Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Taiping

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $422 a month against $851 in Taiping, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

20

Cost of Living Index in Dhaka
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Dhaka Living Index
41

Cost of Living Index in Taiping
Learn more

Taiping Living Index

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Dhaka

🇧🇩 Bangladesh

$422

/mo nomad

Taiping

🇲🇾 Malaysia

$851

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Taiping

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $422 in Dhaka versus $851 in Taiping.

Dhaka $422
Taiping $851

Estimated couple costs with rent: $728 in Dhaka versus $1,309 in Taiping.

Dhaka $728
Taiping $1,309

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,033 in Dhaka versus $1,768 in Taiping.

Dhaka $1,033
Taiping $1,768

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 50% less than in Taiping, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 69% lower, Taiping 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 ৳298

$2.00 MYR 8.15

20.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.93 ৳1,604

$24.84 MYR 101

-47.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 ৳593

$4.87 MYR 19.83

-1.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.92 ৳610

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 ৳491

Cappuccino

$2.38 ৳295

$1.50 MYR 6.10

58.67%

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

$0.30 ৳37.11

$0.76 MYR 3.08

-60.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ৳21.32

$0.23 MYR 0.93

-26.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 MYR 8.70

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.06 MYR 24.70

Milk (1 liter)

$0.79 ৳97.5

$1.31 MYR 5.36

-39.69%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 ৳78.4

$0.76 MYR 3.10

-17.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.72 ৳89.1

$1.92 MYR 7.82

-62.50%

Eggs

$1.18 ৳147

$1.45 MYR 5.89

-18.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.73 ৳1,083

$13.73 MYR 56.0

-36.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 ৳409

$1.98 MYR 8.07

66.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.64 ৳824

$4.83 MYR 19.67

37.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 ৳347

$1.91 MYR 7.77

46.60%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 ৳107

$1.77 MYR 7.21

-51.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.32 ৳287

$1.97 MYR 8.04

17.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.61 ৳75.8

$0.96 MYR 3.89

-36.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.23 ৳28.30

$0.95 MYR 3.88

-75.79%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 ৳59.9

$1.24 MYR 5.06

-61.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 ৳41.25

$1.02 MYR 4.18

-67.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.58

$0.47 MYR 1.93

-36.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.23 ৳1,516

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.23 ৳649

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.51 ৳808

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 ৳408

$4.42 MYR 18.01

-25.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.97 MYR 61.0

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 MYR 11.93

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 MYR 20.40

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ৳51.3

$0.72 MYR 2.92

-43.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.27 ৳2,638

$12.12 MYR 49.40

75.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ৳147

$1.03 MYR 4.18

14.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 ৳47.19

$0.51 MYR 2.09

-25.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 ৳406

$4.90 MYR 19.97

-33.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ৳143

$0.49 MYR 1.99

136.73%

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

$29.9K ৳3.7M

$24.1K MYR 98.1K

24.24%

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

$32.5K ৳4.0M

$24.3K MYR 98.8K

34.01%

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

$46.86 ৳5,813

$63.2 MYR 257

-25.82%

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

$4.31 ৳535

$5.45 MYR 22.19

-20.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.09 ৳1,376

$24.56 MYR 100

-54.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.52 ৳2,173

$36.81 MYR 150

-52.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.67 ৳2,191

$6.43 MYR 26.22

174.81%

Cinema Ticket

$4.31 ৳534

$4.86 MYR 19.79

-11.32%

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

$139 ৳17.2K

$237 MYR 964

-41.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,570 ৳318.8K

$13.1K MYR 53.5K

-80.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.32 ৳2,025

$72.6 MYR 296

-77.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.36 ৳2,402

$42.74 MYR 174

-54.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.97 ৳5,702

$72.5 MYR 295

-36.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.74 ৳4,557

$94.5 MYR 385

-61.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$145 ৳18.0K

$407 MYR 1,660

-64.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$68.1 ৳8,449

$288 MYR 1,173

-76.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ৳57.2K

$711 MYR 2,897

-35.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$232 ৳28.8K

$543 MYR 2,211

-57.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,575 ৳195.4K

$2,044 MYR 8,326

-22.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$789 ৳97.9K

$1,142 MYR 4,651

-30.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$245 ৳30.3K

$361 MYR 1,472

-32.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

166.75%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 26, 2026

Last update for Taiping: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Dhaka

$122 29%

Taiping

$202 23.8% 65.2% $80

Accommodation & Living

Dhaka

$68 16.1%

Taiping

$288 33.8% 323% $220

Eating Out

Dhaka

$64 15.2%

Taiping

$75 8.9% 17.7% $11

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Dhaka

$62 14.8%

Taiping

$93 11% 49.6% $31

Clothing & Footwear

Dhaka

$53 12.6%

Taiping

$127 14.9% 138% $74

Sport & Entertainment

Dhaka

$26 6.2%

Taiping

$47 5.5% 78% $20

Getting Around

Dhaka

$26 6.2%

Taiping

$19 2.2% 28.6% $7.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $145 in Dhaka and $407 in Taiping. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Taiping pays 48% 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 in Dhaka vs $25 in Taiping for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $122 vs $202 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇧🇩 Dhaka

🇲🇾 Taiping

🕒 Local time

19:54 7:54 PM

21:54 9:54 PM

2 h ahead of Dhaka

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

21,741,000 Capital

241,517

💱 Currency

Bangladeshi Taka BDT ৳

Malaysian Ringgit MYR RM

📈 Exchange rate

1,000 BDT = 8.06 USD

1,000 BDT = 7.24 EUR

1 MYR = 0.245 USD

1 MYR = 0.221 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 28, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.06 USD). 1 EUR = 138 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.24 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 4.07 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.53 MYR (1 MYR = 0.221 EUR).

USD to BDT in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Dhaka Taiping 2,380 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

Dhaka
Taiping

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 Taiping: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 101% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Dhaka. 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: $145 in Dhaka versus $407 in Taiping. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you’ll spend $422 per month in Dhaka versus $851 in Taiping – a 101% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Taiping runs roughly 43% less than in Dhaka. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 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.

It comes down to priorities – Dhaka wins on affordability, Taiping on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.