In planning mode - how much budget should I keep in mind for Bangladesh - any experiences?
I spent three weeks in Bangladesh and was amazed at the low costs. A plate of biryani in Dhaka was $2, tea on the street cost $0.10, and rickshaw rides were under a dollar. Western food in Gulshan was pricier, about $12, but I avoided it. Tips weren’t common, though I’d leave coins. My daily average was $25, including meals, rides, and tips. Even long bus journeys across the country only cost a few dollars. It’s chaotic, but for budget travellers, Bangladesh is unbeatable for value.
Meals: $2-5 for local restaurants, $10 in Western-style places. Transport: $0.50 for rickshaw, $2 for CNG auto, $5 for taxi. Tips: not expected, but small amounts appreciated. A safe daily budget is $25-30. That covers meals, transport, and tips with plenty of room for comfort. Days with train or bus rides across the country add $5-10 at most. For a month-long trip, Bangladesh is extremely budget-friendly. Even $1,000 will stretch comfortably, making it one of Asia’s cheapest destinations.
I averaged $35 daily in Bangladesh and felt like a king. Meals in decent restaurants were $5-7, coffee shops $2-3, and transport (rickshaw or CNG auto-rickshaw) was $1-2 per ride. Tips were light, maybe $1 per meal. If you want to stay in Dhaka, enjoy restaurants, and occasionally use air-conditioned taxis, $35 daily is safe. Add extra for long-distance buses or train journeys, which are cheap but add up with frequency. Bangladesh is low-cost compared to anywhere else in Asia.
Bangladesh is one of the cheapest countries I’ve travelled. Street food like biryani or parathas cost $1-2, and a full sit-down meal in a local restaurant is $3-5. Rickshaws within cities are $0.50-1, and buses even less. Tips aren’t huge, just rounding up or a few extra taka. You can live easily on $15-20 per day. I stayed a month and rarely crossed that unless I splurged on Western food, which can be $10-12 per plate. For budget travellers, it’s incredibly forgiving.