Dhaka vs Ouagadougou Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Dhaka leads on CPI (16.7 vs 22.4, NYC=100), Dhaka leads on rent index, and Dhaka leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Dhaka
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Transport (794% gap, Dhaka ahead); Internet (792% gap, Dhaka ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $96 lower in Dhaka than in Ouagadougou (~24% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $96 (favoring Dhaka).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Dhaka | CPI 16.7 vs 22.4 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Dhaka | Rent index 10.6 vs 13 (lower is better) |
| Food | Dhaka | Groceries index 27 vs 31.3 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Dhaka | One-way ticket 27.43 vs 245.22 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Dhaka | Utilities (85m²) 2332 vs 15704 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Dhaka | Internet 1332.1 vs 11880.68 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Dhaka | Restaurant index 16 vs 22 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Ouagadougou | Avg net salary 587933.6 vs 190960 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Dhaka | PP index 28 vs 15.7 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Transport: Dhaka leads with a 794% gap.
One-way ticket 27.43 vs 245.22 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Dhaka — Lower housing / rent index (23% gap).
- Families: Dhaka — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Dhaka; purchasing power favors Dhaka.
- Remote Workers: Dhaka — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Dhaka (~34% gap).
- Budget Living: Dhaka — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Dhaka is the overall cost winner on CPI (~34% lower everyday-cost index than Ouagadougou).
- Housing: Dhaka leads on rent index (23% gap).
- Food / groceries: Dhaka is lower (16% gap).
- Purchasing power: Dhaka scores higher (44% gap).
- Largest category gap: Transport (794%), favoring Dhaka.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$96 cheaper in Dhaka.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 16.7/22.4, rent 10.6/13, purchasing power 28/15.7. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-24
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Regional.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.