Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Padang and Dhaka

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $620 in Padang, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Padang
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$620
/mo nomad
Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$406
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $620 in Padang versus $406 in Dhaka.

  • Padang $620
  • Dhaka $406

Estimated couple costs with rent: $996 in Padang versus $687 in Dhaka.

  • Padang $996
  • Dhaka $687

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,372 in Padang versus $969 in Dhaka.

  • Padang $1,372
  • Dhaka $969

Living in Padang is roughly 53% more expensive than in Dhaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Padang 54% lower, Dhaka 70% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Padang
Dhaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.64 Rp 29.6K
$2.28 ৳282
-28.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.72 Rp 283.0K
$12.33 ৳1,523
27.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.92 Rp 52.5K
$3.95 ৳488
-26.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.48 ৳554
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.13 ৳510
-
Cappuccino
$1.44 Rp 26.0K
$2.28 ৳281
-36.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,394
$0.33 ৳40.88
24.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 Rp 3,925
$0.16 ৳19.86
37.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74 Rp 67.3K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Padang
Dhaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 Rp 20.5K
$0.85 ৳104
34.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 Rp 18.7K
$0.60 ৳74.5
73.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 Rp 17.4K
$0.69 ৳85.4
39.13%
Eggs
$1.49 Rp 26.8K
$1.23 ৳152
21.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.82 Rp 122.8K
$8.80 ৳1,087
-22.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.88 Rp 51.8K
$3.33 ৳412
-13.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.49 Rp 116.9K
$6.63 ৳819
-2.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.51 Rp 45.2K
$2.85 ৳352
-11.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 Rp 22.4K
$0.90 ৳111
37.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 Rp 31.2K
$2.34 ৳289
-26.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.24 Rp 22.4K
$0.63 ৳78.4
96.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.6K
$0.24 ৳29.59
379.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.84 Rp 33.2K
$0.46 ৳57.3
300.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
$0.35 ৳42.79
128.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,241
$0.28 ৳34.24
42.86%
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)
$2.72 Rp 48.9K
$3.28 ৳405
-17.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.21 Rp 381.7K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 Rp 31.1K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.28 Rp 59.1K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Padang
Dhaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,254
$0.42 ৳52.3
-30.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.43 ৳2,772
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 Rp 9,417
$1.19 ৳147
-56.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 6,239
$0.39 ৳48.71
-10.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 Rp 49.8K
$3.28 ৳406
-15.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 Rp 17.0K
$1.10 ৳136
-13.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4K Rp 366.6M
$29.4K ৳3.6M
-30.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K Rp 588.6M
$32.2K ৳4.0M
1.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Padang
Dhaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.6 Rp 1.2M
$38.28 ৳4,729
76.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.97 Rp 89.5K
$4.09 ৳506
21.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.99 Rp 377.8K
$9.02 ৳1,114
132.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Padang
Dhaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.55 Rp 351.9K
$13.66 ৳1,688
43.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.88 Rp 159.9K
$10.21 ৳1,261
-13.03%
Cinema Ticket
$2.60 Rp 46.7K
$4.11 ৳508
-36.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Padang
Dhaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$90.7 ৳11.2K
-11.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,325 Rp 149.8M
$2,591 ৳320.2K
221.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Padang
Dhaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.73 Rp 769.2K
$17.06 ৳2,108
150.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.93 Rp 484.8K
$21.38 ৳2,641
25.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.8 Rp 1.1M
$51.4 ৳6,355
24.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.4 Rp 1.3M
$36.78 ৳4,545
96.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Padang
Dhaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$206 Rp 3.7M
$133 ৳16.4K
55.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$154 Rp 2.8M
$65.1 ৳8,041
136.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$494 Rp 8.9M
$377 ৳46.6K
31.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$391 Rp 7.0M
$192 ৳23.8K
102.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,124 Rp 20.2M
$1,621 ৳200.3K
-30.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$706 Rp 12.7M
$760 ৳93.9K
-7.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Padang
Dhaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$246 ৳30.4K
-32.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.46
10.48
-9.73%

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

Last update for Padang: October 13, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Padang
$192
Dhaka
$124 35.6% $68
Accommodation & Living
Padang
$154
Dhaka
$65 57.7% $89
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Padang
$94
Dhaka
$51 45.1% $42
Clothing & Footwear
Padang
$93
Dhaka
$57 38.5% $36
Eating Out
Padang
$60
Dhaka
$59 0.9% $0.5
Sport & Entertainment
Padang
$25
Dhaka
$22 11.5% $2.8
Getting Around
Padang
$3.4 *
Dhaka
$27 698% $24

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $206 in Padang and $133 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhaka pays 49% 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 Padang vs $12.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $124 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Padang
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🕒 Local time
14:09 2:09 PM
13:09 1:09 PM
1 h behind Padang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,000,096
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 19, 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 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
  • Padang Dhaka 2,950 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Padang
  • 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
Padang vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dhaka cheaper than Padang?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 53% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Padang or Dhaka?
On paper, salaries run 49% 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.
What is the rent difference between Padang and Dhaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $206 in Padang versus $133 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $80.4 in Padang versus $90.7 in Dhaka. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Padang or in Dhaka?
Dining out is cheaper in Dhaka – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $16.00 in Padang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Padang 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 Padang 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% less than in Padang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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