Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mambajao and Dhaka

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $508 in Mambajao, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

25

Cost of Living Index in Mambajao
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Mambajao Living Index
20

Cost of Living Index in Dhaka
Learn more

Dhaka Living Index

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Mambajao

🇵🇭 Philippines

$508

/mo nomad

Dhaka

🇧🇩 Bangladesh

$406

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $508 in Mambajao versus $406 in Dhaka.

Mambajao $508
Dhaka $406

Estimated couple costs with rent: $817 in Mambajao versus $687 in Dhaka.

Mambajao $817
Dhaka $687

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,126 in Mambajao versus $969 in Dhaka.

Mambajao $1,126
Dhaka $969

Living in Mambajao is roughly 25% more expensive than in Dhaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Mambajao 62% lower, Dhaka 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.36 ₱85.9

$2.28 ৳282

-40.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.83 ₱997

$12.33 ৳1,523

28.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.40 ₱214

$3.95 ৳488

-13.92%

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 ₱144

$2.28 ৳281

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱24.02

$0.33 ৳40.88

15.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₱16.81

$0.16 ৳19.86

68.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ₱64.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₱70.6

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 ₱56.8

$0.85 ৳104

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 ₱39.56

$0.60 ৳74.5

5.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 ₱41.56

$0.69 ৳85.4

-4.35%

Eggs

$1.26 ₱79.5

$1.23 ৳152

2.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.90 ₱372

$8.80 ৳1,087

-32.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 ₱270

$3.33 ৳412

28.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.50 ₱346

$6.63 ৳819

-17.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 ₱160

$2.85 ৳352

-10.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 ₱103

$0.90 ৳111

81.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 ₱141

$2.34 ৳289

-4.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 ₱71.3

$0.63 ৳78.4

79.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 ₱81.3

$0.24 ৳29.59

437.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.06 ₱130

$0.46 ৳57.3

347.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₱56.8

$0.35 ৳42.79

157.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₱34.37

$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)

$2.51 ₱158

$3.28 ৳405

-23.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.42 ₱467

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 ₱62.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₱70.9

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₱12.47

$0.42 ৳52.3

-52.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.71 ₱675

$22.43 ৳2,772

-52.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ₱43.54

$1.19 ৳147

-42.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱12.97

$0.39 ৳48.71

-46.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 ₱107

$3.28 ৳406

-48.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ₱80.3

$1.10 ৳136

16.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.9K ₱1.4M

$29.4K ৳3.6M

-25.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.8K ₱1.4M

$32.2K ৳4.0M

-32.35%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$64.9 ₱4,083

$38.28 ৳4,729

69.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$16.36 ₱1,030

$4.09 ৳506

300.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.10 ₱1,266

$9.02 ৳1,114

122.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.72 ₱1,745

$13.66 ৳1,688

102.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.68 ₱295

$10.21 ৳1,261

-54.16%

Cinema Ticket

$4.95 ₱312

$4.11 ৳508

20.44%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$127 ₱7,995

$90.7 ৳11.2K

39.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,993 ₱566.2K

$2,591 ৳320.2K

247.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.83 ₱1,941

$17.06 ৳2,108

80.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.01 ₱1,386

$21.38 ৳2,641

2.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.3 ₱4,553

$51.4 ৳6,355

40.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.1 ₱3,975

$36.78 ৳4,545

71.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$101 ₱6,360

$133 ৳16.4K

-24.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$56.3 ₱3,542

$65.1 ৳8,041

-13.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 ₱14.9K

$377 ৳46.6K

-37.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 ₱9,973

$192 ৳23.8K

-17.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,172 ₱136.7K

$1,621 ৳200.3K

33.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$990 ₱62.3K

$760 ৳93.9K

30.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$153 ₱9,616

$246 ৳30.4K

-37.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

10.48

-35.21%

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

Last update for Mambajao: October 12, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Groceries & Markets

Mambajao

$156 30.7%

Dhaka

$124 30.5% 20.7% $32

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Mambajao

$101 20%

Dhaka

$51 12.7% 49.3% $50

Clothing & Footwear

Mambajao

$85 16.7%

Dhaka

$57 14.1% 32.7% $28

Eating Out

Mambajao

$59 11.5%

Dhaka

$59 14.6% 1.5% $0.9

Accommodation & Living

Mambajao

$56 11.1%

Dhaka

$65 16% 15.7% $8.8

Sport & Entertainment

Mambajao

$38 7.4%

Dhaka

$22 5.4% 41.8% $16

Getting Around

Mambajao

$13 2.6%

Dhaka

$27 6.7% 106% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $101 in Mambajao and $133 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhaka pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $16.00 in Mambajao vs $12.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $156 vs $124 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇭 Mambajao

🇧🇩 Dhaka

🕒 Local time

02:44 2:44 AM

00:44 12:44 AM

2 h behind Mambajao

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

41,094

21,741,000 Capital

💱 Currency

Philippine Peso PHP ₱

Bangladeshi Taka BDT ৳

📈 Exchange rate

100 PHP = 1.59 USD

100 PHP = 1.41 EUR

1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD

1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BDT, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇵🇭 Philippine Peso (₱)

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 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).

USD to PHP in detail →

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Mambajao Dhaka 3,980 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight

From you

Mambajao
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

Mambajao vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 61% lower in Dhaka. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $101 in Mambajao versus $133 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $508 per month in Mambajao versus $406 in Dhaka – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 109% less than in Mambajao. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Mambajao 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.

Expats usually find Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Mambajao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.