Cost Of Living in Dhaka 2024

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Dhaka

Whether you're living in Dhaka or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Dhaka is 20,000 BDT. Expenses can range from 2,800 BDT at the minimum level to 130,000 BDT at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Dhaka is 33,000 BDT. Expenditure can range from 11,000 BDT to 180,000 BDT per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Dhaka is 44,000 BDT per month. Families spend anywhere from 15,000 BDT to 290,000 BDT.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Dhaka is 15,000 BDT. Students spend from 2,200 BDT to 98,000 BDT per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Dhaka

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Dhaka is 94% This means that on average, people spend around 94% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 14% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
85%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

79%

94%

Couple
90%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

84%

99%

Family
99%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

92%

110%

How do people spend their money in Dhaka?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Dhaka typically spend from 11% to 30% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 22% being the average. The average spend on housing is 8,600 BDT with expenditure ranging from 660 BDT to 86,000 BDT. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Dhaka ranges from 5% to 12% of total expenses with 8% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 1,400 BDT with 110 BDT and 14,000 BDT being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 220 BDT to 29,000 BDT on commuting with 2,900 BDT being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 6% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 10%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Dhaka is 7,200 BDT. The cost of groceries can range between 550 BDT to 72,000 BDT. People spend on average about 29% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 21% and 35% respectively.

People in Dhaka allocate 6% to 14% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 11%. The range of medical expenses range from 150 BDT to 20,000 BDT with 2,000 BDT being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 88 BDT to 11,000 BDT with 1,100 BDT being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,700 BDT per month with 130 BDT being the minimum spent amount and 17,000 BDT being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Dhaka every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Dhaka manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 58% of the surveyed people in Dhaka said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 43% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Dhaka

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 8.7% to 30% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 16% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 8,200 BDT on average with savings ranging from 630 BDT to 82,000 BDT.

60% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 55% of couples said the same. 49% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Dhaka?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 12% to 33% of their monthly income to savings, with 21% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 5,700 BDT with 630 BDT and 38,000 BDT being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 9.8% to 32% of their monthly income, with 18% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 9,500 BDT with 3,200 BDT and 50,000 BDT being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Dhaka can save anywhere between 8.7% to 29% of their monthly income, with 15% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 13,000 BDT with 4,400 BDT and 82,000 BDT being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Dhaka

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Dhaka. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 4% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 7% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 11% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 13% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 22% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 14% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 2% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Dhaka

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Dhaka

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Dhaka?

Around 49% of surveyed residents think that living in Dhaka is affordable with proper budgeting while 51% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Dhaka

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options59%

Few low-cost options41%

Based on the survey, 59% of the people living in Dhaka have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 41% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Dhaka whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes48%

No52%

Based on the survey, 52% of the people living in Dhaka said that they don't have an emergency fund while 48% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Bangladesh

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy40%

We asked residents of Bangladesh whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 60% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 40% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Bangladesh have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 54% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 46% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance54%

Easily manages finances46%

Financial goals of people in Dhaka

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Dhaka, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 9% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 47% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 11% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 6% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 19% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 5% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 5% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 16% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Dhaka

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Dhaka and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Bangladesh is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Dhaka about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Dhaka

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Dhaka

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 33% of the people in Dhaka have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 67% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Dhaka

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 35% of the people's monthly income in Dhaka goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 4% of the debtors in Dhaka pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 21% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 16% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 18% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 8% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Dhaka

6% of debtors in Dhaka confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 32% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 12% of people and personal loans rose at 46%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Dhaka.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Dhaka

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Dhaka how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Dhaka

Rent Cost in Dhaka

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

2,400 BDT

3,500 BDT

9,400 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$22

$32

$86

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

3,500 BDT

5,700 BDT

14,000 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$32

$52

$130

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

4,700 BDT

7,100 BDT

19,000 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$43

$65

$170

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

5,700 BDT

9,400 BDT

26,000 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$52

$86

$230

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

11,000 BDT

28,000 BDT

57,000 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$100

$260

$520

Townhouse monthly rent cost

9,400 BDT

14,000 BDT

40,000 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$86

$130

$370

House monthly rent cost

11,000 BDT

28,000 BDT

57,000 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$100

$260

$520

Villa monthly rent cost

14,000 BDT

35,000 BDT

57,000 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$130

$320

$520

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Dhaka ranges between 2,400 BDT and 9,400 BDT, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 3,500 BDT to 14,000 BDT. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 4,700 BDT and 19,000 BDT per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 5,700 BDT to 26,000 BDT. The average rent of a townhouse in Dhaka is around 14,000 BDT while house rental costs can be as high as 28,000 BDT per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 14,000 BDT to 57,000 BDT per month.

