Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $21,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$406
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Lisbon

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Dhaka versus $2,223 in Lisbon.

  • Dhaka $406
  • Lisbon $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $687 in Dhaka versus $3,271 in Lisbon.

  • Dhaka $687
  • Lisbon $3,271

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $969 in Dhaka versus $4,319 in Lisbon.

  • Dhaka $969
  • Lisbon $4,319

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 82% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Dhaka is 70% below, Lisbon is 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28 ৳282
$16.50 €14.67
-86.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.33 ৳1,523
$61.3 €54.5
-79.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.95 ৳488
$11.27 €10.03
-64.95%
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
$3.06 €2.72
-25.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ৳40.88
$2.26 €2.01
-85.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.86
$1.73 €1.54
-90.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.39 €3.02
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.40 €3.02
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 ৳104
$1.12 €1.00
-24.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 ৳74.5
$1.86 €1.65
-67.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.69 ৳85.4
$1.53 €1.36
-54.90%
Eggs
$1.23 ৳152
$3.96 €3.53
-68.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.80 ৳1,087
$12.76 €11.35
-31.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.33 ৳412
$7.90 €7.02
-57.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.63 ৳819
$16.97 €15.09
-60.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ৳352
$2.27 €2.02
25.55%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 ৳111
$1.75 €1.55
-48.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ৳289
$1.85 €1.64
26.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.63 ৳78.4
$2.57 €2.28
-75.49%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ৳29.59
$1.86 €1.65
-87.10%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ৳57.3
$2.02 €1.80
-77.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 ৳42.79
$1.44 €1.28
-75.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 ৳34.24
$0.82 €0.73
-65.85%
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
$6.56 €5.83
-50.00%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.62 €5.00
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.28 €1.14
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.07 €1.84
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ৳52.3
$2.35 €2.09
-82.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.43 ৳2,772
$44.18 €39.30
-49.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ৳147
$3.99 €3.55
-70.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 ৳48.71
$1.09 €0.97
-64.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 ৳406
$16.64 €14.81
-80.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ৳136
$2.28 €2.03
-51.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K ৳3.6M
$33.7K €30.0K
-12.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K ৳4.0M
$39.3K €35.0K
-18.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.28 ৳4,729
$167 €149
-77.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 ৳506
$18.80 €16.72
-78.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.02 ৳1,114
$33.09 €29.43
-72.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.66 ৳1,688
$46.01 €40.93
-70.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.21 ৳1,261
$19.19 €17.07
-46.80%
Cinema Ticket
$4.11 ৳508
$9.84 €8.75
-58.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.7 ৳11.2K
$677 €602
-86.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,591 ৳320.2K
$16.9K €15.1K
-84.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.06 ৳2,108
$101 €90.1
-83.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.38 ৳2,641
$45.76 €40.70
-53.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.4 ৳6,355
$100.0 €88.9
-48.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.78 ৳4,545
$123 €109
-70.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 ৳16.4K
$1,614 €1,436
-91.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.1 ৳8,041
$1,197 €1,065
-94.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 ৳46.6K
$2,862 €2,545
-86.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$192 ৳23.8K
$1,990 €1,770
-90.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,621 ৳200.3K
$7,577 €6,740
-78.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$760 ৳93.9K
$4,307 €3,831
-82.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 ৳30.4K
$1,588 €1,412
-84.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.48
3.85
172.21%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$124
Lisbon
$269 118% $146
Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$65
Lisbon
$1.2K 1739% $1.1K
Eating Out
Dhaka
$59
Lisbon
$242 308% $183
Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$57
Lisbon
$166 192% $109
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$51
Lisbon
$219 327% $168
Getting Around
Dhaka
$27
Lisbon
$63 131% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$22
Lisbon
$66 200% $44

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Dhaka and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 545% 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 $61.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $269 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
20:30 8:30 PM
15:30 3:30 PM
5 h behind Dhaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,741,000 Capital
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dhaka Lisbon 9,150 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Dhaka
  • Lisbon

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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Dhaka?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 448% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dhaka or Lisbon?
On paper, salaries run 545% lower in Lisbon. 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 Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $133 in Dhaka versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Dhaka and in Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $406 per month in Dhaka versus $2,223 in Lisbon – a 448% 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 97% less than in Lisbon. 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 Lisbon?
At $406 in Dhaka versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dhaka but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Dhaka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Dhaka or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Dhaka is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Dhaka or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Dhaka and Lisbon 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 448% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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