Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Rajshahi Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Rajshahi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $431 in Dhaka versus $317 in Rajshahi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $738 in Dhaka versus $512 in Rajshahi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,044 in Dhaka versus $706 in Rajshahi.

Living in Dhaka is roughly 36% more expensive than in Rajshahi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 69% lower, Rajshahi 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.39 ৳292

$0.84 ৳103

184.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.72 ৳1,558

$8.36 ৳1,025

52.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 ৳609

$2.81 ৳344

76.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.74 ৳581

$4.95 ৳607

-4.24%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 ৳496

$2.30 ৳282

76.09%

Cappuccino

$2.35 ৳288

$1.34 ৳164

75.37%

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

$0.32 ৳39.34

$0.32 ৳39.44

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ৳23.33

$0.19 ৳23.87

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 ৳95.7

$0.70 ৳85.4

11.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ৳73.3

$0.60 ৳73.1

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 ৳83.4

$0.61 ৳74.4

11.48%

Eggs

$1.17 ৳143

$1.18 ৳145

-0.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 ৳1,125

$9.03 ৳1,106

1.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.32 ৳406

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.80 ৳832

$6.55 ৳802

3.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 ৳344

$2.67 ৳327

4.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 ৳113

$0.89 ৳109

3.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ৳284

$2.45 ৳300

-5.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.62 ৳75.9

$0.48 ৳58.7

29.17%

Potato (1kg)

$0.23 ৳27.94

$0.25 ৳30.85

-8.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 ৳64.3

$0.48 ৳59.1

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 ৳42.28

$0.32 ৳39.05

9.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ৳35.51

$0.31 ৳38.36

-6.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.43 ৳1,523

$12.36 ৳1,514

0.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.54 ৳679

$1.61 ৳198

244.10%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.54 ৳801

$1.98 ৳242

230.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.34 ৳409

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ৳48.86

$0.08 ৳9.25

400.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.95 ৳2,811

$12.44 ৳1,524

84.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ৳147

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ৳52.7

$0.34 ৳42.12

26.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 ৳405

$0.99 ৳122

234.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ৳130

$1.10 ৳135

-3.64%

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

$29.7K ৳3.6M

$29.5K ৳3.6M

0.71%

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

$32.0K ৳3.9M

$32.1K ৳3.9M

-0.36%

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

$45.69 ৳5,596

$45.88 ৳5,620

-0.41%

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

$4.10 ৳503

$4.18 ৳512

-1.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.54 ৳1,413

$11.88 ৳1,455

-2.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.84 ৳2,063

$6.12 ৳749

175.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.98 ৳1,835

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 ৳489

$4.12 ৳505

-3.16%

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

$96.1 ৳11.8K

$13.78 ৳1,688

597.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,694 ৳330.0K

$685 ৳83.9K

293.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.09 ৳2,093

$6.92 ৳847

146.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.57 ৳2,397

$14.64 ৳1,793

33.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.3 ৳6,284

$26.14 ৳3,202

96.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.19 ৳4,556

$21.06 ৳2,580

76.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$147 ৳18.1K

$74.7 ৳9,150

97.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.2 ৳8,596

$46.08 ৳5,645

52.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$441 ৳54.0K

$135 ৳16.6K

226.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$220 ৳27.0K

$97.4 ৳11.9K

126.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,602 ৳196.3K

$487 ৳59.6K

229.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$769 ৳94.1K

$2,340 ৳286.6K

-67.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$251 ৳30.8K

$221 ৳27.0K

13.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.44

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

Last update for Dhaka: August 31, 2026

Last update for Rajshahi: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $147 in Dhaka and $74.7 in Rajshahi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhaka pays 14% 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 $8.00 in Rajshahi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $121 per month, with Rajshahi cheaper across the board.

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 Rajshahi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rajshahi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 14% higher in Dhaka, 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: $147 in Dhaka versus $74.7 in Rajshahi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $431 per month in Dhaka versus $317 in Rajshahi – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Rajshahi runs roughly 84% 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 Rajshahi 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.

Safety-wise, Dhaka and Rajshahi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Rajshahi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Dhaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.