Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Tongi Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Tongi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $416 in Dhaka versus $316 in Tongi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $705 in Dhaka versus $516 in Tongi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $995 in Dhaka versus $716 in Tongi.

Living in Dhaka is roughly 32% more expensive than in Tongi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 69% lower, Tongi 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.50 ৳309

$1.68 ৳208

48.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.59 ৳1,552

$9.56 ৳1,178

31.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ৳614

$4.85 ৳598

2.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 ৳491

$4.01 ৳494

-0.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 ৳590

$4.75 ৳585

0.84%

Cappuccino

$2.20 ৳271

$1.49 ৳184

47.65%

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

$0.34 ৳42.36

$0.31 ৳38.78

9.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ৳23.65

$0.18 ৳21.77

5.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 ৳101

$0.67 ৳82.1

22.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.70 ৳86.6

$0.60 ৳74.4

16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 ৳80.2

$0.58 ৳71.5

12.07%

Eggs

$1.26 ৳155

$1.22 ৳151

3.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.97 ৳859

$7.00 ৳863

-0.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 ৳417

$2.53 ৳312

33.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.44 ৳794

$5.36 ৳661

20.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 ৳350

$2.21 ৳272

28.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.12 ৳139

$0.96 ৳118

16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.55 ৳314

$2.09 ৳257

22.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 ৳111

$0.62 ৳77.0

45.16%

Potato (1kg)

$0.43 ৳53.0

$0.26 ৳31.66

65.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.83 ৳103

$0.37 ৳46.20

124.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.33 ৳40.31

$0.33 ৳40.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.46

$0.28 ৳34.86

7.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.03 ৳1,483

$9.20 ৳1,135

30.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.91 ৳482

$2.24 ৳277

74.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.13 ৳879

$4.96 ৳611

43.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 ৳369

$2.85 ৳351

4.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ৳52.8

$0.20 ৳24.59

115.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.18 ৳2,980

$10.24 ৳1,262

136.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 ৳149

$0.84 ৳104

44.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ৳52.9

$0.40 ৳48.99

7.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 ৳388

$2.07 ৳255

52.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 ৳127

$1.05 ৳129

-1.90%

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

$29.3K ৳3.6M

$28.4K ৳3.5M

3.26%

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

$28.4K ৳3.5M

$28.5K ৳3.5M

-0.46%

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

$32.72 ৳4,033

$30.01 ৳3,699

9.03%

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

$4.78 ৳589

$4.76 ৳587

0.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.15 ৳1,621

$9.05 ৳1,115

45.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.26 ৳2,374

$13.45 ৳1,658

43.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.25 ৳1,757

$11.59 ৳1,429

22.95%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 ৳492

$4.11 ৳507

-2.92%

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

$48.08 ৳5,926

$26.97 ৳3,324

78.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,996 ৳246.0K

$951 ৳117.2K

109.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.81 ৳2,319

$15.84 ৳1,953

18.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.73 ৳2,925

$17.93 ৳2,210

32.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.25 ৳5,700

$32.78 ৳4,040

41.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.71 ৳4,524

$36.38 ৳4,484

0.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 ৳14.5K

$70.9 ৳8,744

66.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.3 ৳7,800

$42.52 ৳5,240

48.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$309 ৳38.0K

$164 ৳20.2K

88.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 ৳23.4K

$98.9 ৳12.2K

92.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,569 ৳193.3K

$644 ৳79.4K

143.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$764 ৳94.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 ৳34.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.52

10.29

2.24%

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

Last update for Dhaka: July 14, 2026

Last update for Tongi: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Dhaka and $70.9 in Tongi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $13.00 in Dhaka vs $10.00 in Tongi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $104 per month, with Tongi 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 Tongi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tongi is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $623 in Dhaka and $473 in Tongi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Dhaka versus $70.9 in Tongi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $416 per month in Dhaka versus $316 in Tongi – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tongi runs roughly 136% 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 Tongi 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 Tongi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Dhaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.