Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ha Long Bay and Dhaka

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $765 in Ha Long Bay, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ha Long Bay
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$765
/mo nomad
Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$406
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ha Long Bay 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 Ha Long Bay and in Dhaka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $765 in Ha Long Bay versus $406 in Dhaka.

  • Ha Long Bay $765
  • Dhaka $406

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,234 in Ha Long Bay versus $687 in Dhaka.

  • Ha Long Bay $1,234
  • Dhaka $687

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,702 in Ha Long Bay versus $969 in Dhaka.

  • Ha Long Bay $1,702
  • Dhaka $969

Living in Ha Long Bay is roughly 89% more expensive than in Dhaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ha Long Bay 43% lower, Dhaka 70% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ha Long Bay
Dhaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.07 ₫53.6K
$2.28 ৳282
-9.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.11 ₫494.8K
$12.33 ৳1,523
54.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.26 ₫110.2K
$3.95 ৳488
7.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.48 ৳554
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.13 ৳510
-
Cappuccino
$1.61 ₫41.6K
$2.28 ৳281
-29.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₫9,754
$0.33 ৳40.88
15.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₫7,887
$0.16 ৳19.86
87.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.87 ₫22.6K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 ₫36.6K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ha Long Bay
Dhaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 ₫39.7K
$0.85 ৳104
80.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.05 ₫27.3K
$0.60 ৳74.5
75.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.02 ₫26.3K
$0.69 ৳85.4
47.83%
Eggs
$1.11 ₫28.8K
$1.23 ৳152
-9.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.26 ₫291.5K
$8.80 ৳1,087
27.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.68 ₫95.3K
$3.33 ৳412
10.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.98 ₫258.2K
$6.63 ৳819
50.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.07 ₫79.5K
$2.85 ৳352
7.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.9K
$0.90 ৳111
23.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.34 ₫34.7K
$2.34 ৳289
-42.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 ₫32.4K
$0.63 ৳78.4
98.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 ₫26.4K
$0.24 ৳29.59
325.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 ₫30.0K
$0.46 ৳57.3
152.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 ₫17.0K
$0.35 ৳42.79
88.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₫14.1K
$0.28 ৳34.24
96.43%
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)
$1.43 ₫37.0K
$3.28 ৳405
-56.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.02 ₫311.1K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 ₫21.2K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 ₫43.9K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ha Long Bay
Dhaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ₫8,218
$0.42 ৳52.3
-23.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.42 ₫166.2K
$22.43 ৳2,772
-71.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₫20.0K
$1.19 ৳147
-35.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ₫14.7K
$0.39 ৳48.71
46.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 ₫61.0K
$3.28 ৳406
-28.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 ₫24.5K
$1.10 ৳136
-13.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K ₫791.8M
$29.4K ৳3.6M
3.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K ₫775.2M
$32.2K ৳4.0M
-6.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ha Long Bay
Dhaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.1 ₫2.0M
$38.28 ৳4,729
103.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.86 ₫151.8K
$4.09 ৳506
43.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.47 ₫219.2K
$9.02 ৳1,114
-6.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ha Long Bay
Dhaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.84 ₫565.5K
$13.66 ৳1,688
59.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.64 ₫197.7K
$10.21 ৳1,261
-25.17%
Cinema Ticket
$3.15 ₫81.5K
$4.11 ৳508
-23.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ha Long Bay
Dhaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$159 ₫4.1M
$90.7 ৳11.2K
74.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K ₫317.6M
$2,591 ৳320.2K
373.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ha Long Bay
Dhaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.55 ₫1.2M
$17.06 ৳2,108
161.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.45 ₫684.9K
$21.38 ৳2,641
23.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.8 ₫2.2M
$51.4 ৳6,355
62.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.0 ₫2.0M
$36.78 ৳4,545
109.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ha Long Bay
Dhaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$405 ₫10.5M
$133 ৳16.4K
204.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 ₫7.1M
$65.1 ৳8,041
321.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$741 ₫19.2M
$377 ৳46.6K
96.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$625 ₫16.2M
$192 ৳23.8K
224.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 ₫73.5M
$1,621 ৳200.3K
75.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,279 ₫33.1M
$760 ৳93.9K
68.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ha Long Bay
Dhaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$246 ৳30.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.46
10.48
-19.27%

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

Last update for Ha Long Bay: October 10, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ha Long Bay
$274
Dhaka
$65 76.3% $209
Groceries & Markets
Ha Long Bay
$196
Dhaka
$124 37% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Ha Long Bay
$104
Dhaka
$57 45.4% $47
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ha Long Bay
$92
Dhaka
$51 44.4% $41
Eating Out
Ha Long Bay
$59
Dhaka
$59 1.5% $0.9
Sport & Entertainment
Ha Long Bay
$28
Dhaka
$22 22.2% $6.3
Getting Around
Ha Long Bay
$11
Dhaka
$27 141% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $405 in Ha Long Bay and $133 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $19.00 in Ha Long Bay vs $12.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $124 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Ha Long Bay
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🕒 Local time
23:41 11:41 PM
22:41 10:41 PM
1 h behind Ha Long Bay
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
270,054
21,741,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BDT, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,108 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ha Long Bay Dhaka 1,740 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ha Long Bay
  • 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
Ha Long Bay vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dhaka cheaper than Ha Long Bay?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 89% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,148 in Ha Long Bay and $609 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 Ha Long Bay and Dhaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $405 in Ha Long Bay versus $133 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Ha Long Bay and in Dhaka?
All in, you'll spend $765 per month in Ha Long Bay versus $406 in Dhaka – a 89% 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 249% less than in Ha Long Bay. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Ha Long Bay 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 it better to live in Ha Long Bay or in Dhaka?
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, Ha Long Bay or Dhaka?
Safety-wise, Ha Long Bay 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 89% less than in Ha Long Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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