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: $416 in Dhaka versus $308 in Rajshahi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $705 in Dhaka versus $504 in Rajshahi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $995 in Dhaka versus $699 in Rajshahi.

Living in Dhaka is roughly 35% 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

$2.50 ৳309

$0.79 ৳96.9

216.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.59 ৳1,552

$9.11 ৳1,122

38.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ৳614

$2.93 ৳361

69.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 ৳491

$4.01 ৳495

-0.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 ৳590

$2.32 ৳286

106.47%

Cappuccino

$2.20 ৳271

$1.43 ৳177

53.85%

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

$0.34 ৳42.36

$0.32 ৳39.01

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ৳23.65

$0.17 ৳20.43

11.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 ৳101

$0.69 ৳85.5

18.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 ৳86.6

$0.67 ৳82.5

4.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 ৳80.2

$0.59 ৳72.1

10.17%

Eggs

$1.26 ৳155

$1.11 ৳137

13.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.97 ৳859

$6.90 ৳850

1.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 ৳417

$3.38 ৳417

0.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.44 ৳794

$6.75 ৳832

-4.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 ৳350

$2.17 ৳268

30.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ৳139

$1.10 ৳135

1.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 ৳314

$2.28 ৳281

11.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 ৳111

$0.84 ৳103

7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 ৳53.0

$0.46 ৳56.9

-6.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.83 ৳103

$0.52 ৳64.0

59.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 ৳40.31

$0.33 ৳40.62

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.46

$0.30 ৳37.11

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.03 ৳1,483

$12.24 ৳1,509

-1.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.91 ৳482

$1.67 ৳206

134.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 ৳879

$2.02 ৳249

252.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ৳369

$2.82 ৳348

6.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ৳52.8

$0.09 ৳11.63

377.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.18 ৳2,980

$10.16 ৳1,252

137.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ৳149

$1.25 ৳154

-3.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ৳52.9

$0.40 ৳49.21

7.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 ৳388

$0.93 ৳115

238.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ৳127

$0.91 ৳112

13.19%

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

$29.3K ৳3.6M

$28.2K ৳3.5M

3.67%

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

$28.4K ৳3.5M

$28.2K ৳3.5M

0.64%

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

$32.72 ৳4,033

$30.67 ৳3,780

6.68%

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

$4.78 ৳589

$4.84 ৳597

-1.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.15 ৳1,621

$13.29 ৳1,638

-1.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.26 ৳2,374

$5.56 ৳685

246.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.25 ৳1,757

$11.91 ৳1,468

19.65%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 ৳492

$4.14 ৳510

-3.62%

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

$48.08 ৳5,926

$20.81 ৳2,565

131.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,996 ৳246.0K

$677 ৳83.5K

194.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.81 ৳2,319

$13.10 ৳1,615

43.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.73 ৳2,925

$15.29 ৳1,885

55.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.25 ৳5,700

$26.20 ৳3,229

76.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.71 ৳4,524

$29.44 ৳3,628

24.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 ৳14.5K

$64.9 ৳7,998

81.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.3 ৳7,800

$39.87 ৳4,914

58.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 ৳38.0K

$139 ৳17.1K

121.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 ৳23.4K

$84.7 ৳10.4K

124.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 ৳193.3K

$498 ৳61.3K

215.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$764 ৳94.2K

$2,315 ৳285.3K

-66.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 ৳34.2K

$213 ৳26.2K

30.58%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Rajshahi: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Dhaka and $64.9 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 $116 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 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 31% 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: $118 in Dhaka versus $64.9 in Rajshahi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $416 per month in Dhaka versus $308 in Rajshahi – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Rajshahi runs roughly 138% 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 35% less than in Dhaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.