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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in Balikpapan versus $712 in Da Nang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,194 in Balikpapan versus $1,080 in Da Nang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,600 in Balikpapan versus $1,448 in Da Nang.

Living in Balikpapan is roughly 11% more expensive than in Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 41% lower, Da Nang 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.58 Rp 28.5K

$1.87 ₫49.2K

-15.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.12 Rp 273.0K

$18.84 ₫495.2K

-19.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.32 Rp 59.9K

$4.60 ₫121.0K

-27.83%

Cappuccino

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

$1.57 ₫41.2K

14.01%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,361

$0.50 ₫13.3K

-18.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 Rp 6,938

$0.29 ₫7,549

31.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 Rp 35.1K

$1.08 ₫28.3K

80.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 Rp 55.8K

$1.61 ₫42.4K

91.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 Rp 34.1K

$1.44 ₫37.8K

31.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 Rp 22.1K

$0.96 ₫25.3K

27.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 Rp 23.7K

$1.13 ₫29.6K

15.93%

Eggs

$2.67 Rp 48.2K

$1.48 ₫38.8K

80.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.25 Rp 149.0K

$12.58 ₫330.7K

-34.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$3.77 ₫99.1K

32.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 Rp 139.3K

$9.74 ₫256.2K

-20.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.76 Rp 67.8K

$2.60 ₫68.3K

44.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 Rp 27.2K

$0.92 ₫24.2K

64.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 Rp 38.3K

$1.08 ₫28.3K

96.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 Rp 22.8K

$1.06 ₫27.8K

18.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

$1.10 ₫28.9K

62.73%

Onion (1kg)

$3.74 Rp 67.6K

$1.17 ₫30.7K

219.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$1.01 ₫26.5K

-7.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

$0.52 ₫13.7K

51.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.01 Rp 36.4K

$1.32 ₫34.6K

52.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.19 Rp 364.5K

$7.74 ₫203.4K

160.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 Rp 39.3K

$0.86 ₫22.5K

153.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 Rp 79.1K

$1.64 ₫43.1K

167.07%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.58 Rp 10.5K

$0.35 ₫9,085

65.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 Rp 182.7K

$3.78 ₫99.3K

167.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

$0.88 ₫23.1K

37.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,708

$0.70 ₫18.5K

-47.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.5K

$12.01 ₫315.8K

-49.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.84 ₫22.1K

-13.10%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.5K Rp 443.0M

$26.3K ₫691.6M

-6.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K Rp 460.1M

$27.9K ₫734.5M

-8.78%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$93.1 Rp 1.7M

$75.9 ₫2.0M

22.60%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.12 Rp 56.4K

$5.93 ₫155.9K

-47.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.41 Rp 585.2K

$8.34 ₫219.3K

288.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.16 Rp 382.0K

$20.32 ₫534.3K

4.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 Rp 108.6K

$7.82 ₫205.7K

-23.02%

Cinema Ticket

$3.01 Rp 54.4K

$3.16 ₫83.1K

-4.75%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$62.0 Rp 1.1M

$156 ₫4.1M

-60.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,605 Rp 137.3M

$13.0K ₫341.6M

-41.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.03 Rp 758.8K

$39.50 ₫1.0M

6.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.04 Rp 379.8K

$25.70 ₫675.6K

-18.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 Rp 2.3M

$52.3 ₫1.4M

138.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 Rp 2.2M

$76.1 ₫2.0M

62.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$222 Rp 4.0M

$362 ₫9.5M

-38.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.8M

$246 ₫6.5M

-36.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 Rp 8.8M

$732 ₫19.3M

-33.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$302 Rp 5.4M

$456 ₫12.0M

-33.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,090 Rp 19.7M

$3,881 ₫102.0M

-71.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 Rp 10.8M

$1,304 ₫34.3M

-54.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 Rp 3.5M

$347 ₫9.1M

-44.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

40.58%

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

Last update for Balikpapan: July 27, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Balikpapan and $362 in Da Nang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Da Nang pays 81% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Balikpapan vs $19.00 in Da Nang. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $187, with Da Nang cheaper for home cooking.

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

Balikpapan vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Balikpapan and Da Nang differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($787 vs $712 including rent). Da Nang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 81% lower in Da Nang. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $222 in Balikpapan versus $362 in Da Nang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Da Nang runs roughly 168% less than in Balikpapan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $62.0 in Balikpapan versus $156 in Da Nang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Da Nang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, Balikpapan 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.

Expats usually find Da Nang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Balikpapan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.