Home › Bangladesh › Costs
Is Bangladesh expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
No. Bangladesh is one of the cheapest countries in Asia for food and local transport: a budget day costs about ৳3,500 per person and a comfortable mid-range day about ৳11,500. The costs that add up are the Sundarbans boat trip, foreigner prices at heritage sites and international-standard hotels in Dhaka's Gulshan and Banani, which charge close to Western rates plus 15% VAT and service.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | ৳1,500 | ৳5,000 | ৳13,000 |
| Food & drink | ৳800 | ৳2,000 | ৳5,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ৳700 | ৳3,000 | ৳6,000 |
| Local transport | ৳500 | ৳1,500 | ৳5,000 |
| Per person, per day | ৳3,500 | ৳11,500 | ৳29,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Bangladesh day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Plate of kacchi biryani in Old Dhaka | ৳250-400 |
| Seven-layer tea at Nilkantha, Srimangal | about ৳70-100 |
| MRT Line 6 metro ride | ৳20-100 |
| CNG auto-rickshaw across Dhaka | ৳150-400 (agree first) |
| Lalbagh Fort or Ahsan Manzil (foreigners) | about ৳500 each |
| AC chair seat, Dhaka–Srimangal train | about ৳500-700 |
| Sundarbans 2-day/1-night boat trip, all-inclusive | about ৳12,000-25,000 per person |
| Mid-range double in Gulshan or Banani | ৳7,000-13,000 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
For most visitors the hotel is the largest daily cost, because the comfortable areas of Dhaka (Gulshan and Banani) are priced for business travellers, while cheap rooms in Paltan and Motijheel are very basic. The second large item is organised trips: the Sundarbans need a licensed boat operator and forest permits, and a guide for Old Dhaka (about ৳3,000-5,000 a day) is money well spent. Food, trains and rickshaws are very cheap; a Bengali thali in a good restaurant costs ৳600-1,200.
When it is cheaper
Hotel and tour prices are usually lowest in the June-September monsoon, when fewer foreigners visit and the Sundarbans season is mostly over. Around the two Eid holidays, transport prices rise and tickets sell out, so the cheaper months are worth less if your dates overlap.
How to spend less
- Take the MRT Line 6 metro between Uttara, Agargaon and Motijheel (৳20-100) to skip Dhaka's slow road traffic.
- Book intercity trains on the official Bangladesh Railway app several days ahead; an AC chair to Srimangal is about ৳500-700.
- Use Uber or Pathao for cars in Dhaka, and agree CNG fares before you get in.
- Eat where locals eat: Old Dhaka biryani shops and street snacks around Dhanmondi Lake cost a fraction of hotel restaurants.
- Compare several Sundarbans operators in Khulna or Mongla; group departures on shared launches are far cheaper than private boats.
- Check whether quoted hotel rates include the 15% VAT and service charge before you book.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Common questions
How much does a day in Bangladesh cost?
About ৳3,500 per person on a budget, ৳11,500 mid-range and about ৳29,000 for comfort, sharing a double. The Sundarbans trip is extra.
Do foreigners pay more at sights?
Yes. Many heritage sites, such as Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil and the Sixty Dome Mosque, charge foreigners about ৳500, much more than locals.
How much is a Sundarbans trip?
A 2-day, 1-night trip costs about ৳12,000-25,000 per person all-inclusive; the classic 3-day trip to Kotka and Kochikhali costs more.