Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Niigata

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $723 in Niigata, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$406
/mo nomad
Niigata
🇯🇵 Japan
$723
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Niigata

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Dhaka versus $723 in Niigata.

  • Dhaka $406
  • Niigata $723

Estimated couple costs with rent: $687 in Dhaka versus $1,092 in Niigata.

  • Dhaka $687
  • Niigata $1,092

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $969 in Dhaka versus $1,462 in Niigata.

  • Dhaka $969
  • Niigata $1,462

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 44% less than in Niigata, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 70% lower, Niigata 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Niigata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28 ৳282
$6.13 ¥969
-62.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.33 ৳1,523
$15.60 ¥2,465
-20.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.95 ৳488
$5.00 ¥790
-21.00%
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
$2.60 ¥410
-12.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ৳40.88
$1.56 ¥246
-78.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.86
$0.80 ¥127
-80.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.58 ¥408
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.65 ¥419
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Niigata
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 ৳104
$1.22 ¥193
-30.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 ৳74.5
$0.97 ¥154
-38.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.69 ৳85.4
$2.55 ¥403
-72.94%
Eggs
$1.23 ৳152
$2.23 ¥352
-44.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.80 ৳1,087
$7.68 ¥1,214
14.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.33 ৳412
$6.68 ¥1,055
-50.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.63 ৳819
$16.34 ¥2,581
-59.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ৳352
$3.24 ¥513
-12.04%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 ৳111
$1.23 ¥195
-26.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ৳289
$2.55 ¥402
-8.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.63 ৳78.4
$2.27 ¥359
-72.25%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ৳29.59
$1.91 ¥302
-87.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ৳57.3
$1.95 ¥308
-76.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 ৳42.79
$0.93 ¥148
-62.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 ৳34.24
$0.65 ¥102
-56.92%
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
$3.78 ¥598
-13.23%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$4.30 ¥679
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.70 ¥269
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.91 ¥301
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Niigata
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ৳52.3
$1.26 ¥199
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.43 ৳2,772
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ৳147
$2.60 ¥410
-54.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 ৳48.71
$3.09 ¥488
-87.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 ৳406
$18.34 ¥2,897
-82.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ৳136
$1.04 ¥165
5.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K ৳3.6M
$18.6K ¥2.9M
57.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K ৳4.0M
$12.5K ¥2.0M
158.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Niigata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.28 ৳4,729
$147 ¥23.2K
-73.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 ৳506
$21.26 ¥3,360
-80.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.02 ৳1,114
$25.41 ¥4,015
-64.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Niigata
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.66 ৳1,688
$52.0 ¥8,210
-73.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.21 ৳1,261
$6.24 ¥985
63.62%
Cinema Ticket
$4.11 ৳508
$11.85 ¥1,872
-65.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Niigata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.7 ৳11.2K
$63.2 ¥9,991
43.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,591 ৳320.2K
$18.0K ¥2.8M
-85.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Niigata
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.06 ৳2,108
$31.35 ¥4,953
-45.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.38 ৳2,641
$32.21 ¥5,089
-33.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.4 ৳6,355
$37.87 ¥5,982
35.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.78 ৳4,545
$63.6 ¥10.0K
-42.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Niigata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 ৳16.4K
$350 ¥55.3K
-61.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.1 ৳8,041
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 ৳46.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$192 ৳23.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,621 ৳200.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$760 ৳93.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Niigata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 ৳30.4K
$1,267 ¥200.2K
-80.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.48
1.48
608.11%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Last update for Niigata: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$124
Niigata
$234 89.1% $110
Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$65
Niigata
- * 100%
Eating Out
Dhaka
$59
Niigata
$123 107% $63
Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$57
Niigata
$74 30.3% $17
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$51
Niigata
$193 276% $142
Getting Around
Dhaka
$27
Niigata
$23 * 15.4% $4.2
Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$22
Niigata
$76 246% $54

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Dhaka and $350 in Niigata. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Niigata pays 415% 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 $16.00 in Niigata for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $234 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🇯🇵 Niigata
🕒 Local time
13:21 1:21 PM
16:21 4:21 PM
3 h ahead of Dhaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,741,000 Capital
811,639
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, 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).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dhaka Niigata 4,840 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Dhaka
  • Niigata

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 Niigata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Niigata cheaper than Dhaka?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 78% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dhaka or Niigata?
On paper, salaries run 415% lower in Niigata. 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 Niigata?
Rent for a central apartment: $133 in Dhaka versus $350 in Niigata. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $90.7 in Dhaka versus $63.2 in Niigata. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Dhaka or in Niigata?
Dining out is cheaper in Dhaka – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $16.00 in Niigata. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Dhaka or Niigata?
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 Dhaka or Niigata more family-friendly?
For families, Dhaka is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Niigata, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Dhaka or Niigata?
Safety-wise, Dhaka and Niigata 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 78% less than in Niigata. 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?