🇧🇩 Bangladesh · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Khulna? 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
Three-bed apartment, Nirala or SonadangaBDT 15,000–30,000 / month
Two-bed apartment, Boyra, Doulatpur or KhalishpurBDT 7,000–15,000 / month
Utilities including gas, electricity and internetBDT 4,000–9,000 / month
Groceries, one personBDT 10,000–20,000 / month; river fish is cheap and excellent, imported goods are scarce
Chui jhal beef and rice at a local restaurantBDT 200–400 per person
Easy-bike or CNG fare across the cityBDT 20–120 depending on distance
Two-night Sundarbans boat trip, per personBDT 12,000–25,000 including permit, guard and meals
Good to know
Population
719,557 in Khulna City Corporation at the 2022 census — the southwest's metropolis, on a much tighter corporation boundary than Dhaka's or Chattogram's
Languages
Bengali (Bangla) in a southwestern dialect much closer to the standard than Chittagonian; English is used in the universities, the port and the development 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 — hot humid summers, a heavy June–September monsoon, a short cool winter, direct cyclone exposure from the Bay of Bengal, and surprisingly poor dry-season air
Water
Piped supply is treated surface water pumped from the Modhumoti river tens of kilometres away, because local groundwater and rivers are too saline
Working week
Sunday to Thursday for government and much of the private sector; Friday is the weekly holiday, Saturday variable
Public transport
No metro or rail transit — easy-bikes, battery rickshaws, CNG auto-rickshaws and buses, plus intercity rail to Dhaka via the Padma bridge and to Mongla since 2023
Some of this may be out of date.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 Khulna checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Khulna
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.