Dhaka vs London

Thinking about Dhaka or London? Here’s the honest, side-by-side comparison for2026 — cost of living, language, climate, careers and getting set up.

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Dhaka

Bangladesh · South Asia

VS
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London

United Kingdom · Europe

The short answer

Dhaka and London land in a broadly similar monthly budget bracket. London is the softer landing day-to-day since English is the working language, while Dhaka rewards picking up Bengali. Both have full set-up guides below, so the real choice comes down to climate, career field, and the lifestyle you're after.

Cost of living, side by side

What it costs🇧🇩 Dhaka🇬🇧 London
Rent — 1-bed, central
BDT 60,000–120,000 / month plus utilities
Furnished two-bed, Gulshan, Banani or Baridhara
£2,100–2,400 / mo
1-bed apartment (centre)
Mid-range meal (per person)
£18–30
Meal, mid-range restaurant
Coffee
Getting around
basis varies
BDT 20–100 depending on distance
MRT Line 6 metro, single journey
£171.70
Monthly travelcard (zones 1–2)
Other monthly costs (excl. rent)
~£1,000 (excl. rent)
Est. single-person monthly
Est. total / month
rent + everyday costs
≈ $4,114

Prices are curated local figures shown in their own currency. USD totals and “% cheaper” claims use approximate exchange rates to put both cities on one scale — rough guidance for budgeting, not exact quotes. Ranges are averaged; annual rents are shown per month.

Language, region & climate

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Dhaka

Bengali
Day-to-day life rewards some Bengali.
South Asia
GMT+6 · BDT
Climate
Tropical monsoon — humid heat most of the year, a heavy June–September rainy season, a short pleasant winter and hazardous dry-season air.
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London

English
English is the working language — an easy landing.
Europe
GMT+0 · GBP
Climate
Temperate maritime — mild, cloudy and damp, with cool summers.

Which is better for…

Your budget

It's a wash

Dhaka and London cost about the same month to month once rent and everyday spending are combined.

Your career

London

London's English-first workplace makes switching jobs and networking easier for most internationals. Dhaka: Ready-made garments & textiles, Pharmaceuticals, Development & the NGO sector. London: Finance (the City & Canary Wharf), Fintech, Technology.

Your lifestyle

Depends what you want

Dhaka feels like “The garment industry's centre of gravity, and one of the densest cities on earth — now with a metro”, while Londonis “Global capital of finance, culture, and ambition”. Climate is a real differentiator: Dhaka tropical monsoon — humid heat most of the year, a heavy june–september rainy season, a short pleasant winter and hazardous dry-season air. Londontemperate maritime — mild, cloudy and damp, with cool summers.

Which one will let you in?

Pick your passport to see which of these two you can actually enter, and on what.

The essentials at a glance

Detail🇧🇩 Dhaka🇬🇧 London
Population≈23 million in the metropolitan area — among the most densely populated cities on earth~9 million (Greater London)
LanguagesBengali (Bangla) is the national language and used almost universally; English is the language of business, higher education and the international sectorEnglish
CurrencyBangladeshi taka (BDT)Pound sterling (GBP, £)
Time zoneBST (GMT+6) — no daylight saving
Power plugType C, D and G, 220 VType G, 230V
ClimateTropical monsoon — a hot humid summer, a heavy June–September monsoon, a short pleasant winter, and severe air pollution through the dry months
Working weekSunday to Thursday for government and much of the private sector; Friday is the weekly holiday, Saturday variable
Public transportMRT Line 6 metro from Uttara North to Motijheel, plus buses, rickshaws, CNG auto-rickshaws and ride-hailing
Work weekMonday–Friday
Driving sideLeft

Go deeper on each city

Still torn between Dhaka and London?

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