7K
-44.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.99 ৳616
$3.74 Rp 67.4K
33.42%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.87 ৳602
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 ৳511
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.35 ৳291
$1.83 Rp 32.9K
28.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ৳41.07
$1.09 Rp 19.7K
-69.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.62
$0.55 Rp 9,840
-70.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.76 Rp 31.7K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Gili Trawangan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 ৳105
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
-26.72%
White Bread (500g)
$0.63 ৳77.9
$1.75 Rp 31.6K
-64.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.67 ৳83.1
$0.94 Rp 17.0K
-28.72%
Eggs
$1.19 ৳147
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
-27.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.83 ৳1,092
$13.01 Rp 234.2K
-32.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ৳408
$2.99 Rp 53.9K
10.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.41 ৳792
$9.03 Rp 162.6K
-29.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ৳340
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
1.85%
Banana (1kg)
$0.94 ৳116
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
-18.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 ৳293
$1.77 Rp 31.9K
33.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.64 ৳79.1
$1.45 Rp 26.2K
-55.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.26 ৳32.25
$1.37 Rp 24.7K
-81.02%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ৳60.6
$1.76 Rp 31.7K
-72.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.30 ৳37.63
$0.74 Rp 13.4K
-59.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 ৳37.49
$0.41 Rp 7,341
-26.83%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$12.24 ৳1,512
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.43 ৳671
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.53 ৳807
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.17 ৳392
$1.73 Rp 31.1K
83.24%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$17.33 Rp 311.9K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.75 Rp 31.6K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.22 Rp 40.0K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Gili Trawangan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 ৳47.44
$0.21 Rp 3,778
80.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.06 ৳2,849
$7.14 Rp 128.5K
222.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ৳145
$0.40 Rp 7,268
192.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 ৳46.99
$0.37 Rp 6,649
2.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 ৳405
$5.09 Rp 91.6K
-35.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 ৳137
$0.68 Rp 12.3K
63.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K ৳3.6M
$20.6K Rp 370.8M
41.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ৳4.1M
$28.0K Rp 503.7M
17.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Gili Trawangan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.77 ৳5,779
$69.7 Rp 1.3M
-32.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.51 ৳557
$5.49 Rp 98.9K
-17.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.22 ৳1,387
$15.46 Rp 278.3K
-27.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Gili Trawangan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.43 ৳2,031
$39.13 Rp 704.3K
-58.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.87 ৳1,838
$12.90 Rp 232.3K
15.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.20 ৳519
$3.09 Rp 55.6K
35.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Gili Trawangan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$91.6 ৳11.3K
$347 Rp 6.3M
-73.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,596 ৳320.8K
$4,182 Rp 75.3M
-37.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Gili Trawangan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.63 ৳2,055
$38.51 Rp 693.1K
-56.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.80 ৳2,447
$30.37 Rp 546.7K
-34.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.87 ৳5,791
$66.6 Rp 1.2M
-29.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.00 ৳4,572
$67.8 Rp 1.2M
-45.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Gili Trawangan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$148 ৳18.2K
$677 Rp 12.2M
-78.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$70.8 ৳8,743
$419 Rp 7.5M
-83.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$432 ৳53.4K
$2,150 Rp 38.7M
-79.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$213 ৳26.3K
$1,042 Rp 18.8M
-79.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,605 ৳198.4K
$1,665 Rp 30.0M
-3.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$751 ৳92.8K
$1,371 Rp 24.7M
-45.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Gili Trawangan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$245 ৳30.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.67
13.78
-22.57%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 19, 2026

Last update for Gili Trawangan: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$123
Gili Trawangan
$219 77.5% $95
Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$71
Gili Trawangan
$419 492% $348
Eating Out
Dhaka
$65
Gili Trawangan
$72 11.2% $7.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$63
Gili Trawangan
$91 45% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$54
Gili Trawangan
$92 69% $37
Getting Around
Dhaka
$28
Gili Trawangan
$10 63% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$25
Gili Trawangan
$45 82.4% $20

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $148 in Dhaka and $677 in Gili Trawangan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Dhaka vs $24.00 in Gili Trawangan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $123 vs $219 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🇮🇩 Gili Trawangan
🕒 Local time
00:50 12:50 AM
02:50 2:50 AM
2 h ahead of Dhaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,741,000 Capital
1,500
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dhaka Gili Trawangan 4,530 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Dhaka
  • Gili Trawangan

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 Gili Trawangan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gili Trawangan cheaper than Dhaka?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 121% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $642 in Dhaka and $1,422 in Gili Trawangan to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Dhaka and Gili Trawangan?
Rent for a central apartment: $148 in Dhaka versus $677 in Gili Trawangan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Dhaka and in Gili Trawangan?
All in, you'll spend $428 per month in Dhaka versus $948 in Gili Trawangan – a 121% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 223% less than in Gili Trawangan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Dhaka or in Gili Trawangan?
At $428 in Dhaka versus $948 in Gili Trawangan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dhaka but tight or insufficient in Gili Trawangan. The gap between the two cities makes Dhaka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Dhaka or in Gili Trawangan?
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.
Which city is safer, Dhaka or Gili Trawangan?
Safety-wise, Dhaka and Gili Trawangan 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Gili Trawangan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Dhaka vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

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