Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Surat Thani and Dhaka

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $428 a month against $775 in Surat Thani, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

38

Cost of Living Index in Surat Thani
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Surat Thani Living Index
21

Cost of Living Index in Dhaka
Learn more

Dhaka Living Index

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Surat Thani

🇹🇭 Thailand

$775

/mo nomad

Dhaka

🇧🇩 Bangladesh

$428

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $775 in Surat Thani versus $428 in Dhaka.

Surat Thani $775
Dhaka $428

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,414 in Surat Thani versus $724 in Dhaka.

Surat Thani $1,414
Dhaka $724

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,053 in Surat Thani versus $1,019 in Dhaka.

Surat Thani $2,053
Dhaka $1,019

Living in Surat Thani is roughly 81% more expensive than in Dhaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surat Thani 43% lower, Dhaka 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.89 ฿63.0

$2.50 ৳309

-24.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.87 ฿597

$13.26 ৳1,638

34.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.51 ฿151

$4.99 ৳616

-9.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.87 ৳602

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.14 ৳511

Cappuccino

$1.50 ฿50.2

$2.35 ৳291

-36.17%

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

$0.50 ฿16.68

$0.33 ৳41.07

51.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ฿9.66

$0.16 ৳19.62

81.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 ฿85.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 ฿55.4

$0.85 ৳105

95.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ฿39.89

$0.63 ৳77.9

88.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.13

$0.67 ৳83.1

74.63%

Eggs

$1.87 ฿62.4

$1.19 ৳147

57.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.18 ฿641

$8.83 ৳1,092

117.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.33 ฿111

$3.30 ৳408

0.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.44 ฿249

$6.41 ৳792

16.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 ฿97.2

$2.75 ৳340

5.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 ฿56.3

$0.94 ৳116

78.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 ฿58.7

$2.37 ৳293

-25.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$0.64 ৳79.1

220.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 ฿43.57

$0.26 ৳32.25

400.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 ฿45.90

$0.49 ৳60.6

179.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.11 ฿37.24

$0.30 ৳37.63

270.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 ฿13.66

$0.30 ৳37.49

36.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$12.24 ৳1,512

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$5.43 ৳671

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.53 ৳807

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 ฿103

$3.17 ৳392

-3.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.86 ฿630

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ฿51.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 ฿60.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ฿34.00

$0.38 ৳47.44

168.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.95 ฿700

$23.06 ৳2,849

-9.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ฿39.50

$1.17 ৳145

0.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ฿21.05

$0.38 ৳46.99

65.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 ฿117

$3.28 ৳405

6.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.16 ฿38.93

$1.11 ৳137

4.50%

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

$26.6K ฿890.1K

$29.1K ৳3.6M

-8.53%

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

$27.3K ฿911.7K

$32.9K ৳4.1M

-17.14%

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

$72.9 ฿2,437

$46.77 ৳5,779

55.91%

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

$11.12 ฿372

$4.51 ৳557

146.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.32 ฿579

$11.22 ৳1,387

54.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.24 ฿1,612

$16.43 ৳2,031

193.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.52 ฿385

$14.87 ৳1,838

-22.53%

Cinema Ticket

$4.53 ฿151

$4.20 ৳519

7.86%

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

$549 ฿18.3K

$91.6 ৳11.3K

499.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿386.5K

$2,596 ৳320.8K

345.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.9 ฿2,070

$16.63 ৳2,055

272.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.16 ฿974

$19.80 ৳2,447

47.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 ฿3,252

$46.87 ৳5,791

107.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.5 ฿2,892

$37.00 ৳4,572

133.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,910

$148 ৳18.2K

60.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 ฿4,985

$70.8 ৳8,743

110.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,150 ฿38.4K

$432 ৳53.4K

165.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 ฿23.7K

$213 ৳26.3K

233.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,226 ฿74.4K

$1,605 ৳198.4K

38.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,404 ฿46.9K

$751 ৳92.8K

86.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$245 ৳30.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

10.67

-47.80%

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

Last update for Surat Thani: October 19, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

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

Groceries & Markets

Surat Thani

$244 31.5%

Dhaka

$123 28.8% 49.5% $121

Accommodation & Living

Surat Thani

$149 19.3%

Dhaka

$71 16.5% 52.6% $78

Clothing & Footwear

Surat Thani

$124 16%

Dhaka

$54 12.6% 56.2% $70

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Surat Thani

$101 13.1%

Dhaka

$63 14.6% 38.3% $39

Eating Out

Surat Thani

$70 9%

Dhaka

$65 15.2% 6.9% $4.8

Sport & Entertainment

Surat Thani

$57 7.4%

Dhaka

$25 5.8% 56.7% $32

Getting Around

Surat Thani

$29 3.8%

Dhaka

$28 6.5% 5.7% $1.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $237 in Surat Thani and $148 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Surat Thani vs $13.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $123 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Surat Thani

🇧🇩 Dhaka

🕒 Local time

07:09 7:09 AM

06:09 6:09 AM

1 h behind Surat Thani

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

132,040

21,741,000 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Bangladeshi Taka BDT ৳

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.99 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD

1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

BDT, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 124 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.09 USD). 1 EUR = 139 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.2 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Surat Thani Dhaka 1,880 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight

From you

Surat Thani
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

Surat Thani vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 81% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,163 in Surat Thani and $642 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: $237 in Surat Thani versus $148 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $775 per month in Surat Thani versus $428 in Dhaka – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 10% less than in Surat Thani. 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, Surat Thani 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 81% less than in Surat Thani. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.