The Cheapest Hotel In The World

Located in the middle of Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the Buriganga River snakes through the busy city, sits an unusual hotel that questions conventional wisdom of hospitality. Offering nightly rates starting at an incredible 31 pence (about 35 cents), Hotel Faridpur, a floating hotel made of five repurposed boats, has gained reputation as the least expensive hotel in the world. This affordable paradise mostly serves budget-conscious tourists looking for cover in the heavily populated capital as well as temporary workers.

To put it mildly, the Hotel Faridpur has spartan lodging. Visitors share communal bunk rooms with closely packed beds that recall a military barracks. There are basic conveniences including toilets and water, but privacy is a luxury still unattainable. Though it lacks modern conveniences, the hotel regularly draws a consistent stream of guests, usually to capacity of forty people who might stay for up to three months.

Owner Muhamed Mustafa, who has run the business for 26 years, says the low prices are purposefully set to help people moving from rural areas in search of work. “For the nominal price,” Mustafa says, “they will get separate beds, clean toilets, and purified water. We also give them lockers where their stuff will be safe.” Meals are not covered by the low tariff, though.

Faridpur Hotel is not unusual for Dhaka. Many floating hotels around the city provide reasonably priced housing choices for the itinerant workforce of the area. One of the cities with fastest global growth, Dhaka struggles with population increase and congestion. Studies evaluating cities with the lowest quality of life often show it, so highlighting the difficulties experienced by their residents.

For those trying to establish themselves in Dhaka’s unrelenting urban scene, Hotel Faridpur is a lifeline even if it might not have the luxury and conveniences connected with traditional hotels. Its presence highlights the ingenuity of people who negotiate its complexity and clarifies the social inequalities that define the city. For some, the least expensive hotel on Earth serves as a stopgap toward a more affluent future and a temporary haven.