Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and San Pablo

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $634 in San Pablo, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$406
/mo nomad
San Pablo
🇵🇭 Philippines
$634
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in San Pablo

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 San Pablo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Dhaka versus $634 in San Pablo.

  • Dhaka $406
  • San Pablo $634

Estimated couple costs with rent: $687 in Dhaka versus $917 in San Pablo.

  • Dhaka $687
  • San Pablo $917

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $969 in Dhaka versus $1,200 in San Pablo.

  • Dhaka $969
  • San Pablo $1,200

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 36% less than in San Pablo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 70% lower, San Pablo 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
San Pablo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28 ৳282
$3.90 ₱245
-41.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.33 ৳1,523
$16.47 ₱1,037
-25.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.95 ৳488
$2.81 ₱177
40.57%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.48 ৳554
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 ৳510
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.28 ৳281
$1.83 ₱115
24.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ৳40.88
$0.38 ₱24.14
-13.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.86
$0.18 ₱11.26
-11.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.03 ₱64.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.63 ₱103
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
San Pablo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 ৳104
$1.67 ₱105
-49.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 ৳74.5
$1.10 ₱69.2
-45.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.69 ৳85.4
$0.94 ₱59.1
-26.60%
Eggs
$1.23 ৳152
$2.08 ₱131
-40.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.80 ৳1,087
$5.14 ₱324
71.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.33 ৳412
$3.41 ₱215
-2.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.63 ৳819
$7.73 ₱487
-14.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ৳352
$2.32 ₱146
22.84%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 ৳111
$1.41 ₱88.8
-36.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ৳289
$1.61 ₱101
45.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.63 ৳78.4
$1.04 ₱65.3
-39.42%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ৳29.59
$1.61 ₱101
-85.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ৳57.3
$1.78 ₱112
-74.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 ৳42.79
$0.61 ₱38.28
-42.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 ৳34.24
$0.52 ₱32.95
-46.15%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$12.11 ৳1,496
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.31 ৳656
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.42 ৳794
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 ৳405
$2.84 ₱179
15.49%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.49 ₱409
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.95 ₱60.0
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.02 ₱127
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
San Pablo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ৳52.3
$0.23 ₱14.37
82.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.43 ৳2,772
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ৳147
$0.81 ₱51.0
46.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 ৳48.71
$0.25 ₱15.79
56.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 ৳406
$1.87 ₱118
75.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ৳136
$1.15 ₱72.5
-4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K ৳3.6M
$21.6K ₱1.4M
36.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K ৳4.0M
$19.3K ₱1.2M
66.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
San Pablo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.28 ৳4,729
$143 ₱9,016
-73.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 ৳506
$11.84 ₱746
-65.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.02 ৳1,114
$23.37 ₱1,471
-61.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
San Pablo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.66 ৳1,688
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.21 ৳1,261
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.11 ৳508
$5.13 ₱323
-19.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
San Pablo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.7 ৳11.2K
$132 ₱8,290
-31.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,591 ৳320.2K
$10.9K ₱683.6K
-76.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
San Pablo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.06 ৳2,108
$29.42 ₱1,852
-42.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.38 ৳2,641
$19.58 ₱1,232
9.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.4 ৳6,355
$71.5 ₱4,502
-28.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.78 ৳4,545
$55.6 ₱3,500
-33.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
San Pablo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 ৳16.4K
$142 ₱8,963
-6.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.1 ৳8,041
$125 ₱7,875
-47.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 ৳46.6K
$206 ₱13.0K
83.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$192 ৳23.8K
$188 ₱11.8K
2.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,621 ৳200.3K
$956 ₱60.2K
69.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$760 ৳93.9K
$811 ₱51.1K
-6.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
San Pablo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 ৳30.4K
$292 ₱18.4K
-15.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.48
6.75
55.26%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Last update for San Pablo: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$124
San Pablo
$166 34.2% $42
Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$65
San Pablo
$125 92.2% $60
Eating Out
Dhaka
$59
San Pablo
$72 21.5% $13
Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$57
San Pablo
$79 39% $22
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$51
San Pablo
$178 247% $127
Getting Around
Dhaka
$27
San Pablo
$3 * 89.1% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$22
San Pablo
$10 * 53.1% $12

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Dhaka and $142 in San Pablo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Pablo pays 18% 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: $12.00 in Dhaka vs $16.00 in San Pablo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $166 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🇵🇭 San Pablo
🕒 Local time
10:23 10:23 AM
12:23 12:23 PM
2 h ahead of Dhaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,741,000 Capital
266,068
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dhaka San Pablo 3,420 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dhaka
  • San Pablo

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 San Pablo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Pablo cheaper than Dhaka?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dhaka or San Pablo?
On paper, salaries run 18% lower in San Pablo. 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 San Pablo?
Rent for a central apartment: $133 in Dhaka versus $142 in San Pablo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $90.7 in Dhaka versus $132 in San Pablo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Dhaka or in San Pablo?
Dining out is cheaper in Dhaka – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $16.00 in San Pablo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Dhaka or San Pablo?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Dhaka gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Dhaka or in San Pablo?
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.
Which city is safer, Dhaka or San Pablo?
Safety-wise, Dhaka and San Pablo 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 56% less than in San Pablo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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