What if you were born in Bangladesh?

If you had grown up in Bangladesh instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Dhaka could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Beach on Saint Martin's Island. Photo: Niaz morshed Shovon, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Bangladesh

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in BDT and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Bangladesh: BDT 29,800Rs 66,000
Rent (city centre): BDT 8,610
Transport (public transport): BDT 2,030
Food: BDT 4,300
Saved: BDT 4,470

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Bangladesh: BDT 68,400Rs 152,000
Rent (suburbs): BDT 17,400
Transport (public transport): BDT 4,650
Food: BDT 11,600
Saved: BDT 10,300

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Bangladesh: BDT 111,000Rs 246,000
Rent (city centre): BDT 27,100
Transport (car): BDT 10,400
Food: BDT 13,600
Saved: BDT 31,100

Try it with my own income

A day in Dhaka

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Dhaka, a city of mild winters around 18°C and warm summers around 30°C, and an umbrella is never far away.
Commute
Public transport is limited here, so you share rides or use taxis and buses for a longer commute.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Bengali at work; English helps in the big cities.
Lunch
Lunch might be hilsa fish (ilish) cooked in mustard sauce, eaten with rice.
Evening
You get home with BDT 10,300 saved each month. Most neighbourhoods feel safe after dark.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast.

Bangladesh compared with Pakistan

	Bangladesh	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	1.3× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	75 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	69 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	3.8%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	26°C	26°C
Languages	Bengali	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	BDT	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Bangladesh, living in Bangladesh and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Bangladesh?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around BDT 68,400 a month at the same level in Bangladesh (about Rs 152,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Bangladesh more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 1.3 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Bangladesh?

Mainly Bengali. English is spoken by some people, mostly in cities.

Can I actually move to Bangladesh?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Bangladesh page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.