Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhaka and Zhoukou

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $735 in Zhoukou, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$406
/mo nomad
Zhoukou
🇨🇳 China
$735
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Dhaka and in Zhoukou

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $406 in Dhaka versus $735 in Zhoukou.

  • Dhaka $406
  • Zhoukou $735

Estimated couple costs with rent: $687 in Dhaka versus $1,182 in Zhoukou.

  • Dhaka $687
  • Zhoukou $1,182

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $969 in Dhaka versus $1,628 in Zhoukou.

  • Dhaka $969
  • Zhoukou $1,628

Living in Dhaka costs roughly 45% less than in Zhoukou, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhaka 70% lower, Zhoukou 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dhaka
Zhoukou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28 ৳282
$3.96 ¥26.45
-42.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.33 ৳1,523
$22.25 ¥149
-44.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.95 ৳488
$4.88 ¥32.61
-19.06%
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
$3.24 ¥21.68
-29.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ৳40.88
$0.48 ¥3.22
-31.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ৳19.86
$0.39 ¥2.58
-58.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.06 ¥7.11
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.22 ¥14.85
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
Zhoukou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 ৳104
$1.77 ¥11.85
-51.98%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 ৳74.5
$1.59 ¥10.63
-62.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.69 ৳85.4
$1.10 ¥7.36
-37.27%
Eggs
$1.23 ৳152
$1.61 ¥10.77
-23.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.80 ৳1,087
$13.10 ¥87.6
-32.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.33 ৳412
$3.44 ¥23.03
-3.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.63 ৳819
$11.31 ¥75.6
-41.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ৳352
$1.90 ¥12.69
50.00%
Banana (1kg)
$0.90 ৳111
$1.27 ¥8.49
-29.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.34 ৳289
$1.56 ¥10.46
50.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.63 ৳78.4
$1.17 ¥7.83
-46.15%
Potato (1kg)
$0.24 ৳29.59
$0.77 ¥5.14
-68.83%
Onion (1kg)
$0.46 ৳57.3
$0.95 ¥6.38
-51.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.35 ৳42.79
$0.58 ¥3.88
-39.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28 ৳34.24
$0.58 ¥3.89
-51.72%
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
$3.98 ¥26.63
-17.59%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$11.61 ¥77.6
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.87 ¥5.83
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.35 ¥9.04
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dhaka
Zhoukou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 ৳52.3
$0.29 ¥1.91
44.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.43 ৳2,772
$17.83 ¥119
25.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 ৳147
$1.55 ¥10.38
-23.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.39 ৳48.71
$0.36 ¥2.38
8.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 ৳406
$6.14 ¥41.03
-46.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ৳136
$1.25 ¥8.39
-12.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K ৳3.6M
$17.7K ¥118.6K
65.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K ৳4.0M
$15.5K ¥103.4K
107.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
Zhoukou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.28 ৳4,729
$58.1 ¥389
-34.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 ৳506
$7.42 ¥49.60
-44.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.02 ৳1,114
$10.48 ¥70.1
-13.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
Zhoukou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.66 ৳1,688
$36.81 ¥246
-62.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.21 ৳1,261
$15.02 ¥100
-32.02%
Cinema Ticket
$4.11 ৳508
$5.95 ¥39.80
-30.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dhaka
Zhoukou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.7 ৳11.2K
$413 ¥2,765
-78.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,591 ৳320.2K
$16.0K ¥106.9K
-83.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
Zhoukou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.06 ৳2,108
$39.61 ¥265
-56.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.38 ৳2,641
$35.96 ¥240
-40.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.4 ৳6,355
$75.1 ¥502
-31.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.78 ৳4,545
$77.9 ¥521
-52.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
Zhoukou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$133 ৳16.4K
$300 ¥2,008
-55.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$65.1 ৳8,041
$179 ¥1,197
-63.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 ৳46.6K
$585 ¥3,910
-35.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$192 ৳23.8K
$372 ¥2,489
-48.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,621 ৳200.3K
$3,774 ¥25.2K
-57.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$760 ৳93.9K
$2,035 ¥13.6K
-62.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dhaka
Zhoukou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 ৳30.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.48
3.36
211.90%

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

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Last update for Zhoukou: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Dhaka
$124
Zhoukou
$208 68.2% $84
Accommodation & Living
Dhaka
$65
Zhoukou
$179 175% $114
Eating Out
Dhaka
$59
Zhoukou
$98 65.7% $39
Clothing & Footwear
Dhaka
$57
Zhoukou
$103 80.5% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dhaka
$51
Zhoukou
$76 47.9% $25
Getting Around
Dhaka
$27
Zhoukou
$22 18.2% $5
Sport & Entertainment
Dhaka
$22
Zhoukou
$49 123% $27

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $133 in Dhaka and $300 in Zhoukou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Dhaka vs $22.00 in Zhoukou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $124 vs $208 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🇨🇳 Zhoukou
🕒 Local time
16:12 4:12 PM
18:12 6:12 PM
2 h ahead of Dhaka
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,741,000 Capital
8,953,172
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, 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).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Dhaka Zhoukou 2,600 km ≈ 3 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Dhaka
  • Zhoukou

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 Zhoukou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zhoukou cheaper than Dhaka?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $609 in Dhaka and $1,103 in Zhoukou 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.
What is the rent difference between Dhaka and Zhoukou?
Rent for a central apartment: $133 in Dhaka versus $300 in Zhoukou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Dhaka and in Zhoukou?
All in, you'll spend $406 per month in Dhaka versus $735 in Zhoukou – a 81% 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 26% less than in Zhoukou. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Dhaka or Zhoukou?
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 Zhoukou?
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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Zhoukou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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