Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Taoyuan

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $1,200 in Taoyuan, rent and utilities included – about $9,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$406
/mo nomad
Taoyuan
🇹🇼 Taiwan
$1,200
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Taoyuan

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Dhaka versus $1,200 in Taoyuan.

  • Dhaka $406
  • Taoyuan $1,200

Estimated couple costs with rent: $687 in Dhaka versus $1,816 in Taoyuan.

  • Dhaka $687
  • Taoyuan $1,816

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $969 in Dhaka versus $2,433 in Taoyuan.

  • Dhaka $969
  • Taoyuan $2,433

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 66% less than in Taoyuan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 70% lower, Taoyuan 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Taoyuan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28 ৳282
$4.23 NT$137
-46.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.33 ৳1,523
$24.93 NT$808
-50.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.95 ৳488
$5.74 NT$186
-31.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.48 ৳554
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13 ৳510
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.28 ৳281
$2.97 NT$96.2
-23.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ৳40.88
$1.02 NT$33.18
-67.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.86
$0.71 NT$22.97
-77.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.84 NT$59.8
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.30 NT$74.6
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Taoyuan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 ৳104
$2.84 NT$92.2
-70.07%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 ৳74.5
$1.22 NT$39.64
-50.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.69 ৳85.4
$2.67 NT$86.5
-74.16%
Eggs
$1.23 ৳152
$2.17 NT$70.4
-43.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.80 ৳1,087
$9.22 NT$299
-4.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.33 ৳412
$7.55 NT$245
-55.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.63 ৳819
$21.09 NT$684
-68.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ৳352
$3.83 NT$124
-25.59%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 ৳111
$2.06 NT$66.8
-56.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ৳289
$3.11 NT$101
-24.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.63 ৳78.4
$3.10 NT$101
-79.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ৳29.59
$2.47 NT$80.2
-90.28%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ৳57.3
$2.03 NT$65.9
-77.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 ৳42.79
$2.33 NT$75.6
-84.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 ৳34.24
$0.88 NT$28.53
-68.18%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$12.11 ৳1,496
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.31 ৳656
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.42 ৳794
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 ৳405
$5.02 NT$163
-34.66%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.89 NT$353
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.43 NT$46.45
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.16 NT$69.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Taoyuan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ৳52.3
$0.55 NT$17.81
-23.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.43 ৳2,772
$38.07 NT$1,234
-41.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ৳147
$2.74 NT$88.8
-56.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 ৳48.71
$0.76 NT$24.51
-48.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 ৳406
$6.99 NT$227
-53.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ৳136
$1.00 NT$32.37
10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K ৳3.6M
$32.8K NT$1.1M
-10.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K ৳4.0M
$23.3K NT$755.7K
38.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Taoyuan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.28 ৳4,729
$69.5 NT$2,252
-44.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 ৳506
$17.72 NT$574
-76.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.02 ৳1,114
$21.93 NT$711
-58.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Taoyuan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.66 ৳1,688
$33.59 NT$1,089
-59.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.21 ৳1,261
$7.07 NT$229
44.41%
Cinema Ticket
$4.11 ৳508
$10.94 NT$355
-62.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Taoyuan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.7 ৳11.2K
$517 NT$16.8K
-82.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,591 ৳320.2K
$31.3K NT$1.0M
-91.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Taoyuan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.06 ৳2,108
$91.3 NT$2,959
-81.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.38 ৳2,641
$24.83 NT$805
-13.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.4 ৳6,355
$81.9 NT$2,655
-37.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.78 ৳4,545
$96.2 NT$3,119
-61.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Taoyuan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 ৳16.4K
$646 NT$20.9K
-79.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.1 ৳8,041
$436 NT$14.1K
-85.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 ৳46.6K
$964 NT$31.2K
-60.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$192 ৳23.8K
$729 NT$23.6K
-73.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,621 ৳200.3K
$7,498 NT$243.2K
-78.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$760 ৳93.9K
$4,782 NT$155.1K
-84.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Taoyuan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 ৳30.4K
$1,549 NT$50.2K
-84.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.48
2.38
340.34%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Last update for Taoyuan: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$124
Taoyuan
$313 153% $189
Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$65
Taoyuan
$436 570% $371
Eating Out
Dhaka
$59
Taoyuan
$107 80.8% $48
Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$57
Taoyuan
$132 132% $75
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$51
Taoyuan
$109 112% $58
Getting Around
Dhaka
$27
Taoyuan
$47 71.4% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$22
Taoyuan
$55 153% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Dhaka and $646 in Taoyuan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Taoyuan pays 529% 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: $12.00 in Dhaka vs $25.00 in Taoyuan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $313 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🇹🇼 Taoyuan
🕒 Local time
09:38 9:38 AM
11:38 11:38 AM
2 h ahead of Dhaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,741,000 Capital
2,147,763
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TWD, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR).

New Taiwan Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 32.43 TWD (100 TWD = 3.08 USD). 1 EUR = 36.46 TWD (100 TWD = 2.74 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dhaka Taoyuan 3,130 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dhaka
  • Taoyuan

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 Taoyuan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taoyuan cheaper than Dhaka?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 196% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dhaka or Taoyuan?
On paper, salaries run 529% lower in Taoyuan. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Dhaka and Taoyuan?
Rent for a central apartment: $133 in Dhaka versus $646 in Taoyuan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Dhaka and in Taoyuan?
All in, you'll spend $406 per month in Dhaka versus $1,200 in Taoyuan – a 196% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 70% less than in Taoyuan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Dhaka or in Taoyuan?
At $406 in Dhaka versus $1,200 in Taoyuan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dhaka but tight or insufficient in Taoyuan. The gap between the two cities makes Dhaka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Dhaka or in Taoyuan?
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.
Which city is safer, Dhaka or Taoyuan?
Safety-wise, Dhaka and Taoyuan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 196% less than in Taoyuan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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