Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Kota Bharu

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $692 in Kota Bharu, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

20

Cost of Living Index in Dhaka
Learn more

Dhaka Living Index
34

Cost of Living Index in Kota Bharu
Learn more

Kota Bharu Living Index

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Dhaka

🇧🇩 Bangladesh

$406

/mo nomad

Kota Bharu

🇲🇾 Malaysia

$692

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Kota Bharu

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 Kota Bharu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Dhaka versus $692 in Kota Bharu.

Dhaka $406
Kota Bharu $692

Estimated couple costs with rent: $687 in Dhaka versus $1,072 in Kota Bharu.

Dhaka $687
Kota Bharu $1,072

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $969 in Dhaka versus $1,452 in Kota Bharu.

Dhaka $969
Kota Bharu $1,452

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 41% less than in Kota Bharu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 70% lower, Kota Bharu 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.28 ৳282

$2.18 MYR 8.90

4.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.33 ৳1,523

$19.41 MYR 79.2

-36.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.95 ৳488

$4.58 MYR 18.70

-13.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 ৳554

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 ৳510

Cappuccino

$2.28 ৳281

$2.18 MYR 8.89

4.59%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ৳40.88

$0.48 MYR 1.94

-31.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 ৳19.86

$0.26 MYR 1.05

-38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.24 MYR 17.29

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.49 MYR 18.33

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 ৳104

$1.62 MYR 6.62

-47.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ৳74.5

$0.92 MYR 3.74

-34.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 ৳85.4

$0.83 MYR 3.39

-16.87%

Eggs

$1.23 ৳152

$1.61 MYR 6.58

-23.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 ৳1,087

$13.74 MYR 56.1

-35.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.33 ৳412

$2.94 MYR 12.00

13.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.63 ৳819

$6.65 MYR 27.13

-0.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.85 ৳352

$2.91 MYR 11.88

-2.06%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 ৳111

$1.50 MYR 6.12

-40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.34 ৳289

$2.73 MYR 11.15

-14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.63 ৳78.4

$1.13 MYR 4.60

-44.25%

Potato (1kg)

$0.24 ৳29.59

$0.97 MYR 3.94

-75.26%

Onion (1kg)

$0.46 ৳57.3

$1.12 MYR 4.59

-58.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 ৳42.79

$1.14 MYR 4.64

-69.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 ৳34.24

$0.45 MYR 1.84

-37.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.11 ৳1,496

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.31 ৳656

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.42 ৳794

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 ৳405

$3.34 MYR 13.61

-1.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.00 MYR 77.5

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.91 MYR 11.88

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.32 MYR 21.71

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 ৳52.3

$0.77 MYR 3.12

-45.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.43 ৳2,772

$12.33 MYR 50.3

81.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ৳147

$1.73 MYR 7.05

-31.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 ৳48.71

$0.37 MYR 1.53

5.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 ৳406

$3.69 MYR 15.04

-11.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ৳136

$0.52 MYR 2.14

111.54%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.4K ৳3.6M

$31.5K MYR 128.5K

-6.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.2K ৳4.0M

$29.0K MYR 118.2K

11.02%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$38.28 ৳4,729

$37.43 MYR 153

2.27%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.09 ৳506

$8.65 MYR 35.27

-52.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.02 ৳1,114

$25.39 MYR 104

-64.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.66 ৳1,688

$49.63 MYR 202

-72.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.21 ৳1,261

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 ৳508

$4.48 MYR 18.26

-8.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$90.7 ৳11.2K

$125 MYR 508

-27.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,591 ৳320.2K

$10.8K MYR 44.2K

-76.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.06 ৳2,108

$54.5 MYR 222

-68.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.38 ৳2,641

$19.29 MYR 78.7

10.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.4 ৳6,355

$79.0 MYR 322

-34.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.78 ৳4,545

$69.6 MYR 284

-47.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$133 ৳16.4K

$248 MYR 1,010

-46.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$65.1 ৳8,041

$122 MYR 499

-46.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 ৳46.6K

$673 MYR 2,745

-43.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 ৳23.8K

$224 MYR 913

-14.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,621 ৳200.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$760 ৳93.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$246 ৳30.4K

$299 MYR 1,221

-17.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.48

4.04

159.41%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Last update for Kota Bharu: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Dhaka

$124 30.5%

Kota Bharu

$230 33.2% 85.6% $106

Accommodation & Living

Dhaka

$65 16%

Kota Bharu

$122 17.7% 88.1% $57

Eating Out

Dhaka

$59 14.6%

Kota Bharu

$90 13.1% 52.3% $31

Clothing & Footwear

Dhaka

$57 14.1%

Kota Bharu

$100 14.5% 75.6% $43

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Dhaka

$51 12.7%

Kota Bharu

$71 10.3% 39.1% $20

Getting Around

Dhaka

$27 6.7%

Kota Bharu

$19 2.8% 30.4% $8.3

Sport & Entertainment

Dhaka

$22 5.4%

Kota Bharu

$59 8.5% 168% $37

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Dhaka and $248 in Kota Bharu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kota Bharu pays 22% 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: $12.00 in Dhaka vs $19.00 in Kota Bharu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $230 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇧🇩 Dhaka

🇲🇾 Kota Bharu

🕒 Local time

06:09 6:09 AM

08:09 8:09 AM

2 h ahead of Dhaka

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

21,741,000 Capital

568,900

💱 Currency

Bangladeshi Taka BDT ৳

Malaysian Ringgit MYR RM

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD

1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR

1 MYR = 0.245 USD

1 MYR = 0.218 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇧🇩 Bangladeshi Taka (৳)

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.59 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

USD to BDT in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Dhaka Kota Bharu 2,330 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Dhaka
Kota Bharu

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 Kota Bharu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 70% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 22% lower in Kota Bharu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $133 in Dhaka versus $248 in Kota Bharu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $406 per month in Dhaka versus $692 in Kota Bharu – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 82% less than in Kota Bharu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Dhaka and Kota Bharu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Kota Bharu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.