Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Bangladesh

Accommodation

$8-25 per night

Dormitory beds in hostels, basic guesthouses, budget hotels with shared bathrooms, fan-cooled rooms

Food & Dining

$5-15 per day

Street food stalls, local tea shops, rice and curry from local eateries, market snacks, occasional restaurant meals

Transportation

$2-8 per day

Local buses, shared rickshaws, walking, occasional CNG auto-rickshaws for short distances

Activities

$3-12 per day

Free walking tours, visiting mosques and temples, local markets, occasional museum entries, riverboat rides

Eat at local tea shops and street stalls instead of tourist restaurants (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Use local buses and shared transport instead of private vehicles (usually 70-85% savings)

Stay in areas popular with locals rather than main tourist zones (generally 30-50% lower accommodation costs)

Buy bottled water in bulk from local shops rather than hotels or tourist areas (typically 200-400% markup avoided)

Visit attractions early morning or late afternoon when local guides offer better rates (usually 20-40% less than peak hours)

Book accommodation directly with properties rather than through international platforms (often 10-25% savings)

Travel during monsoon season for significantly lower prices across all categories (typically 40-60% reductions)

Only eating at hotel restaurants and tourist areas instead of exploring local food scenes (typically costs 150-300% more)

Taking private transport for every journey instead of using efficient local bus networks (usually 3-5x more expensive)

Booking accommodation in Dhaka's diplomatic quarter or main tourist zones without comparing local neighborhood options (often 100-200% premium)

Not negotiating prices for tours and activities, especially for multi-day packages (missing potential 20-40% savings)