Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Sibu

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $428 a month against $866 in Sibu, rent and utilities included – about $5,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

21

Cost of Living Index in Dhaka
Learn more

Dhaka Living Index
43

Cost of Living Index in Sibu
Learn more

Sibu Living Index

Jump to prices

Dhaka

🇧🇩 Bangladesh

$428

/mo nomad

Sibu

🇲🇾 Malaysia

$866

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Sibu

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $428 in Dhaka versus $866 in Sibu.

Dhaka $428
Sibu $866

Estimated couple costs with rent: $724 in Dhaka versus $1,293 in Sibu.

Dhaka $724
Sibu $1,293

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,019 in Dhaka versus $1,720 in Sibu.

Dhaka $1,019
Sibu $1,720

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 51% less than in Sibu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 68% lower, Sibu 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.50 ৳309

$2.16 MYR 8.82

15.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.26 ৳1,638

$19.47 MYR 79.4

-31.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.99 ৳616

$4.21 MYR 17.18

18.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 ৳602

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.14 ৳511

Cappuccino

$2.35 ৳291

$2.38 MYR 9.70

-1.26%

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

$0.33 ৳41.07

$0.67 MYR 2.74

-50.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 ৳19.62

$0.23 MYR 0.93

-30.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 MYR 11.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 MYR 17.96

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 ৳105

$1.80 MYR 7.33

-52.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 ৳77.9

$0.89 MYR 3.65

-29.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.67 ৳83.1

$1.67 MYR 6.80

-59.88%

Eggs

$1.19 ৳147

$2.24 MYR 9.16

-46.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.83 ৳1,092

$11.65 MYR 47.53

-24.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ৳408

$3.84 MYR 15.66

-14.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.41 ৳792

$9.69 MYR 39.55

-33.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ৳340

$3.72 MYR 15.16

-26.08%

Banana (1kg)

$0.94 ৳116

$1.53 MYR 6.26

-38.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ৳293

$2.34 MYR 9.55

1.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.64 ৳79.1

$1.38 MYR 5.62

-53.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 ৳32.25

$1.12 MYR 4.58

-76.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 ৳60.6

$1.30 MYR 5.29

-62.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 ৳37.63

$1.17 MYR 4.76

-74.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.49

$0.54 MYR 2.22

-44.44%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.24 ৳1,512

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 ৳671

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.53 ৳807

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.17 ৳392

$4.53 MYR 18.48

-30.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.28 MYR 74.6

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 MYR 11.64

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.51 MYR 18.38

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ৳47.44

$0.83 MYR 3.40

-54.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.06 ৳2,849

$13.85 MYR 56.5

66.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ৳145

$1.40 MYR 5.70

-16.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ৳46.99

$0.54 MYR 2.18

-29.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 ৳405

$8.01 MYR 32.68

-59.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ৳137

$0.80 MYR 3.28

38.75%

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

$29.1K ৳3.6M

$49.1K MYR 200.3K

-40.71%

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

$32.9K ৳4.1M

$35.6K MYR 145.4K

-7.64%

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

$46.77 ৳5,779

$49.59 MYR 202

-5.69%

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

$4.51 ৳557

$7.14 MYR 29.14

-36.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.22 ৳1,387

$26.47 MYR 108

-57.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.43 ৳2,031

$26.94 MYR 110

-39.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.87 ৳1,838

$6.44 MYR 26.26

130.90%

Cinema Ticket

$4.20 ৳519

$3.74 MYR 15.24

12.30%

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

$91.6 ৳11.3K

$181 MYR 739

-49.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,596 ৳320.8K

$6,906 MYR 28.2K

-62.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.63 ৳2,055

$55.4 MYR 226

-69.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.80 ৳2,447

$30.48 MYR 124

-35.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.87 ৳5,791

$89.2 MYR 364

-47.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.00 ৳4,572

$75.2 MYR 307

-50.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$148 ৳18.2K

$340 MYR 1,386

-56.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$70.8 ৳8,743

$282 MYR 1,150

-74.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ৳53.4K

$597 MYR 2,437

-27.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 ৳26.3K

$451 MYR 1,841

-52.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,605 ৳198.4K

$1,782 MYR 7,272

-9.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$751 ৳92.8K

$966 MYR 3,941

-22.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$245 ৳30.3K

$496 MYR 2,021

-50.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

4.06

162.81%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 19, 2026

Last update for Sibu: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Dhaka

$123 28.8%

Sibu

$247 28.5% 100% $124

Accommodation & Living

Dhaka

$71 16.5%

Sibu

$282 32.6% 298% $211

Eating Out

Dhaka

$65 15.2%

Sibu

$85 9.9% 31.3% $20

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Dhaka

$63 14.6%

Sibu

$83 9.6% 33.1% $21

Clothing & Footwear

Dhaka

$54 12.6%

Sibu

$113 13% 108% $59

Getting Around

Dhaka

$28 6.5%

Sibu

$21 2.5% 23.2% $6.4

Sport & Entertainment

Dhaka

$25 5.8%

Sibu

$34 4% 38.6% $9.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $148 in Dhaka and $340 in Sibu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sibu pays 102% 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 $19.00 in Sibu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $123 vs $247 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇧🇩 Dhaka

🇲🇾 Sibu

🕒 Local time

02:18 2:18 AM

04:18 4:18 AM

2 h ahead of Dhaka

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

21,741,000 Capital

198,239

💱 Currency

Bangladeshi Taka BDT ৳

Malaysian Ringgit MYR RM

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD

1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR

1 MYR = 0.245 USD

1 MYR = 0.218 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 20, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.59 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

USD to BDT in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Dhaka Sibu 3,320 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Dhaka
Sibu

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 Sibu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 102% lower in Sibu. 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: $148 in Dhaka versus $340 in Sibu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $428 per month in Dhaka versus $866 in Sibu – a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 66% less than in Sibu. 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.

Safety-wise, Dhaka and Sibu 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 Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Sibu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.