For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $426 a month against $1,400 in Osaka, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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 Osaka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $426 in Dhaka versus $1,400 in Osaka.
Dhaka $426
Osaka $1,400
Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Dhaka versus $1,991 in Osaka.
Dhaka $735
Osaka $1,991
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,043 in Dhaka versus $2,582 in Osaka.
Dhaka $1,043
Osaka $2,582
🌍
Living in Dhaka costs roughly 70% less than in Osaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Dhaka is 68% below, Osaka is 4% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Osaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49৳306
$6.19¥978
-59.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.06৳1,605
$31.80¥5,026
-58.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.83৳594
$4.93¥780
-2.03%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.93৳606
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10৳504
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.34৳287
$3.00¥474
-22.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30৳37.39
$1.45¥228
-79.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16৳19.96
$0.72¥113
-77.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.62¥415
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.91¥618
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Osaka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.80৳98.1
$1.46¥230
-45.21%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65৳79.3
$1.31¥207
-50.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.71৳87.3
$5.25¥830
-86.48%
Eggs
$1.21৳149
$2.03¥321
-40.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.67৳1,065
$9.77¥1,544
-11.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.21৳395
$9.22¥1,458
-65.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.70৳823
$17.95¥2,838
-62.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73৳335
$3.29¥519
-17.02%
Banana(1kg)
$0.88৳109
$2.00¥317
-56.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.37৳291
$2.11¥333
12.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.65৳79.6
$4.11¥649
-84.18%
Potato(1kg)
$0.24৳29.20
$1.51¥239
-84.11%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49৳60.7
$1.19¥187
-58.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.32৳38.88
$1.30¥206
-75.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30৳37.31
$0.86¥137
-65.12%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$12.07৳1,483
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.51৳677
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.66৳819
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23৳396
$3.82¥604
-15.45%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$9.74¥1,540
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.87¥296
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.15¥498
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Osaka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42৳52.1
$1.34¥211
-68.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.54৳2,770
$32.68¥5,165
-31.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.19৳147
$3.85¥609
-69.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.40৳48.60
$3.19¥504
-87.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.35৳411
$21.93¥3,466
-84.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15৳141
$1.10¥173
4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K৳3.7M
$21.5K¥3.4M
40.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K৳4.1M
$15.1K¥2.4M
118.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Osaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.32৳5,692
$140¥22.1K
-66.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.33৳532
$24.14¥3,816
-82.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.63৳1,306
$30.58¥4,834
-65.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Osaka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.37৳2,012
$49.41¥7,810
-66.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.14৳1,983
$18.41¥2,910
-12.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13৳508
$12.27¥1,939
-66.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Osaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$90.7৳11.1K
$511¥80.8K
-82.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,649৳325.5K
$13.1K¥2.1M
-79.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Osaka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.48৳2,025
$47.50¥7,508
-65.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.00৳2,580
$30.12¥4,761
-30.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.3৳6,175
$73.4¥11.6K
-31.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.46৳4,480
$91.0¥14.4K
-59.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Osaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$152৳18.6K
$704¥111.2K
-78.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$73.6৳9,044
$508¥80.3K
-85.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$436৳53.6K
$1,751¥276.8K
-75.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$214৳26.3K
$765¥120.9K
-72.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,622৳199.3K
$6,208¥981.2K
-73.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$761৳93.5K
$1,938¥306.4K
-60.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Osaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$249৳30.6K
$2,346¥370.8K
-89.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.48
2.21
374.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dhaka: October 4, 2026
Last update for Osaka: October 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$123 28.5%
Osaka
$301 21.9% ↑ 146%$179
🏠Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$74 17.1%
Osaka
$508 36.9% ↑ 590%$434
🍽Eating Out
Dhaka
$64 15%
Osaka
$130 9.5% ↑ 102%$66
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$61 14.3%
Osaka
$195 14.2% ↑ 218%$134
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$56 13%
Osaka
$109 7.9% ↑ 94.9%$53
🚌Getting Around
Dhaka
$27 6.4%
Osaka
$58 4.2% ↑ 111%$30
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$25 5.7%
Osaka
$74 5.4% ↑ 200%$49
🛒Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$302 29.6%
Osaka
$694 26.5% ↑ 130%$393
🏠Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$214 21%
Osaka
$765 29.2% ↑ 258%$551
🍽Eating Out
Dhaka
$193 18.9%
Osaka
$417 15.9% ↑ 116%$223
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$66 6.4%
Osaka
$219 8.4% ↑ 234%$153
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$124 12.2%
Osaka
$242 9.2% ↑ 94.9%$118
🚌Getting Around
Dhaka
$56 5.5%
Osaka
$118 4.5% ↑ 113%$63
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$65 6.4%
Osaka
$166 6.3% ↑ 154%$101
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $152 in Dhaka and $704 in Osaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Osaka pays 842% 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 $32.00 in Osaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $123 vs $301 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.
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 Osaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Osaka cheaper than Dhaka?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 228% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dhaka or Osaka?
On paper, salaries run 842% lower in Osaka. 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 Osaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $152 in Dhaka versus $704 in Osaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Dhaka and in Osaka?
All in, you'll spend $426 per month in Dhaka versus $1,400 in Osaka – a 228% 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 45% less than in Osaka. 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 Osaka?
At $426 in Dhaka versus $1,400 in Osaka, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dhaka but tight or insufficient in Osaka. The gap between the two cities makes Dhaka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Dhaka or Osaka more family-friendly?
For families, Dhaka is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Osaka, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Dhaka or Osaka?
Safety-wise, Dhaka and Osaka 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 228% less than in Osaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.