Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Sylhet Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Sylhet

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $437 in Dhaka versus $364 in Sylhet.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $731 in Dhaka versus $618 in Sylhet.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,024 in Dhaka versus $873 in Sylhet.

Living in Dhaka is roughly 20% more expensive than in Sylhet, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 68% lower, Sylhet 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.41 ৳296

$2.37 ৳292

1.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.34 ৳1,639

$11.30 ৳1,388

18.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ৳612

$4.16 ৳511

19.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.02 ৳617

$4.96 ৳609

1.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 ৳512

$3.96 ৳487

5.30%

Cappuccino

$2.40 ৳295

$2.02 ৳248

18.81%

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

$0.33 ৳40.75

$0.31 ৳37.72

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ৳18.99

$0.19 ৳22.73

-21.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 ৳103

$0.83 ৳102

1.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 ৳76.7

$0.56 ৳69.2

10.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 ৳85.7

$0.63 ৳77.6

11.11%

Eggs

$1.22 ৳150

$1.22 ৳149

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.90 ৳1,093

$7.94 ৳975

12.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.26 ৳401

$3.27 ৳402

-0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.60 ৳811

$6.57 ৳807

0.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 ৳348

$2.81 ৳345

0.71%

Banana (1kg)

$0.95 ৳117

$0.92 ৳113

3.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 ৳283

$2.32 ৳285

-0.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.68 ৳83.1

$0.62 ৳75.7

9.68%

Potato (1kg)

$0.23 ৳28.16

$0.25 ৳30.79

-8.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 ৳63.4

$0.48 ৳58.9

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 ৳38.62

$0.32 ৳39.29

-3.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.22

$0.30 ৳37.37

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.18 ৳1,496

$2.92 ৳359

317.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.49 ৳674

$2.00 ৳246

174.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.67 ৳819

$4.04 ৳496

65.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.23 ৳397

$2.90 ৳356

11.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ৳48.52

$0.71 ৳87.5

-43.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.11 ৳2,839

$24.16 ৳2,967

-4.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 ৳146

$1.21 ৳148

-1.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ৳52.5

$0.15 ৳18.74

186.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 ৳407

$1.17 ৳143

182.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 ৳136

$1.08 ৳132

2.78%

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

$30.2K ৳3.7M

-0.09%

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

$32.4K ৳4.0M

$32.0K ৳3.9M

1.27%

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

$45.49 ৳5,589

$25.19 ৳3,094

80.59%

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

$4.00 ৳491

$4.06 ৳499

-1.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.31 ৳1,390

$11.32 ৳1,391

-0.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.78 ৳2,061

$9.19 ৳1,129

82.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.02 ৳1,846

$4.13 ৳507

263.68%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 ৳491

$4.10 ৳504

-2.68%

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

$90.4 ৳11.1K

$28.20 ৳3,464

220.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,675 ৳328.6K

$998 ৳122.6K

168.00%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.73 ৳2,055

$16.10 ৳1,978

3.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.85 ৳2,438

$16.46 ৳2,022

20.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.1 ৳6,278

$36.02 ৳4,425

41.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.96 ৳4,540

$30.32 ৳3,724

21.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$155 ৳19.1K

$126 ৳15.5K

22.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$73.9 ৳9,079

$56.1 ৳6,896

31.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$437 ৳53.7K

$172 ৳21.1K

154.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$218 ৳26.8K

$159 ৳19.6K

36.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,644 ৳201.9K

$696 ৳85.5K

136.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$764 ৳93.9K

$353 ৳43.4K

116.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$243 ৳29.8K

$226 ৳27.7K

7.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.48

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

Last update for Dhaka: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sylhet: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $155 in Dhaka and $126 in Sylhet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhaka pays 7% 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 $11.00 in Sylhet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $120 per month, with Sylhet 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 Sylhet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sylhet is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 7% 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: $155 in Dhaka versus $126 in Sylhet. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $437 per month in Dhaka versus $364 in Sylhet – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sylhet runs roughly 5% less than in Dhaka. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Sylhet 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.

Expats usually find Sylhet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Dhaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.