🇧🇩 Bangladesh · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Dhaka? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
Furnished two-bed, Gulshan, Banani or BaridharaBDT 60,000–120,000 / month plus utilities
Two-bed apartment, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur or UttaraBDT 25,000–55,000 / month
Utilities including gas, electricity and internetBDT 6,000–15,000 / month
Groceries, one personBDT 15,000–30,000 / month; imported goods in Gulshan cost several times more
MRT Line 6 metro, single journeyBDT 20–100 depending on distance
Good to know
Population
≈23 million in the metropolitan area — among the most densely populated cities on earth
Languages
Bengali (Bangla) is the national language and used almost universally; English is the language of business, higher education and the international sector
Currency
Bangladeshi taka (BDT)
Time zone
BST (GMT+6) — no daylight saving
Power plug
Type C, D and G, 220 V
Climate
Tropical monsoon — a hot humid summer, a heavy June–September monsoon, a short pleasant winter, and severe air pollution through the dry months
Working week
Sunday to Thursday for government and much of the private sector; Friday is the weekly holiday, Saturday variable
Public transport
MRT Line 6 metro from Uttara North to Motijheel, plus buses, rickshaws, CNG auto-rickshaws and ride-hailing
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Dhaka checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Dhaka
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.