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: $417 in Dhaka versus $303 in Rajshahi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $707 in Dhaka versus $497 in Rajshahi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $997 in Dhaka versus $692 in Rajshahi.

Living in Dhaka is roughly 37% more expensive than Rajshahi, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 ৳294

$0.84 ৳103

185.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.97 ৳1,589

$9.22 ৳1,130

40.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ৳598

$2.86 ৳350

70.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.99 ৳489

$4.05 ৳496

-1.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 ৳614

$2.24 ৳274

123.66%

Cappuccino

$2.27 ৳278

$1.44 ৳176

57.64%

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

$0.32 ৳38.71

$0.31 ৳38.48

3.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ৳17.89

$0.19 ৳23.82

-21.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 ৳101

$0.66 ৳80.6

25.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ৳86.4

$0.70 ৳85.6

1.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 ৳80.2

$0.62 ৳76.0

4.84%

Eggs

$1.29 ৳158

$1.12 ৳138

15.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.74 ৳826

$6.73 ৳824

0.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.45 ৳422

$3.45 ৳423

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.66 ৳816

$6.75 ৳827

-1.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ৳335

$2.30 ৳281

19.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 ৳140

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 ৳327

$2.31 ৳283

15.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 ৳111

$0.81 ৳99.0

12.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.44 ৳53.7

$0.44 ৳53.5

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 ৳96.5

$0.52 ৳63.5

51.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 ৳43.36

$0.35 ৳43.16

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

$11.98 ৳1,467

0.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.89 ৳477

$1.61 ৳198

141.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 ৳849

$2.09 ৳256

231.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ৳371

$2.84 ৳348

6.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ৳48.27

$0.10 ৳12.76

290.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.89 ৳3,050

$10.08 ৳1,235

146.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ৳149

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ৳52.7

$0.43 ৳52.5

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 ৳375

$0.87 ৳106

251.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ৳127

$0.89 ৳109

16.85%

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

$28.9K ৳3.5M

$29.0K ৳3.6M

-0.34%

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

$28.5K ৳3.5M

$27.8K ৳3.4M

2.64%

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

$32.66 ৳4,001

$30.58 ৳3,747

6.80%

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

$4.75 ৳582

$4.73 ৳579

0.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.98 ৳1,590

$13.19 ৳1,616

-1.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.31 ৳2,366

$5.53 ৳678

249.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.78 ৳1,810

$11.82 ৳1,448

25.04%

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 ৳504

$4.17 ৳510

-1.44%

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

$46.92 ৳5,748

$20.25 ৳2,481

131.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,979 ৳242.4K

$666 ৳81.6K

196.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.61 ৳2,281

$13.06 ৳1,599

42.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.19 ৳2,963

$14.85 ৳1,819

62.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.70 ৳5,721

$26.48 ৳3,244

76.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.80 ৳4,508

$29.55 ৳3,621

24.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 ৳14.3K

$64.8 ৳7,940

80.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.5 ৳7,775

$39.20 ৳4,803

61.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$316 ৳38.7K

$135 ৳16.5K

134.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 ৳22.5K

$84.9 ৳10.4K

116.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,493 ৳182.9K

$489 ৳59.9K

205.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$659 ৳80.7K

$2,302 ৳282.0K

-71.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$286 ৳35.0K

$218 ৳26.7K

31.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.52

8.83

19.14%

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

Last update for Dhaka: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rajshahi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Dhaka and $64.8 in Rajshahi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhaka pays 31% 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 $9.00 in Rajshahi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $117 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 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Dhaka pays 31% 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 $64.8 in Rajshahi. 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 $303 in Rajshahi – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Rajshahi runs roughly 147% 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 37% less than in Dhaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.