🙂A single person spends $649 per month in Arequipa vs $720 in Da Nang, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,065 per month in Arequipa vs $1,104 in Da Nang, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,482 per month in Arequipa vs $1,488 in Da Nang, rent included.
🙂Arequipa is about 10% cheaper than Da Nang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Arequipa and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Arequipa52% lower, Da Nang46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.13PEN 14.06
$1.97₫51.8K
109.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.09PEN 95.5
$18.92₫497.2K
48.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.64PEN 19.18
$4.60₫120.8K
22.61%
Cappuccino
$2.54PEN 8.62
$1.63₫42.9K
55.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82PEN 2.78
$0.50₫13.1K
64.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37PEN 1.25
$0.29₫7,495
27.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16PEN 7.33
$1.02₫26.9K
111.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.85PEN 19.90
$1.60₫42.0K
265.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61PEN 5.48
$1.43₫37.5K
12.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28PEN 4.35
$1.02₫26.9K
25.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23PEN 4.19
$1.15₫30.3K
6.96%
Eggs
$2.15PEN 7.29
$1.42₫37.4K
51.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.52PEN 18.75
$12.25₫321.8K
-54.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.17PEN 17.59
$3.63₫95.5K
42.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.76PEN 26.38
$10.13₫266.3K
-23.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49PEN 5.07
$2.75₫72.2K
-45.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17PEN 3.97
$1.00₫26.2K
17.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.19PEN 4.04
$1.09₫28.6K
9.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.77PEN 2.61
$1.07₫28.1K
-28.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.55PEN 1.86
$1.13₫29.8K
-51.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54PEN 1.84
$1.15₫30.2K
-53.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45PEN 1.51
$1.04₫27.4K
-56.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72PEN 2.44
$0.48₫12.6K
50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.87PEN 16.56
$1.36₫35.7K
258.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.04PEN 17.12
$7.71₫202.5K
-34.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46PEN 8.38
$0.86₫22.7K
186.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31PEN 7.87
$1.66₫43.7K
39.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29PEN 0.99
$0.32₫8,325
-9.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$3.92₫103.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06PEN 7.02
$0.90₫23.6K
128.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.06PEN 7.01
$0.69₫18.0K
198.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.77PEN 43.43
$11.67₫306.7K
9.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54PEN 5.24
$0.89₫23.4K
73.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.6KPEN 63.2K
$26.8K₫705.1M
-30.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KPEN 86.6K
$28.1K₫738.4M
-9.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.14PEN 133
$74.3₫2.0M
-47.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.57PEN 35.94
$5.71₫150.1K
85.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.04PEN 106
$8.07₫212.1K
284.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.22PEN 72.1
$20.37₫535.3K
4.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.34PEN 28.37
$7.65₫201.0K
9.02%
Cinema Ticket
$4.49PEN 15.27
$3.11₫81.6K
44.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$60.0PEN 204
$156₫4.1M
-61.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,277PEN 21.3K
$12.7K₫333.9M
-50.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.00PEN 126
$38.62₫1.0M
-4.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.10PEN 75.1
$26.00₫683.1K
-15.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.8PEN 214
$52.7₫1.4M
19.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.3PEN 191
$75.8₫2.0M
-25.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240PEN 817
$360₫9.5M
-33.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158PEN 538
$249₫6.5M
-36.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$540PEN 1,836
$727₫19.1M
-25.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$386PEN 1,314
$459₫12.0M
-15.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,956PEN 6,650
$3,870₫101.7M
-49.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$993PEN 3,377
$1,283₫33.7M
-22.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Arequipa
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$650PEN 2,210
$353₫9.3M
84.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
10.67
40.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Arequipa: May 31, 2026
Last update for Da Nang: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Arequipa versus $360 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 84% 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 $28.00 in Arequipa versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Groceries tell a different story – $171 in Arequipa vs $188 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 11% 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 vs Da Nang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $974 per month in Arequipa and $1,080 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 vs Da Nang?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 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 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 Da Nang?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $649 in Arequipa and $720 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 $649 versus $720 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 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.