Dhaka costlier than Washington for expats, costliest in S Asia | Dhaka Most Expensive City for Foreign Nationals in South Asia
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
July 01, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, JULY 01, 2025
Dhaka costlier than Washington for expats, costliest in S Asia

Bangladesh

Mohsin Bhuiyan
22 June, 2021, 09:45 pm
Last modified: 28 June, 2021, 11:00 am

Related News

  • Ulan Daspara: Remnants of a fishing village in Dhaka
  • Online GD service to be launched in Dhaka, Mymensingh tomorrow
  • Makeshift temple removal in Dhaka followed due process: Govt
  • 2025 Global Liveability Index: Dhaka slips 3 notches, just ahead of war-torn Tripoli, Damascus
  • No homes, no hope: The lives of Dhaka’s ‘floating population’

Dhaka costlier than Washington for expats, costliest in S Asia

Despite dropping 14 positions in a year, the city remains expensive

Mohsin Bhuiyan
22 June, 2021, 09:45 pm
Last modified: 28 June, 2021, 11:00 am
Infographic: Cities for International Employees in 2021

Dhaka has become the world's 40th most expensive city for international employees to live in and is costlier than Washington, according to this year's Mercer Cost of Living Survey.

It was the 26th most expensive city in the world last year.

Despite dropping 14 places in a year, the city is still costlier for overseas workers to live in than some of the most developed ones in the world. Toronto ranked 98th on the list, Madrid 67th, Luxembourg 63rd, Washington 51st, Bangkok 46th, and Dubai 42nd.

Moreover, the Bangladesh capital was again named the most expensive city in South Asia on the list, followed by Mumbai (78th), New Delhi (117th), Islamabad (199th), and Karachi (201st).

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Golam Rahman, president of Consumers' Association of Bangladesh, said land prices and construction costs are very high in Dhaka, which pushes up rent a lot.

This makes the city expensive for international employees to live in, he said.

He said most of what foreigners consume are imported from Europe and duty or tax on those goods are high in Bangladesh, which also makes living here expensive.  

"Car import duties are high, which makes private transportations expensive. Terrible traffic jams and high levels of air pollution also add to costs."

He said Dhaka being expensive for expats negatively impacts foreign investment.

Dhaka is not a durable city at all, said Rahman.

"There is a saying that foreigners cry before coming to Dhaka. But when they leave, they also cry because they have already fallen in love with our culture," he laughed.

He added, "If we want to attract international employees here, we need to focus on their cost of living so that it would be affordable for them."

Released on Tuesday, Mercer's annual report titled "2021 Cost of Living City Ranking" ranked 209 cities based on the comparative cost of expenses of more than 200 goods and services, including housing, transportation, food, home services, clothing, and entertainment. The New York City was the baseline for the comparison.

The cost comparisons were derived from the survey conducted in March this year.

The report found Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat is the most expensive city for international employees, pushing Hong Kong to second place.

Beirut ranked third, climbing 42 positions up the ranking as a result of a severe and extensive economic depression due to the escalation of several crises, including the country's largest financial crisis, Covid-19, and the 2020 Port of Beirut explosion.

More than half of the top 10 most expensive cities are located in Asia – Ashgabat (1st), Hong Kong (2nd), Tokyo (4th), Shanghai (6th), Singapore (7th), and Beijing (9th).

On the other hand, the world's least expensive cities for international employees are Tbilisi (207th), Lusaka (208th), and Bishkek (209th).

"The cost of living has always been a factor for international mobility planning, but the pandemic has added a whole new layer of complexity, as well as long-term implications related to health and safety of employees, remote working and flexibility policies, among other considerations," said Career President and Head of Mercer Strategy Ilya Bonic.

"As organisations rethink their talent and mobility strategies, accurate and transparent data is essential to compensate employees fairly for all types of assignments," he added.

Infograph / Top News

Dhaka / Washington / costiliest

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photos: Collected
    Rubio calls Yunus, discusses economic ties as US tariff negotiation goes on
  • Representational image. File photo: TBS
    Ships depart, cargo operation in full swing as Ctg port starts clearing containers
  • NBR Office in Dhaka. File Photo: Collected
    NBR officers should captain revenue authority, businesses tell finance adviser

MOST VIEWED

  • Return to work or face stern action, govt warns protesters as NBR jobs declared 'essential services'
    Return to work or face stern action, govt warns protesters as NBR jobs declared 'essential services'
  • Representational image. Photo: UNB
    After 58 yrs, Ctg getting two new govt schools
  • Remittance inflow hits record $30b in FY25
    Remittance inflow hits record $30b in FY25
  • Officials of the NBR, under the banner of the NBR Unity Council, continued their protest on Sunday since 9am. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS
    NBR staff call off protest as govt goes tough
  • Record $30b remittance lifts reserves to $26b
    Record $30b remittance lifts reserves to $26b
  • A Chevron gas station sign is seen in Del Mar, California, April 25, 2013. Chevron will report earnings on April 26. REUTERS/Mike Blake
    Chevron to resume Jalalabad gas project after Petrobangla clears $237m dues

Related News

  • Ulan Daspara: Remnants of a fishing village in Dhaka
  • Online GD service to be launched in Dhaka, Mymensingh tomorrow
  • Makeshift temple removal in Dhaka followed due process: Govt
  • 2025 Global Liveability Index: Dhaka slips 3 notches, just ahead of war-torn Tripoli, Damascus
  • No homes, no hope: The lives of Dhaka’s ‘floating population’

Features

Illustration: TBS

Ulan Daspara: Remnants of a fishing village in Dhaka

7h | Panorama
Photo: Collected

Innovative storage accessories you’ll love

1d | Brands
Two competitors in this segment — one a flashy newcomer, the other a hybrid veteran — are going head-to-head: the GAC GS3 Emzoom and the Toyota CH-R. PHOTOS: Nafirul Haq (GAC Emzoom) and Akif Hamid (Toyota CH-R)

GAC Emzoom vs Toyota CH-R: The battle of tech vs trust

1d | Wheels
Women farmers, deeply reliant on access to natural resources for both farming and domestic survival, are among the most affected, caught between ecological collapse and inadequate structural support. Photo: Shaharin Amin Shupty

Hope in the hills: How women farmers in Bandarban are weathering the climate crisis

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Committee led by DC-UNOs to set up polling stations cancelled

Committee led by DC-UNOs to set up polling stations cancelled

4h | TBS Today
What is the reason behind Russia's refusal to go to war against Israel?

What is the reason behind Russia's refusal to go to war against Israel?

5h | Others
BNP Blamed by Parties as Reforms Lag

BNP Blamed by Parties as Reforms Lag

5h | TBS Today
What are the problems with foreign investment in the renewable energy sector in the country?

What are the problems with foreign investment in the renewable energy sector in the country?

6h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net