Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Seri Iskandar

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $422 a month against $708 in Seri Iskandar, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

20

Cost of Living Index in Dhaka
Learn more

Dhaka Living Index
34

Cost of Living Index in Seri Iskandar
Learn more

Seri Iskandar Living Index

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Dhaka

🇧🇩 Bangladesh

$422

/mo nomad

Seri Iskandar

🇲🇾 Malaysia

$708

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Seri Iskandar

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 Seri Iskandar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $422 in Dhaka versus $708 in Seri Iskandar.

Dhaka $422
Seri Iskandar $708

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Dhaka versus $917 in Seri Iskandar.

Dhaka $728
Seri Iskandar $917

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,033 in Dhaka versus $1,126 in Seri Iskandar.

Dhaka $1,033
Seri Iskandar $1,126

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 40% less than in Seri Iskandar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 69% lower, Seri Iskandar 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 ৳298

$2.74 MYR 11.18

-12.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.93 ৳1,604

$29.75 MYR 121

-56.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 ৳593

$4.72 MYR 19.24

1.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 ৳610

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 ৳491

Cappuccino

$2.38 ৳295

$1.02 MYR 4.15

133.33%

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

$0.30 ৳37.11

$0.52 MYR 2.13

-42.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ৳21.32

$0.26 MYR 1.06

-34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 MYR 12.19

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 MYR 14.73

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 ৳97.5

$1.58 MYR 6.43

-50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 ৳78.4

$0.95 MYR 3.88

-33.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 ৳89.1

$0.51 MYR 2.09

41.18%

Eggs

$1.18 ৳147

$2.03 MYR 8.25

-41.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.73 ৳1,083

$5.31 MYR 21.65

64.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ৳409

$1.94 MYR 7.89

70.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.64 ৳824

$4.47 MYR 18.21

48.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 ৳347

$2.16 MYR 8.80

29.63%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 ৳107

$1.69 MYR 6.88

-49.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ৳287

$1.98 MYR 8.06

17.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 ৳75.8

$1.03 MYR 4.19

-40.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.23 ৳28.30

$0.63 MYR 2.56

-63.49%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 ৳59.9

$0.95 MYR 3.89

-49.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 ৳41.25

$1.02 MYR 4.15

-67.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.58

$0.63 MYR 2.56

-52.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.23 ৳1,516

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.23 ৳649

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.51 ৳808

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 ৳408

$4.39 MYR 17.87

-25.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 MYR 30.21

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 MYR 9.93

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 MYR 15.15

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ৳51.3

$1.08 MYR 4.41

-62.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.27 ৳2,638

$12.26 MYR 49.96

73.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ৳147

$1.02 MYR 4.17

15.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ৳47.19

$1.24 MYR 5.03

-69.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 ৳406

$4.87 MYR 19.83

-32.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ৳143

$0.61 MYR 2.50

90.16%

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

$29.9K ৳3.7M

$19.4K MYR 78.9K

54.36%

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

$32.5K ৳4.0M

$19.6K MYR 79.8K

65.94%

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

$46.86 ৳5,813

$62.8 MYR 256

-25.35%

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

$4.31 ৳535

$8.98 MYR 36.60

-52.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.09 ৳1,376

$16.79 MYR 68.4

-33.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.52 ৳2,173

$13.48 MYR 54.9

29.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.67 ৳2,191

$6.76 MYR 27.55

161.39%

Cinema Ticket

$4.31 ৳534

$3.73 MYR 15.21

15.55%

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

$139 ৳17.2K

$237 MYR 965

-41.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,570 ৳318.8K

$13.1K MYR 53.4K

-80.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.32 ৳2,025

$16.83 MYR 68.6

-3.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.36 ৳2,402

$8.68 MYR 35.36

123.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.97 ৳5,702

$60.4 MYR 246

-23.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.74 ৳4,557

$37.27 MYR 152

-1.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$145 ৳18.0K

$419 MYR 1,707

-65.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.1 ৳8,449

$287 MYR 1,169

-76.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ৳57.2K

$779 MYR 3,175

-40.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$232 ৳28.8K

$162 MYR 659

43.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,575 ৳195.4K

$2,030 MYR 8,271

-22.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$789 ৳97.9K

$1,168 MYR 4,758

-32.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$245 ৳30.3K

$366 MYR 1,489

-33.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

433.50%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 26, 2026

Last update for Seri Iskandar: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Dhaka

$122 29%

Seri Iskandar

$158 22.4% 29.3% $36

Accommodation & Living

Dhaka

$68 16.1%

Seri Iskandar

$287 40.6% 321% $219

Eating Out

Dhaka

$64 15.2%

Seri Iskandar

$74 10.4% 15.1% $9.7

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Dhaka

$62 14.8%

Seri Iskandar

$89 12.5% 42.2% $26

Clothing & Footwear

Dhaka

$53 12.6%

Seri Iskandar

$55 7.8% 4% $2.1

Sport & Entertainment

Dhaka

$26 6.2%

Seri Iskandar

$21 3% 19.8% $5.2

Getting Around

Dhaka

$26 6.2%

Seri Iskandar

$24 3.4% 8.5% $2.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $145 in Dhaka and $419 in Seri Iskandar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seri Iskandar pays 49% 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 in Dhaka vs $30 in Seri Iskandar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $122 vs $158 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇧🇩 Dhaka

🇲🇾 Seri Iskandar

🕒 Local time

01:19 1:19 AM

03:19 3:19 AM

2 h ahead of Dhaka

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

21,741,000 Capital

14,827

💱 Currency

Bangladeshi Taka BDT ৳

Malaysian Ringgit MYR RM

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 BDT = 8.06 USD

1,000 BDT = 7.24 EUR

1 MYR = 0.245 USD

1 MYR = 0.22 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇧🇩 Bangladeshi Taka (৳)

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.06 USD). 1 EUR = 138 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.24 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 4.07 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.54 MYR (1 MYR = 0.22 EUR).

USD to BDT in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Dhaka Seri Iskandar 2,440 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Dhaka
Seri Iskandar

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 Seri Iskandar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, utilities, and eating out. The 68% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 33% lower in Dhaka. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $145 in Dhaka versus $419 in Seri Iskandar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you’ll spend $422 per month in Dhaka versus $708 in Seri Iskandar – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Seri Iskandar runs roughly 42% 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 Dhaka 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.

It comes down to priorities – Dhaka wins on affordability, Seri Iskandar on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.