Dhaka is the busy capital of Bangladesh, with over 21 million people living there. It’s one of the most crowded cities in the world. If you’ve ever been curious about what it’s like to buy, rent, or live in Dhaka, you’re about to find out. Let’s take a look at how people live in this big city and how the housing market works in this lively part of South Asia.
Rich Areas and Regular Neighborhoods
As you walk through Dhaka, you’ll quickly see how different each area is. In rich neighborhoods like Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara, there are luxury apartments and houses that can cost as much as homes in Europe or America.
“Land in the best parts of Dhaka is like gold now,” says a home builder with over 20 years of experience. “A small piece of land in Gulshan can cost around 40 crore taka (about $3.7 million). It’s some of the most expensive land in South Asia.”
But most people in Dhaka don’t live in these high-end areas. Middle-class families usually buy apartments in places like Mohammadpur, Mirpur, and Uttara, where prices are more affordable and the facilities are still good.
| Area Category | Neighborhood Examples | Price Range (BDT) | Typical Features |
| Premium | Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara | 15,000-25,000 | Luxury amenities, security, parking |
| High-End | Dhanmondi, Uttara Sector 3-7 | 8,000-15,000 | Good facilities, elevator, generator |
| Mid-Range | Mohammadpur, Mirpur DOHS | 5,000-8,000 | Basic amenities, some parking |
| Affordable | Mirpur-1, Shyamoli, Adabor | 3,000-5,000 | Limited amenities, walk-up buildings |
Note: Prices are approximate and vary based on building quality, age, and exact location.
Despite ups and downs in the global economy, Dhaka’s property market keeps growing, usually by about 5-8% each year. This steady growth happens because:
- Many Bangladeshis working abroad send money home to buy property
- People see real estate as one of the safest ways to invest their savings
- Owning a home is deeply important in Bangladeshi culture
- People keep moving from villages to the city, creating constant demand for housing
Dhaka Population Growth and Housing Demand
The pressure on Dhaka’s housing market becomes clearer when you look at how fast the city is growing: Every year, roughly 400,000-500,000 new people arrive in Dhaka looking for work and better opportunities. Most of these newcomers need housing, but the city only builds about 60,000-70,000 new units annually. This gap between supply and demand keeps pushing prices higher.
Building Up Instead of Out
The most noticeable change in Dhaka’s landscape is how tall the buildings have become. Twenty years ago, most homes were just one or two stories high. Now, apartment buildings reaching 15-20 floors dominate the skyline.
This vertical growth makes sense when you think about it. Dhaka simply doesn’t have enough land for everyone to have a house with a yard. New building codes have made taller structures safer, while better technology has solved problems like getting water to upper floors and keeping elevators running during power outages.
