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: $445 in Dhaka versus $363 in Sylhet.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $736 in Dhaka versus $616 in Sylhet.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,026 in Dhaka versus $870 in Sylhet.

Living in Dhaka is roughly 23% more expensive than in Sylhet, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 67% lower, Sylhet 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 ৳295

$2.42 ৳297

-0.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.96 ৳1,590

$11.31 ৳1,387

14.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 ৳606

$4.09 ৳502

20.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.89 ৳600

$4.77 ৳585

2.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.16 ৳510

$4.01 ৳493

3.74%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ৳290

$2.06 ৳253

14.56%

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

$0.31 ৳37.81

$0.31 ৳37.51

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ৳18.56

$0.16 ৳19.12

-6.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 ৳95.6

$0.83 ৳102

-6.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 ৳76.3

$0.56 ৳69.1

10.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 ৳81.4

$0.63 ৳77.6

4.76%

Eggs

$1.19 ৳146

$1.22 ৳150

-2.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.07 ৳1,113

$7.56 ৳927

19.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 ৳392

$3.34 ৳410

-4.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.53 ৳801

$6.40 ৳785

2.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.85 ৳350

$2.65 ৳325

7.55%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 ৳115

$0.92 ৳113

1.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.40 ৳295

$2.35 ৳288

2.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 ৳81.9

$0.63 ৳76.9

6.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.25 ৳30.75

$0.25 ৳30.88

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 ৳59.4

$0.48 ৳59.0

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 ৳41.84

$0.35 ৳42.42

-2.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 ৳34.15

$0.29 ৳35.79

-3.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.12 ৳1,488

$2.86 ৳351

323.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.39 ৳662

$2.02 ৳248

166.83%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.40 ৳785

$4.03 ৳494

58.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 ৳405

$2.82 ৳346

17.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ৳48.51

$0.75 ৳92.1

-46.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.46 ৳2,756

$24.48 ৳3,004

-8.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ৳148

$1.24 ৳152

-2.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 ৳48.20

$0.14 ৳17.43

178.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 ৳405

$1.16 ৳143

184.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ৳131

$1.03 ৳127

3.88%

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

$29.5K ৳3.6M

$29.4K ৳3.6M

0.53%

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

$32.2K ৳4.0M

$32.0K ৳3.9M

0.89%

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

$45.69 ৳5,606

$25.58 ৳3,139

78.62%

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

$3.87 ৳474

$4.02 ৳493

-3.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.21 ৳1,376

$11.33 ৳1,390

-1.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.39 ৳2,011

$9.38 ৳1,151

74.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.31 ৳1,879

$4.01 ৳492

281.80%

Cinema Ticket

$4.16 ৳510

$4.11 ৳505

1.22%

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

$92.4 ৳11.3K

$28.85 ৳3,540

220.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,635 ৳323.3K

$992 ৳121.7K

165.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.02 ৳2,089

$15.85 ৳1,944

7.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.16 ৳2,474

$16.50 ৳2,025

22.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.7 ৳6,344

$36.02 ৳4,419

43.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$37.65 ৳4,620

$29.63 ৳3,636

27.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 ৳19.1K

$130 ৳15.9K

19.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$80.4 ৳9,862

$57.9 ৳7,108

38.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$451 ৳55.4K

$173 ৳21.2K

161.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$231 ৳28.3K

$159 ৳19.5K

45.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,638 ৳201.0K

$703 ৳86.3K

132.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$768 ৳94.2K

$348 ৳42.8K

120.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 ৳30.5K

$223 ৳27.3K

11.60%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Sylhet: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $156 in Dhaka and $130 in Sylhet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhaka pays 12% 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 $123 vs $118 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 23% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 12% 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: $156 in Dhaka versus $130 in Sylhet. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $445 per month in Dhaka versus $363 in Sylhet – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sylhet runs roughly 9% 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 23% less than in Dhaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.