Short answer: most expatriates renting an apartment in Dhaka live in Gulshan, Banani or Baridhara. Budget roughly BDT 100,000–350,000 per month for a furnished three- or four-bedroom flat, plus 2–3 months' deposit, a service charge of typically BDT 8,000–20,000 a month and, conventionally, one month's rent as agency commission.
Dhaka is a rewarding city to live in and an opaque one to rent in. There is no public property register, few rents are advertised accurately, photographs do not always match the flat, and most standard leases are written in Bengali. This guide explains what foreigners renting an apartment in Dhaka should know before signing: where to look, what it really costs, which documents you need, what to check in the building and how to protect your deposit.
It is written for diplomats, UN and NGO staff, international company employees and their families — and for the HR and relocation managers who arrange their housing.
Where do expats usually rent in Dhaka?
Choose the district before the flat. Dhaka traffic makes distance expensive in time rather than kilometres: a commute that looks like four kilometres on a map can take fifty minutes in the morning peak. Pick your area around your office and your children's school first, then look at buildings.
- Baridhara — the Diplomatic Zone, with controlled access, many embassies and the highest rents. American International School Dhaka is here.
- Gulshan — corporate head offices, embassies, Gulshan Lake, international schools and a strong restaurant and retail base around the Gulshan-1 and Gulshan-2 circles.
- Banani — dense and walkable, popular with mid-to-senior staff, with plenty of cafés and shops around Banani Road 11.
- Bashundhara R/A and Uttara — newer buildings, larger flats and materially lower rents, with a longer commute to the centre. Uttara is close to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
- Niketon and DOHS pockets — quiet, secure, compact and good value.
The table below summarises monthly rents for furnished homes in our current listings. It is a snapshot, not a market average.
| Area | Best suited to | Furnished rents in our current listings (BDT/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Baridhara | Diplomats, senior staff, families wanting maximum security | 150,000–350,000; large residences up to 1,000,000 |
| Gulshan | Corporate staff, families near schools | 70,000–160,000 (smaller Niketon flats at the lower end) |
| Banani | Mid-to-senior professionals, couples | 120,000–170,000 for three- and four-bedroom flats |
| Bashundhara R/A | Families wanting space and value | 35,000–45,000 (one bedroom); 80,000–150,000 (three to four bedrooms) |
| Uttara | Staff working near the airport or in the north | Around 90,000 for a furnished three-bedroom flat |
For a deeper comparison, read our guide to the best areas to live in Dhaka for expats.
How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Dhaka?
The advertised rent is not what you pay each month. A realistic monthly budget has four or five lines:
- Rent — see the ranges above, or current figures by area in our Dhaka apartment rent price guide.
- Service charge — typically BDT 8,000–20,000 a month, covering lifts, generator, guards and common-area cleaning, and often water.
- Gas and electricity — usually metered separately; prepaid meters are common in newer buildings.
- Internet — normally contracted by the tenant unless the flat is serviced.
- Household staff — many expatriate households employ a cleaner, cook or driver; agree terms in writing.
One-off costs at the start usually include the security deposit, any advance rent the landlord asks for, and agency commission. Confirm in writing which running costs the landlord covers and which are yours.
Should you rent furnished or unfurnished?
For most postings of five months to two years, a fully furnished flat is the practical choice. Buying furniture, appliances, curtains and kitchen equipment for a two-year stay is expensive and slow, and selling it again when you leave is harder still. Furnished flats typically cost more than the same unit unfurnished, but the difference is usually smaller than the cost and delay of furnishing a home yourself.
Unfurnished flats make sense for longer stays, for families shipping their own household goods, or where an employer provides a furniture allowance. Our guide to furnished vs unfurnished apartments in Dhaka compares the two in more detail.
How long is a typical lease in Dhaka?
