Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando, La Union and Dhaka

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $719 in San Fernando, La Union, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

36

Cost of Living Index in San Fernando, La Union
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San Fernando, La Union Living Index
20

Cost of Living Index in Dhaka
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Dhaka Living Index

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San Fernando, La Union

🇵🇭 Philippines

$719

/mo nomad

Dhaka

🇧🇩 Bangladesh

$406

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $719 in San Fernando, La Union versus $406 in Dhaka.

San Fernando, La Union $719
Dhaka $406

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,102 in San Fernando, La Union versus $687 in Dhaka.

San Fernando, La Union $1,102
Dhaka $687

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,485 in San Fernando, La Union versus $969 in Dhaka.

San Fernando, La Union $1,485
Dhaka $969

Living in San Fernando, La Union is roughly 77% more expensive than in Dhaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: San Fernando, La Union 47% lower, Dhaka 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.93 ₱248

$2.28 ৳282

72.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.86 ₱936

$12.33 ৳1,523

20.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.45 ₱154

$3.95 ৳488

-37.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.48 ৳554

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 ৳510

Cappuccino

$1.92 ₱121

$2.28 ৳281

-15.79%

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

$0.63 ₱39.53

$0.33 ৳40.88

90.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 ₱18.67

$0.16 ৳19.86

87.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.15 ₱72.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 ₱112

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 ₱106

$0.85 ৳104

97.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 ₱67.7

$0.60 ৳74.5

80.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 ₱65.0

$0.69 ৳85.4

49.28%

Eggs

$1.93 ₱122

$1.23 ৳152

56.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.38 ₱402

$8.80 ৳1,087

-27.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 ₱238

$3.33 ৳412

13.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.48 ₱471

$6.63 ৳819

12.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 ₱150

$2.85 ৳352

-16.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 ₱101

$0.90 ৳111

77.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₱170

$2.34 ৳289

15.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 ₱76.1

$0.63 ৳78.4

92.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$0.24 ৳29.59

841.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ₱131

$0.46 ৳57.3

350.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₱62.8

$0.35 ৳42.79

185.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₱36.41

$0.28 ৳34.24

107.14%

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)

$2.97 ₱187

$3.28 ৳405

-9.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.16 ₱451

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 ₱70.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 ₱103

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 ₱15.89

$0.42 ৳52.3

-40.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.92 ₱687

$22.43 ৳2,772

-51.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₱51.2

$1.19 ৳147

-31.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.21 ₱13.52

$0.39 ৳48.71

-46.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.77 ₱111

$3.28 ৳406

-46.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 ₱64.5

$1.10 ৳136

-7.27%

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

$21.0K ₱1.3M

$29.4K ৳3.6M

-28.65%

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

$18.3K ₱1.1M

$32.2K ৳4.0M

-43.21%

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

$109 ₱6,863

$38.28 ৳4,729

184.74%

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

$16.96 ₱1,068

$4.09 ৳506

314.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.32 ₱1,720

$9.02 ৳1,114

202.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.83 ₱2,067

$13.66 ৳1,688

140.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.60 ₱290

$10.21 ৳1,261

-54.95%

Cinema Ticket

$5.76 ₱363

$4.11 ৳508

40.15%

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

$114 ₱7,179

$90.7 ৳11.2K

25.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,119 ₱574.1K

$2,591 ৳320.2K

251.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.24 ₱2,093

$17.06 ৳2,108

94.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.66 ₱1,112

$21.38 ৳2,641

-17.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.9 ₱4,524

$51.4 ৳6,355

39.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.6 ₱3,503

$36.78 ৳4,545

51.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.5K

$133 ৳16.4K

97.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 ₱10.7K

$65.1 ৳8,041

160.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$521 ₱32.8K

$377 ৳46.6K

38.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 ₱22.7K

$192 ৳23.8K

87.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,558 ₱161.1K

$1,621 ৳200.3K

57.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,037 ₱65.3K

$760 ৳93.9K

36.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$246 ৳30.4K

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 San Fernando, La Union: October 11, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

San Fernando, La Union

$183 25.5%

Dhaka

$124 30.5% 32.5% $60

Accommodation & Living

San Fernando, La Union

$169 23.6%

Dhaka

$65 16% 61.6% $104

Monthly Utilities & Internet

San Fernando, La Union

$153 21.3%

Dhaka

$51 12.7% 66.5% $102

Clothing & Footwear

San Fernando, La Union

$80 11.2%

Dhaka

$57 14.1% 29% $23

Eating Out

San Fernando, La Union

$75 10.4%

Dhaka

$59 14.6% 20.6% $15

Sport & Entertainment

San Fernando, La Union

$44 6.2%

Dhaka

$22 5.4% 50.6% $22

Getting Around

San Fernando, La Union

$14 1.9%

Dhaka

$27 6.7% 97.5% $13

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in San Fernando, La Union and $133 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in San Fernando, La Union vs $12.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $124 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇵🇭 San Fernando, La Union

🇧🇩 Dhaka

🕒 Local time

15:16 3:16 PM

13:16 1:16 PM

2 h behind San Fernando, La Union

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

83,003

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

San Fernando, La Union Dhaka 3,220 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight

From you

San Fernando, La Union
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

San Fernando, La Union vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 77% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,079 in San Fernando, La Union 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $262 in San Fernando, La Union versus $133 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $719 per month in San Fernando, La Union versus $406 in Dhaka – a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 105% less than in San Fernando, La Union. 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, San Fernando, La Union 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 77% less than in San Fernando, La Union. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.