Cost Of Living For a Student in Bangladesh 2024
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: BDT
Average monthly spending for students in Bangladesh
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Bangladesh?
Students in Bangladesh spend around 14,000 BDT per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 2,000 BDT or as high as 91,000 BDT. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Bangladesh
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
| 170 BDT | 260 BDT | 1,000 BDT |
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 65,000 BDT | 130,000 BDT | 170,000 BDT |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 2,200 BDT | 3,300 BDT | 8,700 BDT |
1-bedroom apartment
| 3,300 BDT | 5,200 BDT | 13,000 BDT |
2-bedroom apartment
| 4,400 BDT | 6,500 BDT | 17,000 BDT |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 440,000 BDT | 650,000 BDT | 1.3M BDT |
1-bedroom apartment
| 520,000 BDT | 870,000 BDT | 3.3M BDT |
2-bedroom apartment
| 870,000 BDT | 2.6M BDT | 5.2M BDT |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 2,600 BDT | 3,300 BDT | 4,400 BDT |
Double Bed
| 1,700 BDT | 2,600 BDT | 3,300 BDT |
Single Bed
| 1,500 BDT | 2,000 BDT | 2,600 BDT |
Living Room
| 2,900 BDT | 3,700 BDT | 13,000 BDT |
Dining Table
| 1,300 BDT | 1,700 BDT | 3,300 BDT |
Sofa or Couch
| 1,700 BDT | 2,400 BDT | 5,200 BDT |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 1,700 BDT | 2,600 BDT | 5,200 BDT |
Fridge or Freezer
| 1,500 BDT | 2,400 BDT | 3,300 BDT |
Washing Machine
| 2,000 BDT | 2,900 BDT | 5,200 BDT |
Stove or Cooker
| 1,900 BDT | 2,400 BDT | 3,300 BDT |
Mobile Phone
| 2,200 BDT | 2,600 BDT | 3,700 BDT |
Laptop or Computer
| 2,400 BDT | 2,900 BDT | 5,200 BDT |
How do students spend their money in Bangladesh?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost17%
17% of total expenses on average (12% to 23%)
| LOW | $4.4 490 BDT |
| AVERAGE | $30 3,300 BDT |
| HIGH | $200 22,000 BDT |
| Per Month |
Students in Bangladesh typically spend from 12% to 23% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 17% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 3,300 BDT with expenditure ranging from 490 BDT to 22,000 BDT. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities7%
7% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $0.74 81 BDT |
| AVERAGE | $4.9 540 BDT |
| HIGH | $33 3,600 BDT |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Bangladesh ranges from 5% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 540 BDT with 81 BDT and 3,600 BDT being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel4%
4% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $1.3 140 BDT |
| AVERAGE | $8.7 950 BDT |
| HIGH | $58 6,300 BDT |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 140 BDT to 6,300 BDT in a month on commuting with 950 BDT being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 4% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 10%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost23%
23% of total expenses on average (17% to 27%)
| LOW | $3.7 410 BDT |
| AVERAGE | $25 2,700 BDT |
| HIGH | $160 18,000 BDT |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Bangladesh is 2,700 BDT. The cost of groceries can range between 410 BDT to 18,000 BDT. Students spend on average about 23% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 17% and 27% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare9%
9% of total expenses on average (6% to 12%)
| LOW | $1.1 120 BDT |
| AVERAGE | $7.4 810 BDT |
| HIGH | $49 5,400 BDT |
| Per Month |
Students in Bangladesh allocate 6% to 12% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 9%. The range of medical expenses range from 120 BDT to 5,400 BDT with 810 BDT being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping2%
2% of total expenses on average (2% to 6%)
| LOW | $0.93 100 BDT |
| AVERAGE | $6.2 680 BDT |
| HIGH | $41 4,500 BDT |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 100 BDT to 4,500 BDT with 680 BDT being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 2% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling18%
18% of total expenses on average (11% to 23%)
| LOW | $3.5 390 BDT |
| AVERAGE | $24 2,600 BDT |
| HIGH | $160 17,000 BDT |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 18% of the monthly expenditure of students with 11% and 23% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 2,600 BDT per month with 390 BDT being the minimum spent amount and 17,000 BDT being the maximum.
