Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Gili Air and Dhaka

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $428 a month against $812 in Gili Air, rent and utilities included – about $4,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Gili Air
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$812
/mo nomad
Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$428
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Gili Air and in Dhaka

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Gili Air and in Dhaka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $812 in Gili Air versus $428 in Dhaka.

  • Gili Air $812
  • Dhaka $428

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,337 in Gili Air versus $724 in Dhaka.

  • Gili Air $1,337
  • Dhaka $724

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,861 in Gili Air versus $1,019 in Dhaka.

  • Gili Air $1,861
  • Dhaka $1,019

Living in Gili Air is roughly 90% more expensive than in Dhaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Gili Air 40% lower, Dhaka 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gili Air
Dhaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.84 Rp 33.2K
$2.50 ৳309
-26.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.34 Rp 348.1K
$13.26 ৳1,638
45.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$4.99 ৳616
-40.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.87 ৳602
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.14 ৳511
-
Cappuccino
$1.43 Rp 25.7K
$2.35 ৳291
-39.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.7K
$0.33 ৳41.07
163.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 Rp 7,928
$0.16 ৳19.62
175.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.46 Rp 26.2K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 Rp 43.9K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gili Air
Dhaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Rp 20.4K
$0.85 ৳105
32.94%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 Rp 28.7K
$0.63 ৳77.9
153.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.67 ৳83.1
20.90%
Eggs
$1.47 Rp 26.4K
$1.19 ৳147
23.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.29 Rp 221.3K
$8.83 ৳1,092
39.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.82 Rp 50.7K
$3.30 ৳408
-14.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.56 Rp 154.0K
$6.41 ৳792
33.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.49 Rp 44.9K
$2.75 ৳340
-9.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 Rp 20.5K
$0.94 ৳116
21.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 Rp 30.2K
$2.37 ৳293
-29.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 Rp 24.7K
$0.64 ৳79.1
114.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$0.26 ৳32.25
415.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 Rp 30.8K
$0.49 ৳60.6
248.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.30 ৳37.63
143.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38 Rp 6,869
$0.30 ৳37.49
26.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$12.24 ৳1,512
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$5.43 ৳671
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.53 ৳807
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.59 Rp 28.7K
$3.17 ৳392
-49.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.78 Rp 284.0K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 Rp 30.5K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 Rp 37.2K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Gili Air
Dhaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 Rp 3,182
$0.38 ৳47.44
-52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.64 Rp 119.6K
$23.06 ৳2,849
-71.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.38 Rp 6,851
$1.17 ৳145
-67.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 Rp 6,206
$0.38 ৳46.99
-10.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.04 Rp 90.6K
$3.28 ৳405
53.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.71 Rp 12.8K
$1.11 ৳137
-36.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K Rp 342.1M
$29.1K ৳3.6M
-34.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K Rp 461.8M
$32.9K ৳4.1M
-22.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gili Air
Dhaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.5 Rp 1.2M
$46.77 ৳5,779
37.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.21 Rp 93.7K
$4.51 ৳557
15.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.68 Rp 264.3K
$11.22 ৳1,387
30.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gili Air
Dhaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.16 Rp 578.8K
$16.43 ৳2,031
95.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.43 Rp 187.8K
$14.87 ৳1,838
-29.86%
Cinema Ticket
$2.51 Rp 45.1K
$4.20 ৳519
-40.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gili Air
Dhaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$336 Rp 6.0M
$91.6 ৳11.3K
266.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,931 Rp 70.8M
$2,596 ৳320.8K
51.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gili Air
Dhaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.54 Rp 675.7K
$16.63 ৳2,055
125.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.70 Rp 516.5K
$19.80 ৳2,447
44.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.6 Rp 1.1M
$46.87 ৳5,791
35.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.0 Rp 1.1M
$37.00 ৳4,572
70.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gili Air
Dhaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$543 Rp 9.8M
$148 ৳18.2K
267.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$331 Rp 6.0M
$70.8 ৳8,743
368.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,705 Rp 30.7M
$432 ৳53.4K
294.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$807 Rp 14.5M
$213 ৳26.3K
279.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,306 Rp 23.5M
$1,605 ৳198.4K
-18.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,074 Rp 19.3M
$751 ৳92.8K
42.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gili Air
Dhaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$245 ৳30.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
10.67
29.15%

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

Last update for Gili Air: October 18, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Gili Air
$331
Dhaka
$71 78.6% $261
Groceries & Markets
Gili Air
$205
Dhaka
$123 39.9% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Gili Air
$87
Dhaka
$54 37.6% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gili Air
$84
Dhaka
$63 25.9% $22
Eating Out
Gili Air
$58
Dhaka
$65 11.8% $6.9
Sport & Entertainment
Gili Air
$37
Dhaka
$25 33.2% $12
Getting Around
Gili Air
$9.5
Dhaka
$28 193% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $543 in Gili Air and $148 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Gili Air vs $13.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $123 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Gili Air
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🕒 Local time
22:21 10:21 PM
20:21 8:21 PM
2 h behind Gili Air
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,800
21,741,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BDT, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Gili Air Dhaka 4,530 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Gili Air
  • Dhaka

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
Gili Air vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dhaka cheaper than Gili Air?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 90% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,218 in Gili Air and $642 in Dhaka 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 Gili Air and Dhaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $543 in Gili Air versus $148 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Gili Air and in Dhaka?
All in, you'll spend $812 per month in Gili Air versus $428 in Dhaka – a 90% 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 247% less than in Gili Air. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Gili Air or Dhaka?
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 Gili Air or Dhaka more family-friendly?
For families, Dhaka is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Gili Air, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Gili Air or Dhaka?
Safety-wise, Gili Air and Dhaka 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 90% less than in Gili Air. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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