Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Da Nang Cost of Living Comparison Between Arequipa and Da Nang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $726 per month in Arequipa vs $874 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,150 per month in Arequipa vs $1,402 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,573 per month in Arequipa vs $1,930 in Da Nang, rent included.

Arequipa is about 17% cheaper than Da Nang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Arequipa and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Arequipa 47% lower, Da Nang 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.59 PEN 12.04
$2.33 ₫60.8K
54.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.83 PEN 100
$19.42 ₫506.1K
53.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.85 PEN 19.63
$4.46 ₫116.3K
31.17%
Cappuccino
$2.61 PEN 8.75
$1.72 ₫44.9K
51.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 PEN 2.79
$0.68 ₫17.8K
22.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 PEN 1.22
$0.34 ₫8,927
5.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 PEN 7.40
$1.30 ₫33.9K
70.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 PEN 14.56
$2.36 ₫61.5K
83.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 PEN 4.59
$1.54 ₫40.1K
-11.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 PEN 4.85
$1.22 ₫31.9K
18.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.53 PEN 5.13
$1.06 ₫27.5K
44.34%
Eggs
$2.36 PEN 7.91
$1.52 ₫39.7K
55.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.46 PEN 21.66
$12.97 ₫337.8K
-50.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.47 PEN 14.98
$4.05 ₫105.6K
10.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.44 PEN 24.95
$9.27 ₫241.6K
-19.74%
Apples (1kg)
$1.83 PEN 6.14
$2.69 ₫70.2K
-31.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.25 PEN 4.20
$1.11 ₫28.9K
12.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 PEN 3.91
$1.33 ₫34.5K
-12.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.02 PEN 3.43
$1.38 ₫35.9K
-26.09%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 PEN 2.26
$1.09 ₫28.5K
-38.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.72 PEN 2.42
$1.21 ₫31.6K
-40.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 PEN 1.89
$1.03 ₫26.8K
-45.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 PEN 2.57
$0.52 ₫13.6K
48.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22 PEN 17.51
$1.55 ₫40.5K
236.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.29 PEN 17.74
$7.71 ₫201.0K
-31.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.89 PEN 9.69
$0.90 ₫23.5K
221.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 PEN 8.04
$2.14 ₫55.8K
12.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 PEN 0.97
$0.32 ₫8,217
-9.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$5.07 ₫132.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 PEN 7.05
$1.03 ₫26.9K
103.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 PEN 6.86
$0.65 ₫17.0K
215.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$12.85 PEN 43.08
$19.08 ₫497.0K
-32.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 PEN 5.08
$0.85 ₫22.2K
78.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6K PEN 62.3K
$30.7K ₫800.8M
-39.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K PEN 87.3K
$27.6K ₫717.9M
-5.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$24.42 PEN 81.9
$88.0 ₫2.3M
-72.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.19 PEN 34.16
$6.28 ₫163.6K
62.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.41 PEN 78.5
$7.91 ₫206.1K
195.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.53 PEN 85.6
$22.18 ₫578.0K
15.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.36 PEN 28.04
$5.30 ₫138.1K
57.74%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 PEN 25.16
$3.02 ₫78.6K
148.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$75.6 PEN 253
$161 ₫4.2M
-52.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,836 PEN 22.9K
$15.1K ₫394.1M
-54.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.44 PEN 166
$46.10 ₫1.2M
7.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.25 PEN 88.0
$27.21 ₫708.9K
-3.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.3 PEN 232
$103 ₫2.7M
-32.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.7 PEN 200
$81.7 ₫2.1M
-26.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$362 PEN 1,214
$529 ₫13.8M
-31.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$240 PEN 804
$346 ₫9.0M
-30.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$731 PEN 2,452
$1,037 ₫27.0M
-29.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$421 PEN 1,412
$809 ₫21.1M
-47.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,995 PEN 6,688
$3,809 ₫99.2M
-47.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,016 PEN 3,406
$1,312 ₫34.2M
-22.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$656 PEN 2,198
$350 ₫9.1M
87.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
10.72
39.93%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Arequipa: August 29, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $362 in Arequipa versus $529 in Da Nang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 88% higher in Arequipa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Arequipa versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Groceries tell a different story – $179 in Arequipa vs $198 in Da Nang – so Arequipa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Arequipa vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Arequipa or Da Nang?
Da Nang costs about 20% more than Arequipa, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Arequipa and in Da Nang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,089 per month in Arequipa and $1,311 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Arequipa or Da Nang?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Arequipa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Arequipa and in Da Nang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Arequipa and $19.00 in Da Nang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Arequipa or in Da Nang?
Groceries cost about 10% more in Da Nang, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Arequipa or in Da Nang?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $726 in Arequipa and $874 in Da Nang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Arequipa or Da Nang?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Arequipa costs $726 versus $874 in Da Nang. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Arequipa compared to Da Nang?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Arequipa or to Da Nang?
If budget matters most, go with Arequipa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Da Nang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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