😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,218 in Arendal versus $720 in Da Nang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,391 in Arendal versus $1,104 in Da Nang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Arendal versus $1,488 in Da Nang.
😐Living in Arendal is roughly 208% more expensive than Da Nang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Arendal is 66% above, Da Nang is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arendal
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.87NOK 166
$1.97₫51.8K
807.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.4NOK 700
$18.92₫497.2K
298.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.93NOK 139
$4.60₫120.8K
224.57%
Cappuccino
$5.17NOK 48.00
$1.63₫42.9K
217.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18NOK 29.50
$0.50₫13.1K
536.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06NOK 28.47
$0.29₫7,495
955.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.16NOK 104
$1.02₫26.9K
994.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.17NOK 94.5
$1.60₫42.0K
535.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arendal
Da Nang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.37NOK 21.98
$1.43₫37.5K
65.73%
White Bread(500g)
$3.06NOK 28.41
$1.02₫26.9K
200.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.59NOK 33.39
$1.15₫30.3K
212.17%
Eggs
$4.33NOK 40.26
$1.42₫37.4K
204.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.22NOK 123
$12.25₫321.8K
7.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.42NOK 143
$3.63₫95.5K
324.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.81NOK 258
$10.13₫266.3K
174.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.44NOK 31.98
$2.75₫72.2K
25.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.52NOK 23.40
$1.00₫26.2K
152.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.01NOK 27.93
$1.09₫28.6K
176.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.75NOK 44.13
$1.07₫28.1K
343.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12NOK 19.74
$1.13₫29.8K
87.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.93NOK 27.17
$1.15₫30.2K
154.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.52NOK 23.45
$1.04₫27.4K
142.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78NOK 16.52
$0.48₫12.6K
270.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.98NOK 139
$1.36₫35.7K
1001.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.12NOK 168
$7.71₫202.5K
135.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33NOK 30.92
$0.86₫22.7K
287.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02NOK 37.37
$1.66₫43.7K
142.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Arendal
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.83NOK 35.57
$0.32₫8,325
1096.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$103NOK 957
$3.92₫103.0K
2528.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.88NOK 73.2
$0.90₫23.6K
775.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05NOK 19.02
$0.69₫18.0K
197.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.93NOK 278
$11.67₫306.7K
156.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 19.55
$0.89₫23.4K
135.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KNOK 320.8K
$26.8K₫705.1M
28.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KNOK 304.1K
$28.1K₫738.4M
16.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arendal
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187NOK 1,734
$74.3₫2.0M
151.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.07NOK 326
$5.71₫150.1K
514.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.6NOK 683
$8.07₫212.1K
811.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arendal
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.98NOK 409
$20.37₫535.3K
115.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.8NOK 499
$7.65₫201.0K
602.61%
Cinema Ticket
$11.98NOK 111
$3.11₫81.6K
285.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arendal
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302NOK 2,801
$156₫4.1M
93.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.1KNOK 93.6K
$12.7K₫333.9M
-20.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arendal
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.5NOK 887
$38.62₫1.0M
147.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.1NOK 549
$26.00₫683.1K
127.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105NOK 973
$52.7₫1.4M
98.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156NOK 1,449
$75.8₫2.0M
105.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arendal
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,100NOK 10.2K
$360₫9.5M
205.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$695NOK 6,455
$249₫6.5M
179.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,295NOK 12.0K
$727₫19.1M
78.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,145NOK 10.6K
$459₫12.0M
149.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,174NOK 29.5K
$3,870₫101.7M
-17.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,170NOK 20.2K
$1,283₫33.7M
69.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arendal
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,262NOK 39.6K
$353₫9.3M
1107.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.6
10.67
-66.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arendal: June 1, 2026
Last update for Da Nang: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,100 in Arendal and $360 in Da Nang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Arendal pays 1107% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $75.0 in Arendal vs $19.00 in Da Nang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $459 vs $188 per month, with Da Nang cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Arendal vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Arendal and Da Nang?
Arendal and Da Nang differ by about 208% in total monthly costs ($2,218 vs $720 including rent). Da Nang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Arendal or Da Nang?
Arendal pays 1107% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Arendal and Da Nang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,100 in Arendal versus $360 in Da Nang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Arendal and Da Nang?
Childcare runs $302 in Arendal versus $156 in Da Nang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 144% higher in Arendal. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $720 in Da Nang versus $2,218 in Arendal, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Da Nang but tight or insufficient in Arendal. The gap between the two cities makes Da Nang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Arendal and Da Nang?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Arendal or Da Nang safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Arendal and Da Nang are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Arendal or Da Nang?
Expats usually find Da Nang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 208% less than in Arendal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.