Cost of Living Comparison Between Sylhet and Dhaka Cost of Living Comparison Between Sylhet and Dhaka

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $357 in Sylhet versus $417 in Dhaka.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $570 in Sylhet versus $707 in Dhaka.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $783 in Sylhet versus $997 in Dhaka.

Living in Sylhet costs roughly 14% less than in Dhaka, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sylhet 73% lower, Dhaka 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ৳255

$2.40 ৳294

-13.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.50 ৳1,286

$12.97 ৳1,589

-19.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.21 ৳516

$4.88 ৳598

-13.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.00 ৳490

$3.99 ৳489

0.25%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 ৳539

$5.01 ৳614

-12.18%

Cappuccino

$1.90 ৳233

$2.27 ৳278

-16.30%

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

$0.35 ৳42.36

$0.32 ৳38.71

9.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ৳22.98

$0.15 ৳17.89

26.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 ৳99.2

$0.83 ৳101

-2.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 ৳57.1

$0.71 ৳86.4

-33.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 ৳80.3

$0.65 ৳80.2

1.54%

Eggs

$1.26 ৳154

$1.29 ৳158

-2.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.70 ৳821

$6.74 ৳826

-0.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.49 ৳305

$3.45 ৳422

-27.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.27 ৳769

$6.66 ৳816

-5.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 ৳265

$2.74 ৳335

-21.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ৳124

$1.14 ৳140

-11.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 ৳253

$2.67 ৳327

-22.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.47 ৳57.7

$0.91 ৳111

-48.35%

Potato (1kg)

$0.38 ৳46.88

$0.44 ৳53.7

-13.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.61 ৳74.6

$0.79 ৳96.5

-22.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 ৳43.11

$0.35 ৳43.36

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.28 ৳34.67

$0.30 ৳37.02

-6.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.88 ৳353

$12.06 ৳1,478

-76.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 ৳272

$3.89 ৳477

-42.93%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 ৳558

$6.93 ৳849

-34.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 ৳332

$3.03 ৳371

-10.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 ৳52.0

$0.39 ৳48.27

7.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.36 ৳2,004

$24.89 ৳3,050

-34.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.84 ৳103

$1.22 ৳149

-31.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 ৳38.90

$0.43 ৳52.7

-25.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 ৳180

$3.06 ৳375

-51.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 ৳118

$1.04 ৳127

-7.69%

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

$28.2K ৳3.5M

$28.9K ৳3.5M

-2.38%

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

$25.8K ৳3.2M

$28.5K ৳3.5M

-9.59%

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

$30.51 ৳3,738

$32.66 ৳4,001

-6.58%

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

$4.81 ৳589

$4.75 ৳582

1.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.05 ৳1,598

$12.98 ৳1,590

0.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$10.06 ৳1,232

$19.31 ৳2,366

-47.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.35 ৳1,023

$14.78 ৳1,810

-43.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 ৳508

$4.11 ৳504

0.97%

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

$37.45 ৳4,588

$46.92 ৳5,748

-20.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$934 ৳114.4K

$1,979 ৳242.4K

-52.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$13.61 ৳1,668

$18.61 ৳2,281

-26.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.65 ৳2,039

$24.19 ৳2,963

-31.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$38.38 ৳4,702

$46.70 ৳5,721

-17.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.46 ৳4,467

$36.80 ৳4,508

-0.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.7 ৳8,540

$117 ৳14.3K

-40.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$60.5 ৳7,416

$63.5 ৳7,775

-4.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$164 ৳20.0K

$316 ৳38.7K

-48.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 ৳13.7K

$184 ৳22.5K

-38.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$692 ৳84.7K

$1,493 ৳182.9K

-53.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$356 ৳43.6K

$659 ৳80.7K

-45.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$228 ৳27.9K

$286 ৳35.0K

-20.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.83

10.52

-16.06%

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

Last update for Sylhet: May 30, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $69.7 in Sylhet and $117 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhaka pays 25% 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: $11.00 in Sylhet vs $13.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $106 vs $124 per month, with Sylhet cheaper across the board.

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

Sylhet vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sylhet is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Dhaka earns 25% less. 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: $69.7 in Sylhet versus $117 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $357 per month in Sylhet versus $417 in Dhaka – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sylhet runs roughly 52% less than in Dhaka. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Sylhet 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.

Expats usually find Sylhet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Dhaka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.