For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $426 a month against $1,068 in Tomsk, rent and utilities included – about $7,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
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 Tomsk actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $426 in Dhaka versus $1,068 in Tomsk.
Dhaka $426
Tomsk $1,068
Estimated couple costs with rent: $735 in Dhaka versus $1,648 in Tomsk.
Dhaka $735
Tomsk $1,648
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,043 in Dhaka versus $2,227 in Tomsk.
Dhaka $1,043
Tomsk $2,227
🌍
Living in Dhaka costs roughly 60% less than in Tomsk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka68% lower, Tomsk20% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Tomsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49৳305
$7.50₽638
-66.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.06৳1,604
$29.48₽2,509
-55.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.83৳594
$6.42₽546
-24.77%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.93৳606
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.10৳504
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.34৳287
$2.12₽181
10.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30৳37.38
$0.86₽73.2
-65.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16৳19.96
$0.43₽36.62
-62.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.08₽91.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.27₽278
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Tomsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.80৳98.1
$1.20₽102
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65৳79.3
$0.70₽59.9
-7.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.71৳87.2
$0.95₽80.5
-25.26%
Eggs
$1.21৳149
$1.32₽112
-8.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.67৳1,065
$11.45₽974
-24.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.21৳395
$4.50₽383
-28.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.70৳823
$9.50₽808
-29.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73৳335
$1.64₽139
66.46%
Banana(1kg)
$0.88৳108
$1.96₽167
-55.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.37৳291
$2.11₽179
12.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.65৳79.5
$2.77₽235
-76.53%
Potato(1kg)
$0.24৳29.19
$0.41₽34.80
-41.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49৳60.6
$0.34₽29.27
44.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.32৳38.87
$1.68₽143
-80.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30৳37.30
$0.51₽42.98
-41.18%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$12.07৳1,483
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.51৳677
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.66৳818
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.23৳396
$2.76₽235
17.03%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$5.71₽486
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.93₽79.5
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.66₽141
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Tomsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42৳52.1
$0.46₽39.17
-8.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.54৳2,769
$8.35₽711
169.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.19৳147
$2.33₽199
-48.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.40৳48.58
$0.28₽23.74
42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.35৳411
$7.03₽598
-52.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15৳141
$0.77₽65.5
49.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K৳3.7M
$35.1K₽3.0M
-13.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K৳4.1M
$31.2K₽2.7M
5.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Tomsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.32৳5,690
$167₽14.2K
-72.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.33৳531
$8.06₽686
-46.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.63৳1,306
$12.77₽1,087
-16.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Tomsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.37৳2,011
$36.73₽3,126
-55.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.14৳1,982
$16.05₽1,366
0.56%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13৳508
$4.66₽396
-11.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Tomsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$90.7৳11.1K
$234₽19.9K
-61.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,649৳325.4K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Tomsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.48৳2,024
$114₽9,732
-85.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.00৳2,579
$71.6₽6,095
-70.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.3৳6,173
$165₽14.1K
-69.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.46৳4,478
$120₽10.2K
-69.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Tomsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$152৳18.6K
$486₽41.4K
-68.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$73.6৳9,041
$322₽27.4K
-77.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$436৳53.5K
$788₽67.1K
-44.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$214৳26.3K
$630₽53.6K
-66.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,622৳199.2K
$2,041₽173.7K
-20.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$761৳93.5K
$1,430₽121.7K
-46.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Tomsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$249৳30.6K
$885₽75.3K
-71.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.48
22
-52.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dhaka: October 4, 2026
Last update for Tomsk: October 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$123 28.5%
Tomsk
$190 17.4% ↑ 54.8%$67
🏠Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$74 17.1%
Tomsk
$322 29.4% ↑ 337%$248
🍽Eating Out
Dhaka
$64 15%
Tomsk
$122 11.2% ↑ 89.5%$58
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$61 14.3%
Tomsk
$187 17.2% ↑ 206%$126
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$56 13%
Tomsk
$212 19.4% ↑ 280%$156
🚌Getting Around
Dhaka
$27 6.4%
Tomsk
$14 1.3% ↓ 49.2%$13
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$25 5.7%
Tomsk
$46 4.2% ↑ 86.9%$21
🛒Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$302 29.6%
Tomsk
$443 19.5% ↑ 46.8%$141
🏠Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$214 21%
Tomsk
$630 27.7% ↑ 195%$416
🍽Eating Out
Dhaka
$193 18.9%
Tomsk
$395 17.4% ↑ 105%$202
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$66 6.4%
Tomsk
$195 8.6% ↑ 198%$130
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$124 12.2%
Tomsk
$471 20.8% ↑ 280%$347
🚌Getting Around
Dhaka
$56 5.5%
Tomsk
$29 1.3% ↓ 48.3%$27
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$65 6.4%
Tomsk
$108 4.8% ↑ 65.3%$43
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $152 in Dhaka and $486 in Tomsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tomsk pays 256% 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 $29.00 in Tomsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $123 vs $190 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.
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 Tomsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tomsk cheaper than Dhaka?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 151% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dhaka or Tomsk?
On paper, salaries run 256% lower in Tomsk. 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 Tomsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $152 in Dhaka versus $486 in Tomsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Dhaka and in Tomsk?
All in, you'll spend $426 per month in Dhaka versus $1,068 in Tomsk – a 151% 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 170% less than in Tomsk. 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 Tomsk?
At $426 in Dhaka versus $1,068 in Tomsk, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dhaka but tight or insufficient in Tomsk. 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 Tomsk?
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 Tomsk?
Safety-wise, Dhaka and Tomsk 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 151% less than in Tomsk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.