Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Songdo-dong and Dhaka

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $406 a month against $1,444 in Songdo-dong, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Songdo-dong
🇰🇷 South Korea
$1,444
/mo nomad
Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$406
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,444 in Songdo-dong versus $406 in Dhaka.

  • Songdo-dong $1,444
  • Dhaka $406

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,292 in Songdo-dong versus $687 in Dhaka.

  • Songdo-dong $2,292
  • Dhaka $687

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,140 in Songdo-dong versus $969 in Dhaka.

  • Songdo-dong $3,140
  • Dhaka $969

Living in Songdo-dong is roughly 256% more expensive than in Dhaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Songdo-dong is 7% above, Dhaka is 70% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Songdo-dong
Dhaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.87 ₩7,798
$2.28 ৳282
157.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.90 ₩46.4K
$12.33 ৳1,523
183.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.63 ₩8,816
$3.95 ৳488
67.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.48 ৳554
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.13 ৳510
-
Cappuccino
$3.62 ₩4,815
$2.28 ৳281
58.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 ₩2,032
$0.33 ৳40.88
363.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₩777
$0.16 ৳19.86
262.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 ₩4,063
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 ₩6,067
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Songdo-dong
Dhaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.20 ₩2,925
$0.85 ৳104
158.82%
White Bread (500g)
$3.06 ₩4,066
$0.60 ৳74.5
410.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 ₩3,126
$0.69 ৳85.4
240.58%
Eggs
$3.33 ₩4,429
$1.23 ৳152
170.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ₩21.0K
$8.80 ৳1,087
79.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.80 ₩10.4K
$3.33 ৳412
134.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.34 ₩15.1K
$6.63 ৳819
71.04%
Apples (1kg)
$7.80 ₩10.4K
$2.85 ৳352
173.68%
Banana (1kg)
$3.18 ₩4,234
$0.90 ৳111
253.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$7.67 ₩10.2K
$2.34 ৳289
227.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.78 ₩9,017
$0.63 ৳78.4
976.19%
Potato (1kg)
$3.55 ₩4,720
$0.24 ৳29.59
1379.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 ₩3,216
$0.46 ৳57.3
426.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.04 ₩2,718
$0.35 ৳42.79
482.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 ₩1,960
$0.28 ৳34.24
425.00%
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)
$3.29 ₩4,379
$3.28 ৳405
0.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.48 ₩24.6K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29 ₩3,043
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Songdo-dong
Dhaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.42 ৳52.3
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$22.43 ৳2,772
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.64 ₩4,836
$1.19 ৳147
205.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 ₩817
$0.39 ৳48.71
56.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.28 ৳406
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 ₩1,790
$1.10 ৳136
22.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K ₩38.8M
$29.4K ৳3.6M
-0.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K ₩47.4M
$32.2K ৳4.0M
10.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Songdo-dong
Dhaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$210 ₩278.6K
$38.28 ৳4,729
447.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.59 ₩58.0K
$4.09 ৳506
965.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.61 ₩27.4K
$9.02 ৳1,114
128.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Songdo-dong
Dhaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$13.66 ৳1,688
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.21 ৳1,261
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.32 ₩15.1K
$4.11 ৳508
175.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Songdo-dong
Dhaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$380 ₩505.4K
$90.7 ৳11.2K
318.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.9K ₩23.8M
$2,591 ৳320.2K
589.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Songdo-dong
Dhaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 ₩85.5K
$17.06 ৳2,108
276.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.7 ₩86.0K
$21.38 ৳2,641
202.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 ₩100.4K
$51.4 ৳6,355
46.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.0 ₩131.6K
$36.78 ৳4,545
169.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Songdo-dong
Dhaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$133 ৳16.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$453 ₩602.6K
$65.1 ৳8,041
596.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,914 ₩2.5M
$377 ৳46.6K
407.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,064 ₩1.4M
$192 ৳23.8K
452.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,621 ৳200.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$760 ৳93.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Songdo-dong
Dhaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,372 ₩4.5M
$246 ৳30.4K
1270.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.1
10.48
-60.88%

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

Last update for Songdo-dong: October 11, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Songdo-dong
$453
Dhaka
$65 85.6% $388
Groceries & Markets
Songdo-dong
$408 *
Dhaka
$124 69.7% $284
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Songdo-dong
$274
Dhaka
$51 81.2% $222
Eating Out
Songdo-dong
$143
Dhaka
$59 58.5% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Songdo-dong
$137
Dhaka
$57 58.3% $80
Sport & Entertainment
Songdo-dong
$23 *
Dhaka
$22 3.4% $0.8
Getting Around
Songdo-dong
$6.7 *
Dhaka
$27 307% $21

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

Cost Breakdown

Songdo-dong pays 1270% 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: $35.00 in Songdo-dong vs $12.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $408 vs $124 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇰🇷 Songdo-dong
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🕒 Local time
07:22 7:22 AM
04:22 4:22 AM
3 h behind Songdo-dong
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
21,741,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BDT, USD, EUR to KRW – South Korean Won Converter

South Korean Won exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 KRW (10,000 KRW = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 KRW (10,000 KRW = 6.69 EUR).

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 17, 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
  • Songdo-dong Dhaka 3,750 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Songdo-dong
  • 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
Songdo-dong vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dhaka cheaper than Songdo-dong?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 256% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Songdo-dong or Dhaka?
Average pay runs 1270% higher in Songdo-dong, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $380 in Songdo-dong 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 Songdo-dong or in Dhaka?
Dining out is cheaper in Dhaka – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $35.00 in Songdo-dong. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Songdo-dong 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 Songdo-dong 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, Songdo-dong or Dhaka?
Safety-wise, Songdo-dong 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 256% less than in Songdo-dong. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Songdo-dong vs other spots: cost of living compared

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