Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Tuguegarao

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $579 in Tuguegarao, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$406
/mo nomad
Tuguegarao
🇵🇭 Philippines
$579
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Tuguegarao

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Dhaka versus $579 in Tuguegarao.

  • Dhaka $406
  • Tuguegarao $579

Estimated couple costs with rent: $687 in Dhaka versus $926 in Tuguegarao.

  • Dhaka $687
  • Tuguegarao $926

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $969 in Dhaka versus $1,273 in Tuguegarao.

  • Dhaka $969
  • Tuguegarao $1,273

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 30% less than in Tuguegarao, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 70% lower, Tuguegarao 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Tuguegarao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28 ৳282
$1.62 ₱102
40.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.33 ৳1,523
$16.49 ₱1,038
-25.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.95 ৳488
$2.86 ₱180
38.11%
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
$1.86 ₱117
22.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ৳40.88
$0.44 ₱27.56
-25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.86
$0.28 ₱17.48
-42.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.98 ₱61.9
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.64 ₱103
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Tuguegarao
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 ৳104
$1.68 ₱106
-49.40%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 ৳74.5
$1.15 ₱72.5
-47.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.69 ৳85.4
$0.75 ₱47.44
-8.00%
Eggs
$1.23 ৳152
$2.02 ₱127
-39.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.80 ৳1,087
$5.08 ₱320
73.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.33 ৳412
$3.46 ₱218
-3.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.63 ৳819
$7.69 ₱484
-13.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ৳352
$2.31 ₱145
23.38%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 ৳111
$1.61 ₱101
-44.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ৳289
$2.34 ₱148
-
Tomato (1kg)
$0.63 ৳78.4
$1.07 ₱67.3
-41.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ৳29.59
$1.75 ₱110
-86.29%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ৳57.3
$1.73 ₱109
-73.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 ৳42.79
$0.62 ₱38.79
-43.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 ৳34.24
$0.53 ₱33.17
-47.17%
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
$1.94 ₱122
69.07%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$8.77 ₱552
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.97 ₱61.2
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.09 ₱132
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Tuguegarao
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ৳52.3
$0.26 ₱16.09
61.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.43 ৳2,772
$10.09 ₱635
122.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ৳147
$0.78 ₱48.85
52.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 ৳48.71
$0.23 ₱14.42
69.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 ৳406
$1.96 ₱123
67.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ৳136
$1.08 ₱68.2
1.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K ৳3.6M
$21.2K ₱1.3M
38.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K ৳4.0M
$19.6K ₱1.2M
64.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Tuguegarao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.28 ৳4,729
$31.55 ₱1,987
21.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 ৳506
$17.41 ₱1,096
-76.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.02 ৳1,114
$23.02 ₱1,449
-60.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Tuguegarao
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.66 ৳1,688
$32.30 ₱2,033
-57.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.21 ৳1,261
$4.57 ₱288
123.41%
Cinema Ticket
$4.11 ৳508
$5.30 ₱334
-22.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Tuguegarao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.7 ৳11.2K
$134 ₱8,446
-32.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,591 ৳320.2K
$10.6K ₱669.6K
-75.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Tuguegarao
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.06 ৳2,108
$28.57 ₱1,799
-40.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.38 ৳2,641
$19.36 ₱1,219
10.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.4 ৳6,355
$39.20 ₱2,468
31.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.78 ৳4,545
$23.67 ₱1,490
55.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Tuguegarao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 ৳16.4K
$265 ₱16.7K
-49.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.1 ৳8,041
$171 ₱10.8K
-61.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 ৳46.6K
$522 ₱32.9K
-27.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$192 ৳23.8K
$359 ₱22.6K
-46.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,621 ৳200.3K
$2,452 ₱154.4K
-33.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$760 ৳93.9K
$1,035 ₱65.2K
-26.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Tuguegarao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 ৳30.4K
$207 ₱13.0K
18.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.48
6.75
55.26%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Last update for Tuguegarao: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$124
Tuguegarao
$175 41.6% $51
Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$65
Tuguegarao
$171 163% $106
Eating Out
Dhaka
$59
Tuguegarao
$55 7.5% $4.4
Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$57
Tuguegarao
$50 12.5% $7.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$51
Tuguegarao
$72 40% $21
Getting Around
Dhaka
$27
Tuguegarao
$13 52.2% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$22
Tuguegarao
$43 96% $21

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Dhaka and $265 in Tuguegarao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhaka pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Dhaka vs $16.00 in Tuguegarao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $175 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🇵🇭 Tuguegarao
🕒 Local time
23:32 11:32 PM
01:32 1:32 AM
2 h ahead of Dhaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,741,000 Capital
166,334
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to BDT – Bangladeshi Taka Converter

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.79 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dhaka Tuguegarao 3,320 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dhaka
  • Tuguegarao

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 Tuguegarao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tuguegarao cheaper than Dhaka?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and utilities. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Dhaka or Tuguegarao?
Average pay runs 19% higher in Dhaka, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Dhaka and Tuguegarao?
Rent for a central apartment: $133 in Dhaka versus $265 in Tuguegarao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Dhaka and in Tuguegarao?
All in, you'll spend $406 per month in Dhaka versus $579 in Tuguegarao – a 43% 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 122% less than in Tuguegarao. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Dhaka or Tuguegarao?
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.
Is it better to live in Dhaka or in Tuguegarao?
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 Tuguegarao?
Safety-wise, Dhaka and Tuguegarao 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 43% less than in Tuguegarao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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