Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Terengganu and Dhaka

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $924 in Kuala Terengganu, rent and utilities included – about $6,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Kuala Terengganu
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$924
/mo nomad
Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$406
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $924 in Kuala Terengganu versus $406 in Dhaka.

  • Kuala Terengganu $924
  • Dhaka $406

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,372 in Kuala Terengganu versus $687 in Dhaka.

  • Kuala Terengganu $1,372
  • Dhaka $687

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,821 in Kuala Terengganu versus $969 in Dhaka.

  • Kuala Terengganu $1,821
  • Dhaka $969

Living in Kuala Terengganu is roughly 128% more expensive than in Dhaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Terengganu 32% lower, Dhaka 70% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuala Terengganu
Dhaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49 MYR 10.15
$2.28 ৳282
9.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.06 MYR 94.1
$12.33 ৳1,523
87.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.72 MYR 19.25
$3.95 ৳488
19.49%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.48 ৳554
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.13 ৳510
-
Cappuccino
$2.72 MYR 11.08
$2.28 ৳281
19.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 MYR 1.90
$0.33 ৳40.88
42.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 MYR 1.14
$0.16 ৳19.86
75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.56 MYR 14.52
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18 MYR 17.05
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuala Terengganu
Dhaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MYR 6.94
$0.85 ৳104
100.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 MYR 4.15
$0.60 ৳74.5
70.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 MYR 5.22
$0.69 ৳85.4
85.51%
Eggs
$2.13 MYR 8.68
$1.23 ৳152
73.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.66 MYR 63.9
$8.80 ৳1,087
77.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 MYR 17.73
$3.33 ৳412
30.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.41 MYR 34.29
$6.63 ৳819
26.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 MYR 13.73
$2.85 ৳352
17.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 MYR 6.59
$0.90 ৳111
78.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 MYR 8.59
$2.34 ৳289
-10.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 MYR 6.13
$0.63 ৳78.4
138.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 MYR 6.01
$0.24 ৳29.59
512.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 MYR 4.45
$0.46 ৳57.3
136.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 MYR 4.09
$0.35 ৳42.79
185.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 MYR 2.17
$0.28 ৳34.24
89.29%
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)
$4.46 MYR 18.18
$3.28 ৳405
35.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.84 MYR 72.8
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 MYR 11.91
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 MYR 19.66
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kuala Terengganu
Dhaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.67 MYR 2.75
$0.42 ৳52.3
59.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.62 MYR 43.31
$22.43 ৳2,772
-52.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 MYR 5.20
$1.19 ৳147
6.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 MYR 1.89
$0.39 ৳48.71
17.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.55 MYR 26.73
$3.28 ৳406
99.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 MYR 3.65
$1.10 ৳136
-18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.8K MYR 178.8K
$29.4K ৳3.6M
48.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K MYR 131.0K
$32.2K ৳4.0M
-0.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Terengganu
Dhaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.25 MYR 185
$38.28 ৳4,729
18.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.79 MYR 35.87
$4.09 ৳506
114.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.10 MYR 102
$9.02 ৳1,114
178.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Terengganu
Dhaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.04 MYR 180
$13.66 ৳1,688
222.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.97 MYR 32.49
$10.21 ৳1,261
-21.94%
Cinema Ticket
$4.81 MYR 19.61
$4.11 ৳508
17.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuala Terengganu
Dhaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$172 MYR 701
$90.7 ৳11.2K
89.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,936 MYR 28.3K
$2,591 ৳320.2K
167.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Terengganu
Dhaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 MYR 235
$17.06 ৳2,108
237.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.37 MYR 148
$21.38 ৳2,641
70.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.5 MYR 353
$51.4 ৳6,355
68.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.0 MYR 278
$36.78 ৳4,545
84.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuala Terengganu
Dhaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$361 MYR 1,472
$133 ৳16.4K
171.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$312 MYR 1,275
$65.1 ৳8,041
380.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$722 MYR 2,946
$377 ৳46.6K
91.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$471 MYR 1,923
$192 ৳23.8K
144.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,073 MYR 8,456
$1,621 ৳200.3K
27.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,145 MYR 4,669
$760 ৳93.9K
50.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuala Terengganu
Dhaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$246 ৳30.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
10.48
-61.26%

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

Last update for Kuala Terengganu: 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
Kuala Terengganu
$312
Dhaka
$65 79.2% $247
Groceries & Markets
Kuala Terengganu
$254
Dhaka
$124 51.4% $131
Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Terengganu
$112
Dhaka
$57 49% $55
Eating Out
Kuala Terengganu
$96
Dhaka
$59 38% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Terengganu
$79
Dhaka
$51 35.1% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Terengganu
$54
Dhaka
$22 59.2% $32
Getting Around
Kuala Terengganu
$17
Dhaka
$27 61.4% $10

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $361 in Kuala Terengganu and $133 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Kuala Terengganu vs $12.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $254 vs $124 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇾 Kuala Terengganu
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🕒 Local time
11:22 11:22 AM
09:22 9:22 AM
2 h behind Kuala Terengganu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
375,424
21,741,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BDT, USD, EUR to MYR – Malaysian Ringgit Converter

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.59 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kuala Terengganu Dhaka 2,460 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Kuala Terengganu
  • 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
Kuala Terengganu vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dhaka cheaper than Kuala Terengganu?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 128% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,386 in Kuala Terengganu 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 Kuala Terengganu and Dhaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $361 in Kuala Terengganu 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 Kuala Terengganu and in Dhaka?
All in, you'll spend $924 per month in Kuala Terengganu versus $406 in Dhaka – a 128% 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 111% less than in Kuala Terengganu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Kuala Terengganu 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 Kuala Terengganu 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, Kuala Terengganu or Dhaka?
Safety-wise, Kuala Terengganu 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 128% less than in Kuala Terengganu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Kuala Terengganu vs other spots: cost of living compared

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