Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Pabna Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Pabna

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $417 in Dhaka versus $320 in Pabna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $707 in Dhaka versus $533 in Pabna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $997 in Dhaka versus $745 in Pabna.

Living in Dhaka is roughly 30% more expensive than Pabna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 69% lower, Pabna 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 ৳294

$2.03 ৳249

18.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.97 ৳1,589

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ৳598

$5.01 ৳614

-2.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.99 ৳489

$4.14 ৳508

-3.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 ৳614

$4.95 ৳607

1.21%

Cappuccino

$2.27 ৳278

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

$0.32 ৳38.71

$0.20 ৳24.49

60.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ৳17.89

$0.14 ৳17.05

7.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 ৳101

$0.51 ৳61.9

62.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ৳86.4

$0.71 ৳87.0

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 ৳80.2

$0.51 ৳62.3

27.45%

Eggs

$1.29 ৳158

$1.25 ৳153

3.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.74 ৳826

$6.74 ৳825

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.45 ৳422

$1.67 ৳205

106.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.66 ৳816

$5.49 ৳672

21.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ৳335

$1.60 ৳197

71.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 ৳140

$0.65 ৳79.2

75.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 ৳327

$1.44 ৳176

85.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 ৳111

$0.28 ৳33.98

225.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.44 ৳53.7

$0.36 ৳44.56

22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 ৳96.5

$0.44 ৳54.0

79.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 ৳43.36

$0.33 ৳40.26

6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.02

$0.28 ৳34.15

7.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.06 ৳1,478

$12.02 ৳1,473

0.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.89 ৳477

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 ৳849

$7.18 ৳879

-3.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ৳371

$2.90 ৳355

4.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ৳48.27

$0.22 ৳26.95

77.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.89 ৳3,050

$10.19 ৳1,248

144.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ৳149

$1.25 ৳153

-2.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ৳52.7

$0.42 ৳51.7

2.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 ৳375

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ৳127

$1.03 ৳126

0.97%

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

$28.9K ৳3.5M

$28.3K ৳3.5M

2.08%

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

$28.5K ৳3.5M

$28.0K ৳3.4M

2.00%

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

$32.66 ৳4,001

$20.18 ৳2,472

61.84%

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

$4.75 ৳582

$4.70 ৳576

1.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.98 ৳1,590

$13.08 ৳1,603

-0.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.31 ৳2,366

$13.41 ৳1,642

44.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.78 ৳1,810

$11.98 ৳1,467

23.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 ৳504

$4.18 ৳512

-1.67%

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

$46.92 ৳5,748

$33.15 ৳4,062

41.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,979 ৳242.4K

$1,948 ৳238.7K

1.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.61 ৳2,281

$8.78 ৳1,075

111.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.19 ৳2,963

$24.59 ৳3,012

-1.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.70 ৳5,721

$47.37 ৳5,803

-1.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.80 ৳4,508

$36.70 ৳4,496

0.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 ৳14.3K

$69.1 ৳8,461

68.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.5 ৳7,775

$42.04 ৳5,150

50.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$316 ৳38.7K

$165 ৳20.2K

91.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 ৳22.5K

$98.2 ৳12.0K

87.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,493 ৳182.9K

$732 ৳89.7K

103.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$659 ৳80.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$286 ৳35.0K

$121 ৳14.8K

137.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.52

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

Last update for Dhaka: June 1, 2026

Last update for Pabna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Dhaka and $69.1 in Pabna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhaka pays 137% 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 $13.00 in Pabna. Groceries flip the comparison at $124 vs $90.0, with Pabna cheaper for home cooking.

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 Pabna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pabna is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Dhaka pays 137% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $117 in Dhaka versus $69.1 in Pabna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $417 per month in Dhaka versus $320 in Pabna – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pabna runs roughly 144% less than in Dhaka. 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 Pabna 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.

Expats usually find Pabna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Dhaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.