Standard residential leases are commonly one to two years. For expatriates on shorter assignments, furnished and serviced apartments can often be let for five or six months, and serviced apartments usually for one month or more. Shorter terms generally cost more per month, so it is worth agreeing the realistic length of your posting with your employer before you negotiate. If there is a chance you will be recalled early, ask for an early-termination clause with a clear notice period rather than relying on goodwill. See short-term furnished rentals in Dhaka for stays under a year.
What documents do foreigners need to rent in Dhaka?
Requirements vary by landlord, but a foreign tenant is usually asked for:
- a copy of your passport;
- a valid visa or work permit;
- a letter from your employer confirming your position;
- passport-size photographs.
Where a company or organisation signs the lease, the landlord will usually also want the trade licence and company registration papers, plus the name of an authorised signatory. Embassies and UN agencies often have their own lease templates and approval steps — share these early so the landlord can review them.
What should you check before choosing a flat?
The flat is rarely the problem. The building is. Check these in person, ideally on a weekday evening when the building is busy:
- Generator capacity — does it carry air-conditioning, or only lights and lifts? Power cuts are a routine part of life in Dhaka.
- Lifts — how many, and are they all working today? A single lift in a ten-storey building is a daily problem.
- Water — pump, reserve tank and pressure on the upper floors; ask how drinking water is handled.
- Security — guard roster, controlled entry, CCTV coverage and visitor logging.
- Fire exits — two protected routes, not one stairwell that ends at a locked gate.
- Parking — allocated bays confirmed in writing, plus a driver waiting area.
- Damp and leaks — look at ceilings, window frames and bathrooms, especially after rain.
If your employer has a security standard, our embassy-standard apartment security checklist goes into more detail.
How do the deposit, advance and commission work?
Two to three months' rent as a security deposit is standard, refundable at the end of the tenancy less any damage. Some landlords also ask for rent in advance; the amount is negotiable and should be written into the lease. Agency commission is conventionally one month's rent, and should be agreed in writing before viewings.
The deposit comes back far more reliably when there is a dated, photographed handover inventory signed by both parties. Do this on day one without exception. Our guide to advance rent and security deposits in Dhaka explains the details.
What should the lease include?
Insist on an English version or a bilingual agreement. A lease you cannot read is a lease you cannot enforce. Before signing, check that it covers:
- the rent, the payment date and the payment method;
- the length of the term and the notice period for both sides;
- how and when the rent can be reviewed;
- who pays for major repairs and who pays for minor ones;
- what the service charge includes;
- a diplomatic or early-termination clause if your posting could end early;
- the furniture and appliance inventory, attached as a schedule.
For employer-specific terms, ask your HR team or legal adviser to review the draft before signature.
Do landlords register tenants with the police?
Yes. Landlords in Dhaka are expected to file tenant information with the local police station (thana). This is routine. Your landlord or agent should handle it, but confirm that it has been done.
Which mistakes cost expats the most money?
- Choosing a flat before the district — and then losing two hours a day in traffic.
- Trusting photographs — always view in person, or ask someone you trust to do a live video walkthrough.
- Skipping the inventory — the most common reason deposits are disputed.
- Verbal promises — repairs, new furniture or parking bays that are not written into the lease rarely appear.
- Ignoring the generator — a flat without back-up for air-conditioning is hard to live in during hot months.
How does renting through Rent Property work?
Bangladesh has no public multiple listing service, so a local agent who works in these buildings every week can save you time and mistakes. At Rent Property we:
- agree your brief, budget and commission in writing first;
- shortlist flats we have inspected and photographed ourselves;
- arrange viewings in person or by live video if you are still abroad;
- help you negotiate terms and prepare an English or bilingual lease;
- carry out the photographed handover inventory with you;
- remain one point of contact after you move in.
You can browse available properties now. If you are arriving for a short assignment first, our serviced apartments are a simpler starting point; employers moving several staff may prefer our corporate relocation service.
Ask us on WhatsApp
Tell us your office location, family size, budget and arrival date, and we will send a shortlist of suitable flats. Message Rent Property on WhatsApp at +880 1784-222255 — we usually reply within one working day, Saturday to Thursday, 9:00–19:00.