For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $426 a month against $805 in Hanoi, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hanoi and in Dhaka actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $805 in Hanoi versus $426 in Dhaka.
Hanoi $805
Dhaka $426
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,254 in Hanoi versus $735 in Dhaka.
Hanoi $1,254
Dhaka $735
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,704 in Hanoi versus $1,043 in Dhaka.
Hanoi $1,704
Dhaka $1,043
🌍
Living in Hanoi 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: Hanoi40% lower, Dhaka68% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Hanoi
Dhaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.09₫54.0K
$2.49৳305
-16.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.19₫600.3K
$13.06৳1,604
77.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.49₫116.2K
$4.83৳594
-7.04%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.93৳606
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.10৳504
-
Cappuccino
$1.87₫48.3K
$2.34৳287
-20.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47₫12.3K
$0.30৳37.38
56.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30₫7,655
$0.16৳19.96
87.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.10₫28.4K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94₫50.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hanoi
Dhaka
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48₫38.3K
$0.80৳98.1
85.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10₫28.4K
$0.65৳79.3
69.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.75₫19.4K
$0.71৳87.2
5.63%
Eggs
$1.50₫38.8K
$1.21৳149
23.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.36₫268.0K
$8.67৳1,065
19.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.79₫98.1K
$3.21৳395
18.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.91₫256.3K
$6.70৳823
47.91%
Apples(1kg)
$3.37₫87.2K
$2.73৳335
23.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.03₫26.8K
$0.88৳108
17.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31₫33.9K
$2.37৳291
-44.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14₫29.4K
$0.65৳79.5
75.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99₫25.5K
$0.24৳29.19
312.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08₫28.1K
$0.49৳60.6
120.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.57₫14.8K
$0.32৳38.87
78.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55₫14.1K
$0.30৳37.30
83.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$12.07৳1,483
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$5.51৳677
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.66৳818
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.44₫37.2K
$3.23৳396
-55.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.74₫329.7K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89₫23.0K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72₫44.6K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Hanoi
Dhaka
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₫10.2K
$0.42৳52.1
-7.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.43₫244.1K
$22.54৳2,769
-58.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74₫19.2K
$1.19৳147
-37.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61₫15.7K
$0.40৳48.58
52.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.29₫59.3K
$3.35৳411
-31.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90₫23.3K
$1.15৳141
-21.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K₫807.9M
$30.3K৳3.7M
3.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K₫772.6M
$33.0K৳4.1M
-9.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hanoi
Dhaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.3₫2.2M
$46.32৳5,690
86.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.30₫137.3K
$4.33৳531
22.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.95₫231.6K
$10.63৳1,306
-15.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hanoi
Dhaka
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.82₫642.4K
$16.37৳2,011
51.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.62₫249.0K
$16.14৳1,982
-40.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28₫110.7K
$4.13৳508
3.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hanoi
Dhaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$755₫19.6M
$90.7৳11.1K
732.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.7K₫716.1M
$2,649৳325.4K
944.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hanoi
Dhaka
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.39₫1.3M
$16.48৳2,024
193.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.60₫688.3K
$21.00৳2,579
26.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.3₫2.2M
$50.3৳6,173
67.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.3₫2.0M
$36.46৳4,478
111.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hanoi
Dhaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$414₫10.7M
$152৳18.6K
173.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$278₫7.2M
$73.6৳9,041
277.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$873₫22.6M
$436৳53.5K
100.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$536₫13.9M
$214৳26.3K
150.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,285₫136.8M
$1,622৳199.2K
225.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,798₫72.4M
$761৳93.5K
267.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hanoi
Dhaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$518₫13.4M
$249৳30.6K
107.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.28
10.48
-20.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hanoi: October 6, 2026
Last update for Dhaka: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Hanoi
$278 35%
Dhaka
$74 17.1% ↓ 73.5%$204
🛒Groceries & Markets
Hanoi
$196 24.7%
Dhaka
$123 28.5% ↓ 37.4%$73
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Hanoi
$106 13.4%
Dhaka
$56 13% ↓ 47.5%$51
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hanoi
$101 12.7%
Dhaka
$61 14.3% ↓ 39.1%$39
🍽Eating Out
Hanoi
$65 8.2%
Dhaka
$64 15% ↓ 1.1%$0.7
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Hanoi
$33 4.2%
Dhaka
$25 5.7% ↓ 26.2%$8.7
🚌Getting Around
Hanoi
$15 1.9%
Dhaka
$27 6.4% ↑ 85.5%$13
🏠Accommodation & Living
Hanoi
$536 32%
Dhaka
$214 21% ↓ 60.1%$322
🛒Groceries & Markets
Hanoi
$450 26.8%
Dhaka
$302 29.6% ↓ 32.9%$148
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Hanoi
$237 14.1%
Dhaka
$124 12.2% ↓ 47.5%$112
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hanoi
$106 6.3%
Dhaka
$66 6.4% ↓ 38%$40
🍽Eating Out
Hanoi
$242 14.4%
Dhaka
$193 18.9% ↓ 20.2%$49
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Hanoi
$76 4.6%
Dhaka
$65 6.4% ↓ 14.3%$11
🚌Getting Around
Hanoi
$30 1.8%
Dhaka
$56 5.5% ↑ 83.5%$25
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $414 in Hanoi and $152 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hanoi pays 108% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $23.00 in Hanoi vs $13.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $123 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.
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
Hanoi vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dhaka cheaper than Hanoi?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 89% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hanoi or Dhaka?
Average pay runs 108% higher in Hanoi, 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 Hanoi and Dhaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $414 in Hanoi versus $152 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Hanoi and in Dhaka?
All in, you'll spend $805 per month in Hanoi versus $426 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 139% less than in Hanoi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Hanoi 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 Hanoi or Dhaka more family-friendly?
For families, Dhaka is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hanoi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Hanoi or Dhaka?
Safety-wise, Hanoi 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 Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.