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: $415 in Dhaka versus $351 in Sylhet.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $705 in Dhaka versus $562 in Sylhet.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $995 in Dhaka versus $774 in Sylhet.

Living in Dhaka is roughly 18% more expensive than Sylhet, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 69% lower, Sylhet 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.42 ৳297

$2.09 ৳256

15.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.53 ৳1,539

$10.72 ৳1,316

16.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.94 ৳607

$4.07 ৳500

21.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.11 ৳505

$4.06 ৳498

1.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 ৳615

$4.35 ৳534

15.17%

Cappuccino

$2.18 ৳268

$1.87 ৳229

16.58%

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

$0.32 ৳39.01

$0.35 ৳42.50

-8.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 ৳20.10

$0.15 ৳19.02

6.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 ৳93.9

$0.76 ৳92.9

White Bread (500g)

$0.66 ৳80.7

$0.50 ৳61.9

32.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 ৳81.2

$0.66 ৳80.5

Eggs

$1.26 ৳154

$1.21 ৳148

4.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.68 ৳820

$6.80 ৳835

-1.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.46 ৳425

$2.58 ৳317

34.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.50 ৳798

$6.23 ৳765

4.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 ৳342

$2.15 ৳264

29.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ৳138

$1.01 ৳124

10.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 ৳328

$1.99 ৳244

34.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 ৳111

$0.51 ৳62.1

76.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 ৳57.4

$0.38 ৳46.95

23.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 ৳96.8

$0.66 ৳81.6

19.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 ৳43.60

$0.35 ৳43.56

2.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.36

$0.26 ৳31.56

15.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.34 ৳1,515

$3.77 ৳462

227.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.91 ৳480

$2.32 ৳285

68.53%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.15 ৳877

$4.51 ৳553

58.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.90 ৳356

$2.68 ৳330

8.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ৳49.03

$0.39 ৳48.33

2.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.92 ৳3,060

$16.46 ৳2,021

51.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 ৳153

$0.81 ৳99.1

54.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 ৳48.07

$0.35 ৳42.46

11.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ৳373

$1.45 ৳178

109.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ৳130

$0.91 ৳112

16.48%

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

$28.8K ৳3.5M

$28.2K ৳3.5M

2.15%

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

$28.4K ৳3.5M

$25.7K ৳3.2M

10.26%

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

$32.13 ৳3,944

$29.98 ৳3,680

7.17%

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

$4.71 ৳578

$4.77 ৳585

-1.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.35 ৳1,639

$12.95 ৳1,589

3.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.36 ৳2,377

$10.12 ৳1,242

91.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.43 ৳1,772

$8.29 ৳1,017

74.07%

Cinema Ticket

$4.19 ৳514

$4.16 ৳511

0.72%

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

$47.21 ৳5,796

$36.61 ৳4,494

28.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,929 ৳236.8K

$922 ৳113.1K

109.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.22 ৳2,236

$13.81 ৳1,695

31.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.80 ৳2,921

$16.97 ৳2,084

40.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.14 ৳5,788

$38.31 ৳4,702

23.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.51 ৳4,483

$36.69 ৳4,504

-0.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$119 ৳14.6K

$68.5 ৳8,411

74.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$64.0 ৳7,852

$60.7 ৳7,445

5.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 ৳37.5K

$164 ৳20.1K

86.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$187 ৳22.9K

$112 ৳13.8K

66.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,306 ৳160.3K

$595 ৳73.1K

119.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$621 ৳76.2K

$311 ৳38.2K

99.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$304 ৳37.4K

$231 ৳28.4K

31.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.52

8.83

19.14%

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

Last update for Dhaka: April 26, 2026

Last update for Sylhet: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $119 in Dhaka and $68.5 in Sylhet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhaka pays 32% 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 $106 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, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Dhaka pays 32% more on average, 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: $119 in Dhaka versus $68.5 in Sylhet. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $415 per month in Dhaka versus $351 in Sylhet – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sylhet runs roughly 51% 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 18% less than in Dhaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.