Planning a trip within Bangladesh requires budgeting across several modes of transport — and the price differences between them are enormous. A Dhaka to Chittagong journey can cost anywhere from ৳450 on an ordinary bus to ৳4,500+ on an air-conditioned bus or ৳6,000+ by domestic flight, depending on which service you choose. This guide gives you current fare ranges for each major mode so you can build an accurate travel budget.
Dhaka to Major Cities: Approximate Fare Ranges
The following fares are indicative as of 2026 and cover one-way adult travel. Fares on private bus services and airlines change frequently and may include supplements during Eid, public holidays, and peak seasons.
Approximate One-Way Fares — Major Bangladesh Routes
| Route | Bus (AC) | Train (AC) | Launch/Ship | Domestic Flight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka → Chittagong | ৳800–1,200 | ৳৳1,200–1,800 (AC chair) | N/A | ৳3,500–7,000 |
| Dhaka → Sylhet | ৳700–1,100 | ৳1,000–1,600 | N/A | ৳3,000–6,500 |
| Dhaka → Cox's Bazar | ৳900–1,400 | N/A | N/A | ৳3,500–7,500 |
| Dhaka → Khulna | ৳700–1,000 | ৳1,000–1,500 | ৳700–900 (stateroom) | N/A |
| Dhaka → Barisal | ৳500–700 | N/A | ৳500–800 (deck/cabin) | N/A |
| Dhaka → Rajshahi | ৳600–900 | ৳900–1,400 | N/A | ৳3,000–6,000 |
| Dhaka → Rangpur | ৳700–1,000 | ৳1,000–1,500 | N/A | N/A |
Note
Train fares above are for Shobhon Chair / Shulov Coach AC class. Sleeper berths (AC berth/cabin) are higher; ordinary non-AC classes are significantly lower. Launch fares shown are for cabin class; deck class is cheaper.
Bus Types and What the Price Difference Actually Means
Bus services in Bangladesh range from government BRTC non-AC buses to premium AC coaches with individual reclining seats. The journey time is similar — sometimes the cheaper bus is actually faster because it makes fewer stops — but the comfort difference is significant on long routes.
- Non-AC ordinary bus: cheapest option, typically ৳200–400 for major routes; seats are not always guaranteed; shared with standing passengers.
- Non-AC 'sitting service': reserved seating, no AC; ৳350–600 for major routes. Acceptable for daylight trips.
- AC coach: assigned seat, air conditioning; ৳700–1,400 for most major routes. Most popular for inter-district business travel.
- AC business/executive class: wider seats, more legroom, sometimes with refreshments; ৳1,000–1,800. Available on Dhaka–Chittagong and Dhaka–Sylhet routes.
- Sleeper coach: double-decker with reclining sleeper seats; ৳1,400–2,200. Popular for overnight travel to destinations like Cox's Bazar.
Private Vehicle Fuel Cost
For those travelling by car, the fuel cost depends on the vehicle's mileage, the distance, and the current fuel price. Octane petrol is approximately ৳125 per litre as of mid-2026, and diesel is approximately ৳109 per litre. A typical car achieving 12 km/litre costs roughly ৳10–11 per km in fuel alone — not including tolls, ferry crossings, or driver costs.
Fuel cost per trip = (Distance in km / Mileage in km/l) × Fuel price per litre Example: Dhaka to Chittagong (~250 km) by car with 12 km/l mileage at ৳125/litre octane Fuel = (250 / 12) × 125 = 20.83 × 125 = ৳2,604 one way
Eid Travel Premium — Budget Extra
During Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, bus and launch fares effectively increase by 30–100% due to demand. Government BRTC fares stay controlled, but private bus operators and launch companies raise rates aggressively. Train tickets for the week before and after Eid sell out weeks in advance. If you are planning Eid travel, book as early as possible and budget at least double the normal fare.
Tip
For Dhaka to Chittagong, the train (Sonar Bangla or Mohanagar express) offers a comfortable and reliable alternative to the bus — the AC chair car is competitively priced and the journey time is comparable. Tickets are available on Bangladesh Railway's online booking portal up to 10 days in advance.