Other Expenses19%
19% of total expenses on average (13% to 25%)
| LOW | $2.8 300 BDT |
| AVERAGE | $19 2,000 BDT |
| HIGH | $120 14,000 BDT |
| Per Month |
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
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Affordable living in Bangladesh
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Bangladesh?
Around 45% of surveyed students think that living in Bangladesh is affordable with proper budgeting while 55% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Bangladesh
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 students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options54%
Few low-cost options46%
Based on the survey, 54% of the students living in Bangladesh have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 46% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
Emergency Funds For Students
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 students of Bangladesh whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes44%
No56%
Based on the survey, 56% of the students living in Bangladesh said that they don't have an emergency fund while 44% 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 student guardians and parents in 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 students 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%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Bangladesh
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Bangladesh
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,200 BDT | 3,300 BDT | 8,700 BDT |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 3,300 BDT | 5,200 BDT | 13,000 BDT |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,400 BDT | 6,500 BDT | 17,000 BDT |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 5,200 BDT | 8,700 BDT | 24,000 BDT |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 10,000 BDT | 26,000 BDT | 52,000 BDT |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 8,700 BDT | 13,000 BDT | 37,000 BDT |
House monthly rent cost
| 10,000 BDT | 26,000 BDT | 52,000 BDT |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 13,000 BDT | 33,000 BDT | 52,000 BDT |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Bangladesh ranges between 2,200 BDT and 8,700 BDT, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 3,300 BDT to 13,000 BDT. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 4,400 BDT and 17,000 BDT per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 5,200 BDT to 24,000 BDT. The average rent of a townhouse in Bangladesh is around 13,000 BDT while house rental costs can be as high as 26,000 BDT per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 13,000 BDT to 52,000 BDT per month.
Apartment and house prices in Bangladesh
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 440,000 BDT | 650,000 BDT | 1.3M BDT |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 520,000 BDT | 870,000 BDT | 3.3M BDT |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 870,000 BDT | 2.6M BDT | 5.2M BDT |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 2.9M BDT | 4.4M BDT | 13M BDT |
Townhouse price
| 3.7M BDT | 8.7M BDT | 33M BDT |
House price
| $40,000 | $240,000 | $340,000 |
Villa price
| $48,000 | $260,000 | $400,000 |
The average price of a studio apartment in Bangladesh can range from 440,000 BDT to 1.3M BDT depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 520,000 BDT to 3.3M BDT. A villa can cost you 29M BDT on average with prices ranging from 5.2M BDT to 44M BDT.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Bangladesh will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 29 | x80 monthly income | 188 |
Property prices in Bangladesh can be x80 to x188 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x80 multiples of the average monthly salary in Bangladesh.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Bangladesh is around 28%. This means that people pay 28% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 38% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
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.
Housing Affordability Index
26% 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 Bangladesh
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Bangladesh
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 540 BDT. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 130 BDT to 350 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 520 BDT depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Bangladesh is around 7%. This means that people pay 7% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 4% to 11% depending on salary and location.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Bangladesh
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Bangladesh
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Bangladesh is approximatly 52 BDT with meal cost ranging from 26 BDT to 87 BDT. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 87 BDT and 260 BDT with 130 BDT being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Bangladesh.
Fine dining meal for one price
| 170 BDT | 260 BDT | 1,000 BDT |
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 170 BDT to 1,000 BDT with the average cost being 260 BDT for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Bangladesh.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Bangladesh is around 35 BDT. Price ranges between 22 BDT and 52 BDT depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Bangladesh 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
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
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Bangladesh is between 30 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
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 52 BDT. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Bangladesh 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
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 5.2 BDT to 13 BDT. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
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
( monthly grocery expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average grocery-to-income ratio in Bangladesh is around 27%. This means that students spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 33% depending on salary and location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 410 BDT to 18,000 BDT with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
