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How to Find an Apartment in Dhaka Without Getting Scammed (Coffee Snob’s Field Guide)

@Ava Morales2/7/2026blog
How to Find an Apartment in Dhaka Without Getting Scammed (Coffee Snob’s Field Guide)

so last night i was staring at my laptop, the back‑lit screen looking like a campfire, trying to figure out where i could live in dhaka without losing my sanity. the humidity here is like a coffee grinder stuck on the middle setting - dry enough for a cold brew, but you still get a faint heat wave from the traffic. a short drive (or a quick flight) to the river delta gives you a taste of the chaos, i swear you can smell the river water mixing with diesel fumes. you might think the city is all shady alleys and midnight prayers, but the truth is you can grab a decent cuppa in the morning and still have a safe place to call home. let’s cut to the chase.

brown building during daytime
an aerial view of a river running through a city

*Rent in Banani



banani is the slick‑shoed cousin of dhaka’s residential market. you’re paying for the view of the international schools, the polished lobbies, and the coffee shop that claims to serve “authentic arabica” but actually serves instant. here’s the lowdown, served with a side of espresso.

- Know the market - most listings pop up on bdproperty.com and the facebook group BD Housing. craigslist does exist but it’s like a stale brew, outdated, and full of hidden beans.
- Ask for a written lease - a landlord will hand you a loose oral agreement over a steaming cup of tea. get it on paper (or at least a PDF) before you sign; otherwise you’re just a footnote in their ledger.
- Check for hidden fees - the “service charge” appears after three months like a bitter aftertaste. ask for a breakdown of all taka before you hand over any cash.
- Negotiate upfront - a yearly rent commitment often nets a “taka discount” of 5-10 % if you’re willing to sign early. the landlord’s smile turns into a grin when you mention this.
- Use a local broker - they charge roughly 0.5 % commission but know the legal red‑tape. think of them as your barista who knows the right grind for a safe lease.

i overheard a drunk bloke at a roadside tea stall brag, “i paid 15,000 taka for a one‑bedroom and then got hit with a 5,000 taka “water bill” after the first month.” that’s a classic scam in action-unannounced utility costs hiding behind a friendly handshake. if you hear “all bills included” from a landlord but the price is 30 % higher than the neighborhood average, treat it like a burnt espresso and walk away.

Quick data bite: a decent 1‑bedroom in banani typically runs between BDT 15,000-25,000 (≈$135-$225) per month. in Gulshan, the same sized flat jumps to BDT 25,000-40,000 (≈$225-$365). TripAdvisor guide to Dhaka neighborhoods can help you see which zones feel like a quiet corner of a café versus a busy highway.

Safety on the streets of Mohammadpur



if you’re skeptical about living in dhaka’s “high‑rise jungle,” you’re not alone. the safety vibe here is a little like a well‑balanced pour-some turbulence, but you can still sip in peace.

- Police patrol - Mohammadpur police stations are visible during daylight, but after 10 pm they’re more likely to be sipping tea than chasing thieves.
- Neighborhood watch - local “vigilante groups” keep an eye on outsiders; they’ll tip you off if a landlord is a shady deal-maker.
- Avoid the dark alleys - the narrow lanes between Mirpur and Mohammadpur are hotbeds for fake landlords. stick to the main roads where the crowd is a little less intimidating.
- Scam red flags - if someone asks for “advance rent” before you even see the flat, that’s a dead giveaway. a classic I saw at a coworking space: a guy paid 2‑month deposit and never got the key.
- Local rumor - a guy at the corner tea stall warned me, “the area near Dhanmondi 2 is being redeveloped. expect dust and broken promises for the next six months.”

> "If you see a landlord claiming 'all bills included' and charging a higher price, treat it like a burnt espresso-just skip."

Hard numbers: the 2024 Global Peace Index puts dhaka at moderate safety levels for expats. petty theft spikes after midnight, but violent crime is relatively low if you stay in mid‑tier neighborhoods like Mohammadpur. still, a little extra caution never hurts.

Jobs in Gulshan



gulshan is where the coffee machines whirr louder than the traffic horns. the job market there feels like a fresh roast-full of potential, but you have to grind through the grind.

- Call centre boom - most expat‑friendly offices sit near Gulshan 1 and 2. entry‑level salaries range BDT 12,000-15,000 (≈$110-$135) a month, enough to cover a modest 1‑bedroom in banani.
- Remote coworking spots - The Hive and CoWork Bangladesh offer reliable internet and often host meetups where landlords post vacancies. the price for a day pass is BDT 500-700, a tiny fraction of a monthly rent.
- Start‑ups - fintech firms in Dhanmondi keep hiring interns who can work remotely. they love freelancers who bring design or copywriting skills.
- Freelance gigs - upwork or freelancer.com can fetch $20-$30 per article for a writer, $15 per hour for a photographer, which can cover 30-40 % of rent if you land two or three gigs a week.
- Barter deals - i’ve seen a graphic designer trade a brand logo for a month’s rent discount. the landlord’s grin matched the price of a decent cappuccino.

a local warned me, “the area near Gulshan‑1 is getting a lot of construction dust. if you sign a lease now, you might end up stuck in a noisy building for six months while they redo the façade.” that’s the kind of insider tip that makes a difference.

Data cheat sheet: dhaka’s BPO sector employs about 500,000 people, with a median monthly salary of BDT 12,000-15,000. remote freelancers can earn $200-$400 per month if they have steady clients. a quick peek at Yelp for Dhaka landlords shows a handful of “verified” listings-always double‑check the reviews; they’re as mixed as a latte with a dash of milk.

Final thoughts*: dhaka isn’t a perfect cup of coffee, but if you use the right filters-market research, written agreements, local eyes, and a solid backup plan-you can avoid the bitter aftertaste of a scam. keep an eye on the river’s flow, stay hydrated (metaphorically, with good coffee), and remember: the best deals aren’t served by a shouty landlord; they’re brewed in the quiet corners of coworking spaces and verified FB groups. happy hunting, and may your lease be as smooth as a pour‑over.

Reddit thread on rental scams in Dhaka is a treasure chest of over‑heard gossip, and Facebook group BD Housing is where locals swap “drunk advice” on the best landlords.

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About the author: Ava Morales

Fascinated by how things work—and why they sometimes don't.

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