Apartment and house prices in Dhaka

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

470,000 BDT

710,000 BDT

1.4M BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4,300

$6,500

$13,000

1-bedroom apartment price

570,000 BDT

940,000 BDT

3.5M BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5,200

$8,600

$32,000

2-bedroom apartment price

940,000 BDT

2.8M BDT

5.7M BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8,600

$26,000

$52,000

3-bedroom apartment price

3.1M BDT

4.7M BDT

14M BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$29,000

$43,000

$130,000

Townhouse price

4M BDT

9.4M BDT

35M BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$37,000

$86,000

$320,000

House price

4.7M BDT

28M BDT

40M BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$43,000

$260,000

$370,000

Villa price

5.7M BDT

31M BDT

47M BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$52,000

$290,000

$430,000

The average price of a studio apartment in Dhaka can range from 470,000 BDT to 1.4M BDT depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 570,000 BDT to 3.5M BDT. A villa can cost you 31M BDT on average with prices ranging from 5.7M BDT to 47M BDT.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Dhaka can be x87 to x204 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x87 multiples of the average monthly salary in Dhaka.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Dhaka is around 30%. This means that people pay 30% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 20% to 41% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Dhaka

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Dhaka

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

170 BDT

1,200 BDT

7,900 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$11

$72

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

440 BDT

1,500 BDT

9,700 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4

$14

$88

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

770 BDT

2,200 BDT

14,000 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7

$20

$130

Internet and cable cost

130 BDT

260 BDT

340 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$2.3

$3.1

Mobile phone bill and charges

100 BDT

170 BDT

510 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.94

$1.6

$4.7

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Dhaka ranges between 170 BDT and 7,900 BDT with average being 1,200 BDT, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 1,500 BDT with 440 BDT and 9,700 BDT being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 2,200 BDT. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 130 BDT to 340 BDT with 260 BDT being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 170 BDT but can range between 100 BDT and 510 BDT depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Dhaka is around 7.6%. This means that people pay 7.6% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4.3% to 12% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Dhaka

Prices and cost of goods and services in Dhaka

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

26 BDT

51 BDT

86 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.23

$0.47

$0.78

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Dhaka is approximatly 51 BDT with meal cost ranging from 26 BDT to 86 BDT. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

90 BDT

140 BDT

270 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.82

$1.2

$2.5

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 90 BDT and 270 BDT with 140 BDT being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Dhaka.

Fine dining meal for one price

180 BDT

270 BDT

1,100 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.6

$2.5

$9.9

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 180 BDT to 1,100 BDT with the average cost being 270 BDT for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Dhaka.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

21 BDT

34 BDT

51 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.20

$0.31

$0.47

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Dhaka is around 34 BDT. Price ranges between 21 BDT and 51 BDT depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

17 BDT

21 BDT

26 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.16

$0.19

$0.23

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Dhaka is 21 BDT. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 26 BDT and the minimum being 17 BDT depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

13 BDT

17 BDT

26 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.12

$0.16

$0.23

A dozen eggs costs around 17 BDT on average with 13 BDT and 26 BDT being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

29 BDT

38 BDT

54 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.27

$0.34

$0.49

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Dhaka is between 29 BDT and 54 BDT depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 38 BDT.

Pack of beef price

34 BDT

51 BDT

100 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.31

$0.47

$0.94

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 51 BDT. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

14 BDT

19 BDT

27 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.13

$0.17

$0.24

A bag of rice in Dhaka costs around 19 BDT on average with prices rangeing between 14 BDT and 27 BDT depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

5.1 BDT

6.9 BDT

13 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.05

$0.06

$0.12

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 5.1 BDT to 13 BDT. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

9.2 BDT

12 BDT

20 BDT

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.08

$0.11

$0.18

A bag of apples costs 12 BDT on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Dhaka is around 29%. This means that people spend 29% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 21% to 36% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 3,200 BDT per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 440 BDT and 21,000 BDT depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 4,600 BDT per month. That number can be get as low as 1,500 BDT or a high as 25,000 BDT. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 2,800 BDT to 52,000 BDT with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Dhaka

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Dhaka

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Dhaka

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Dhaka