Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Lumut, Perak

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $987 in Lumut, Perak, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$406
/mo nomad
Lumut, Perak
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$987
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Lumut, Perak

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Dhaka versus $987 in Lumut, Perak.

  • Dhaka $406
  • Lumut, Perak $987

Estimated couple costs with rent: $687 in Dhaka versus $1,449 in Lumut, Perak.

  • Dhaka $687
  • Lumut, Perak $1,449

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $969 in Dhaka versus $1,910 in Lumut, Perak.

  • Dhaka $969
  • Lumut, Perak $1,910

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 59% less than in Lumut, Perak, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 70% lower, Lumut, Perak 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28 ৳282
$3.56 MYR 14.52
-35.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.33 ৳1,523
$12.21 MYR 49.79
0.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.95 ৳488
$4.92 MYR 20.06
-19.72%
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
$2.97 MYR 12.14
-23.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ৳40.88
$0.83 MYR 3.39
-60.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.86
$0.38 MYR 1.56
-57.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.84 MYR 15.65
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.97 MYR 24.34
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 ৳104
$2.14 MYR 8.73
-60.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 ৳74.5
$1.07 MYR 4.38
-43.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.69 ৳85.4
$2.02 MYR 8.25
-65.84%
Eggs
$1.23 ৳152
$2.46 MYR 10.05
-50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.80 ৳1,087
$13.82 MYR 56.4
-36.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.33 ৳412
$4.38 MYR 17.88
-23.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.63 ৳819
$9.89 MYR 40.36
-32.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ৳352
$3.35 MYR 13.68
-14.93%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 ৳111
$1.83 MYR 7.45
-50.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ৳289
$2.25 MYR 9.18
4.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.63 ৳78.4
$1.60 MYR 6.53
-60.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ৳29.59
$1.28 MYR 5.24
-81.25%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ৳57.3
$1.35 MYR 5.52
-65.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 ৳42.79
$1.18 MYR 4.82
-70.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 ৳34.24
$0.66 MYR 2.68
-57.58%
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
$4.39 MYR 17.90
-25.28%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$19.67 MYR 80.2
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.51 MYR 14.31
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.03 MYR 20.51
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Lumut, Perak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ৳52.3
$0.64 MYR 2.62
-34.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.43 ৳2,772
$11.47 MYR 46.78
95.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ৳147
$1.23 MYR 5.03
-3.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 ৳48.71
$1.21 MYR 4.92
-67.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 ৳406
$4.92 MYR 20.06
-33.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ৳136
$0.88 MYR 3.57
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K ৳3.6M
$42.2K MYR 172.2K
-30.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K ৳4.0M
$34.0K MYR 138.7K
-5.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.28 ৳4,729
$61.4 MYR 251
-37.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 ৳506
$8.79 MYR 35.87
-53.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.02 ৳1,114
$26.41 MYR 108
-65.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.66 ৳1,688
$37.77 MYR 154
-63.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.21 ৳1,261
$6.93 MYR 28.29
47.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.11 ৳508
$5.12 MYR 20.89
-19.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.7 ৳11.2K
$303 MYR 1,236
-70.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,591 ৳320.2K
$12.9K MYR 52.6K
-79.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.06 ৳2,108
$70.9 MYR 289
-75.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.38 ৳2,641
$41.12 MYR 168
-48.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.4 ৳6,355
$87.5 MYR 357
-41.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.78 ৳4,545
$95.2 MYR 388
-61.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Lumut, Perak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 ৳16.4K
$406 MYR 1,657
-67.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.1 ৳8,041
$299 MYR 1,222
-78.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 ৳46.6K
$686 MYR 2,798
-45.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$192 ৳23.8K
$475 MYR 1,940
-59.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,621 ৳200.3K
$2,306 MYR 9,407
-29.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$760 ৳93.9K
$1,183 MYR 4,824
-35.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 ৳30.4K
$381 MYR 1,555
-35.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.48
4.18
150.72%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Last update for Lumut, Perak: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$124
Lumut, Perak
$274 122% $150
Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$65
Lumut, Perak
$299 360% $234
Eating Out
Dhaka
$59
Lumut, Perak
$115 93.4% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$57
Lumut, Perak
$133 133% $76
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$51
Lumut, Perak
$97 88% $45
Getting Around
Dhaka
$27
Lumut, Perak
$21 22% $6
Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$22
Lumut, Perak
$48 119% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Dhaka and $406 in Lumut, Perak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lumut, Perak pays 55% 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 $12.00 in Lumut, Perak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $274 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🇲🇾 Lumut, Perak
🕒 Local time
08:41 8:41 AM
10:41 10:41 AM
2 h ahead of Dhaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,741,000 Capital
39,595
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR 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).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.59 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dhaka Lumut, Perak 2,430 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dhaka
  • Lumut, Perak

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 Lumut, Perak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lumut, Perak cheaper than Dhaka?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 143% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dhaka or Lumut, Perak?
On paper, salaries run 55% lower in Lumut, Perak. 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 Lumut, Perak?
Rent for a central apartment: $133 in Dhaka versus $406 in Lumut, Perak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Dhaka and in Lumut, Perak?
All in, you'll spend $406 per month in Dhaka versus $987 in Lumut, Perak – a 143% 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 96% less than in Lumut, Perak. 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 Lumut, Perak?
At $406 in Dhaka versus $987 in Lumut, Perak, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dhaka but tight or insufficient in Lumut, Perak. 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 Lumut, Perak?
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 Lumut, Perak?
Safety-wise, Dhaka and Lumut, Perak 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 143% less than in Lumut, Perak. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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