Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Dhaka

Accommodation

$8-25 per night

Shared dorms in hostels, basic guesthouses, budget hotels with shared bathrooms

Food & Dining

$3-8 per day

Street food stalls, local tea shops, traditional rice meals, market food

Transportation

$2-6 per day

Local buses, rickshaws, walking, occasional CNG auto-rickshaws

Activities

$2-10 per day

Free walking tours, public parks, mosque visits, local markets, occasional museum entry

Eat at local tea shops and street stalls instead of hotel restaurants (typically 70-80% cheaper)

Use local buses and shared rickshaws instead of private taxis (saves 60-75% on transportation)

Stay in Old Dhaka area for cheaper accommodation and authentic local experience (30-50% less than business districts)

Shop at local markets like Kolkata instead of shopping malls (typically 40-60% cheaper for similar items)

Visit during weekdays when possible as weekend rates for activities can be 20-30% higher

Book accommodation directly with smaller guesthouses to avoid booking platform fees (usually 10-15% savings)

Only eating in air-conditioned restaurants in upscale areas instead of trying local street food (can cost 3-4x more)

Taking taxis everywhere instead of learning the local bus system (typically 5-8x more expensive)

Staying only in Gulshan or Banani business districts without exploring cheaper neighborhoods (often 50-100% markup)

Not bargaining at markets and with rickshaw drivers (can overpay by 30-50%)

Exchanging money at hotels instead of authorized money changers (usually 3-5% worse rates)