Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Seria

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $567 in Seria, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. The total is higher in Seria despite lower rent and utilities.

Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$406
/mo nomad
Seria
🇧🇳 Brunei
$567
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Seria

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Dhaka versus $567 in Seria.

  • Dhaka $406
  • Seria $567

Estimated couple costs with rent: $687 in Dhaka versus $904 in Seria.

  • Dhaka $687
  • Seria $904

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $969 in Dhaka versus $1,242 in Seria.

  • Dhaka $969
  • Seria $1,242

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 28% less than in Seria, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 70% lower, Seria 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Seria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28 ৳282
$3.13 BND 4.00
-27.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.33 ৳1,523
$27.07 BND 34.64
-54.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.95 ৳488
$5.36 BND 6.86
-26.31%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.48 ৳554
$1.59 BND 2.04
181.76%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 ৳510
$2.32 BND 2.96
78.02%
Cappuccino
$2.28 ৳281
$3.88 BND 4.97
-41.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ৳40.88
$0.91 BND 1.16
-63.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.86
$0.54 BND 0.69
-70.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Seria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 ৳104
$1.81 BND 2.32
-53.04%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 ৳74.5
$1.43 BND 1.83
-58.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.69 ৳85.4
$1.21 BND 1.55
-42.98%
Eggs
$1.23 ৳152
$1.38 BND 1.76
-10.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.80 ৳1,087
$6.17 BND 7.90
42.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.33 ৳412
$4.41 BND 5.64
-24.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.63 ৳819
$10.89 BND 13.93
-39.12%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ৳352
$3.20 BND 4.09
-10.94%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 ৳111
$2.23 BND 2.85
-59.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ৳289
$2.98 BND 3.82
-21.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.63 ৳78.4
$2.55 BND 3.27
-75.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ৳29.59
$1.68 BND 2.15
-85.71%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ৳57.3
$2.08 BND 2.66
-77.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 ৳42.79
$3.74 BND 4.79
-90.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 ৳34.24
$0.76 BND 0.98
-63.16%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$12.11 ৳1,496
$23.42 BND 29.96
-48.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.31 ৳656
$3.22 BND 4.12
64.91%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.42 ৳794
$1.08 BND 1.38
494.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 ৳405
$15.42 BND 19.73
-78.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Seria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ৳52.3
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.43 ৳2,772
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ৳147
$4.02 BND 5.14
-70.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 ৳48.71
$3.25 BND 4.15
-88.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 ৳406
$11.77 BND 15.06
-72.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ৳136
$0.30 BND 0.38
266.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K ৳3.6M
$43.5K BND 55.7K
-32.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K ৳4.0M
$36.2K BND 46.3K
-11.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Seria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.28 ৳4,729
$61.8 BND 79.0
-38.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 ৳506
$15.66 BND 20.03
-73.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.02 ৳1,114
$64.1 BND 82.0
-85.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Seria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.66 ৳1,688
$27.52 BND 35.20
-50.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.21 ৳1,261
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.11 ৳508
$5.36 BND 6.86
-23.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Seria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.7 ৳11.2K
$216 BND 276
-57.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,591 ৳320.2K
$9,750 BND 12.5K
-73.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Seria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.06 ৳2,108
$31.04 BND 39.71
-45.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.38 ৳2,641
$27.71 BND 35.45
-22.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.4 ৳6,355
$50.3 BND 64.4
2.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.78 ৳4,545
$46.16 BND 59.1
-20.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Seria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 ৳16.4K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.1 ৳8,041
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 ৳46.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$192 ৳23.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,621 ৳200.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$760 ৳93.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Seria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 ৳30.4K
$716 BND 917
-65.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.48
3.88
170.10%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Last update for Seria: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$124
Seria
$203 64.5% $80
Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$65
Seria
- * 100%
Eating Out
Dhaka
$59
Seria
$94 57.4% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$57
Seria
$70 22.6% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$51
Seria
$142 175% $90
Getting Around
Dhaka
$27
Seria
$20 * 25.8% $7
Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$22
Seria
$38 74.7% $16

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

Cost Breakdown

Seria pays 191% 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 $27.00 in Seria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $203 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🇧🇳 Seria
🕒 Local time
10:41 10:41 AM
12:41 12:41 PM
2 h ahead of Dhaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,741,000 Capital
30,097
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BND, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR).

Brunei Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.28 BND (1 BND = 0.782 USD). 1 EUR = 1.44 BND (1 BND = 0.695 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dhaka Seria 3,330 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dhaka
  • Seria

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 Seria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seria cheaper than Dhaka?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dhaka or Seria?
On paper, salaries run 191% lower in Seria. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $90.7 in Dhaka versus $216 in Seria. 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 Seria?
Dining out is cheaper in Dhaka – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $27.00 in Seria. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Dhaka or Seria?
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 Seria?
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 Seria?
Safety-wise, Dhaka and Seria 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 40% less than in Seria. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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