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: $417 in Dhaka versus $319 in Tongi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $707 in Dhaka versus $523 in Tongi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $997 in Dhaka versus $726 in Tongi.

Living in Dhaka is roughly 31% more expensive than Tongi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 ৳294

$1.69 ৳207

42.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.97 ৳1,589

$10.11 ৳1,239

28.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.88 ৳598

$4.84 ৳593

0.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.99 ৳489

$4.18 ৳512

-4.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.01 ৳614

$4.70 ৳576

6.60%

Cappuccino

$2.27 ৳278

$1.43 ৳175

58.74%

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

$0.32 ৳38.71

$0.35 ৳42.41

-8.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ৳17.89

$0.17 ৳20.46

-11.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 ৳101

$0.66 ৳81.3

25.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 ৳86.4

$0.56 ৳69.1

26.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 ৳80.2

$0.62 ৳75.5

4.84%

Eggs

$1.29 ৳158

$1.22 ৳150

5.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.74 ৳826

$7.00 ৳858

-3.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.45 ৳422

$2.49 ৳306

38.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.66 ৳816

$5.20 ৳637

28.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.74 ৳335

$2.21 ৳271

23.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 ৳140

$1.00 ৳123

14.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 ৳327

$2.11 ৳258

26.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 ৳111

$0.66 ৳80.6

37.88%

Potato (1kg)

$0.44 ৳53.7

$0.26 ৳31.78

69.23%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 ৳96.5

$0.37 ৳45.69

113.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 ৳43.36

$0.33 ৳40.32

6.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.30 ৳37.02

$0.28 ৳34.69

7.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.06 ৳1,478

$9.07 ৳1,111

32.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.89 ৳477

$2.24 ৳274

73.66%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.93 ৳849

$4.81 ৳590

44.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 ৳371

$2.91 ৳357

4.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ৳48.27

$0.20 ৳24.48

95.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.89 ৳3,050

$10.40 ৳1,274

139.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 ৳149

$0.81 ৳99.0

50.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 ৳52.7

$0.39 ৳48.23

10.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 ৳375

$2.02 ৳247

51.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.04 ৳127

$0.99 ৳122

5.05%

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

$28.9K ৳3.5M

-0.16%

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

$28.5K ৳3.5M

$27.8K ৳3.4M

2.78%

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

$32.66 ৳4,001

$30.14 ৳3,693

8.36%

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

$4.75 ৳582

$4.70 ৳576

1.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.98 ৳1,590

$9.06 ৳1,110

43.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.31 ৳2,366

$13.51 ৳1,655

42.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.78 ৳1,810

$11.99 ৳1,469

23.27%

Cinema Ticket

$4.11 ৳504

$4.19 ৳513

-1.91%

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

$46.92 ৳5,748

$27.46 ৳3,364

70.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,979 ৳242.4K

$928 ৳113.6K

113.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.61 ৳2,281

$16.00 ৳1,960

16.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.19 ৳2,963

$17.64 ৳2,162

37.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$46.70 ৳5,721

$33.04 ৳4,048

41.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.80 ৳4,508

$36.56 ৳4,479

0.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$117 ৳14.3K

$70.1 ৳8,583

66.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.5 ৳7,775

$42.05 ৳5,152

50.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$316 ৳38.7K

$165 ৳20.2K

91.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$184 ৳22.5K

$98.9 ৳12.1K

85.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,493 ৳182.9K

$761 ৳93.2K

96.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$659 ৳80.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$286 ৳35.0K

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Tongi: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Dhaka and $70.1 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 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $625 in Dhaka and $479 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: $117 in Dhaka versus $70.1 in Tongi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $417 per month in Dhaka versus $319 in Tongi – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tongi runs roughly 139% 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 31% less than in Dhaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.