Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Hai Phong

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $426 a month against $688 in Hai Phong, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$426
/mo nomad
Hai Phong
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$688
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Hai Phong

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 Hai Phong actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $426 in Dhaka versus $688 in Hai Phong.

  • Dhaka $426
  • Hai Phong $688

Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Dhaka versus $1,162 in Hai Phong.

  • Dhaka $735
  • Hai Phong $1,162

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,043 in Dhaka versus $1,635 in Hai Phong.

  • Dhaka $1,043
  • Hai Phong $1,635

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 38% less than in Hai Phong, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 68% lower, Hai Phong 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Hai Phong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49 ৳306
$1.57 ₫40.7K
58.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.06 ৳1,606
$18.94 ₫491.3K
-31.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.83 ৳595
$4.26 ₫110.6K
13.38%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 ৳607
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10 ৳505
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.34 ৳287
$1.82 ₫47.2K
28.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ৳37.42
$0.47 ₫12.3K
-36.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.98
$0.30 ₫7,732
-46.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.80 ₫20.8K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 ₫41.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Hai Phong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.80 ৳98.2
$1.55 ₫40.3K
-48.39%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 ৳79.4
$0.51 ₫13.3K
27.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.71 ৳87.3
$0.82 ₫21.2K
-13.41%
Eggs
$1.21 ৳149
$1.45 ₫37.6K
-16.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.67 ৳1,066
$10.46 ₫271.3K
-17.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.21 ৳395
$3.79 ₫98.4K
-15.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.70 ৳824
$9.96 ₫258.2K
-32.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 ৳335
$3.39 ₫87.9K
-19.47%
Banana (1kg)
$0.88 ৳109
$1.08 ₫27.9K
-18.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.37 ৳292
$1.33 ₫34.5K
78.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.65 ৳79.6
$1.14 ₫29.5K
-42.98%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ৳29.23
$0.96 ₫24.9K
-75.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ৳60.7
$1.10 ₫28.4K
-55.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.32 ৳38.92
$0.55 ₫14.1K
-41.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 ৳37.34
$0.55 ₫14.4K
-45.45%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$12.07 ৳1,485
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.51 ৳678
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.66 ৳820
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23 ৳397
$1.16 ₫30.0K
178.45%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$12.41 ₫321.8K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.74 ₫19.2K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.67 ₫43.2K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Hai Phong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ৳52.1
$0.39 ₫10.0K
7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.54 ৳2,772
$5.66 ₫146.7K
298.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ৳147
$0.80 ₫20.8K
48.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 ৳48.64
$0.57 ₫14.7K
-29.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.35 ৳411
$1.90 ₫49.2K
76.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 ৳141
$0.89 ₫23.1K
29.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K ৳3.7M
$30.6K ₫793.5M
-0.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K ৳4.1M
$30.1K ₫779.8M
9.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Hai Phong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.32 ৳5,697
$44.54 ₫1.2M
4.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.33 ৳532
$5.21 ₫135.0K
-16.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.63 ৳1,307
$8.69 ₫225.3K
22.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Hai Phong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.37 ৳2,014
$22.88 ₫593.4K
-28.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.14 ৳1,985
$7.79 ₫202.0K
107.19%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 ৳508
$4.14 ₫107.4K
-0.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Hai Phong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.7 ৳11.2K
$154 ₫4.0M
-41.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,649 ৳325.8K
$4,579 ₫118.8M
-42.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Hai Phong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.48 ৳2,026
$45.45 ₫1.2M
-63.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.00 ৳2,582
$21.39 ₫554.6K
-1.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.3 ৳6,181
$84.3 ₫2.2M
-40.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.46 ৳4,484
$77.0 ₫2.0M
-52.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Hai Phong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$152 ৳18.7K
$246 ₫6.4M
-38.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$73.6 ৳9,053
$245 ₫6.4M
-69.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$436 ৳53.6K
$1,018 ₫26.4M
-57.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$214 ৳26.3K
$627 ₫16.3M
-65.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,622 ৳199.4K
$1,324 ₫34.3M
22.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$761 ৳93.6K
$977 ₫25.3M
-22.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Hai Phong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$249 ৳30.6K
$501 ₫13.0M
-50.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.48
7
49.71%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 4, 2026

Last update for Hai Phong: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$123
Hai Phong
$190 55.1% $68
Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$74
Hai Phong
$245 233% $171
Eating Out
Dhaka
$64
Hai Phong
$57 10.6% $6.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$61
Hai Phong
$58 4.6% $2.8
Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$56
Hai Phong
$103 83.8% $47
Getting Around
Dhaka
$27
Hai Phong
$11 60.5% $17
Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$25
Hai Phong
$31 26.5% $6.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $152 in Dhaka and $246 in Hai Phong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hai Phong pays 101% 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 $19.00 in Hai Phong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $123 vs $190 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🇻🇳 Hai Phong
🕒 Local time
10:34 10:34 AM
11:34 11:34 AM
1 h ahead of Dhaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,741,000 Capital
2,105,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 123 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.13 USD). 1 EUR = 138 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.26 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 25,934 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,064 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dhaka Hai Phong 1,700 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dhaka
  • Hai Phong

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 Hai Phong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hai Phong cheaper than Dhaka?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dhaka or Hai Phong?
On paper, salaries run 101% lower in Hai Phong. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Dhaka and Hai Phong?
Rent for a central apartment: $152 in Dhaka versus $246 in Hai Phong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Dhaka and in Hai Phong?
All in, you'll spend $426 per month in Dhaka versus $688 in Hai Phong – a 61% 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 298% less than in Hai Phong. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Dhaka or Hai Phong?
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.
Is it better to live in Dhaka or in Hai Phong?
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 Hai Phong?
Safety-wise, Dhaka and Hai Phong 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 61% less than in Hai Phong. 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?