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: $778 in Balikpapan versus $721 in Da Nang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,200 in Balikpapan versus $1,088 in Da Nang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,622 in Balikpapan versus $1,454 in Da Nang.

Living in Balikpapan is roughly 8% more expensive than Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 42% lower, Da Nang 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.57 Rp 27.8K

$1.94 ₫51.0K

-19.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.13 Rp 268.0K

$19.53 ₫512.6K

-22.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.35 Rp 59.3K

$4.79 ₫125.7K

-30.06%

Cappuccino

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

$1.57 ₫41.3K

10.19%

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

$0.40 Rp 7,116

$0.54 ₫14.2K

-25.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 Rp 6,803

$0.31 ₫8,254

22.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 Rp 35.7K

$1.04 ₫27.2K

93.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 Rp 55.8K

$1.59 ₫41.8K

98.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 Rp 33.6K

$1.38 ₫36.3K

36.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 Rp 21.8K

$1.02 ₫26.9K

20.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.12 ₫29.4K

13.39%

Eggs

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$1.48 ₫38.8K

80.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 Rp 140.3K

$12.60 ₫330.7K

-37.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.03 Rp 89.2K

$3.77 ₫98.9K

33.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 Rp 140.8K

$9.87 ₫259.1K

-19.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 Rp 66.0K

$2.73 ₫71.6K

36.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

$0.99 ₫25.9K

56.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 Rp 37.6K

$1.12 ₫29.5K

89.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 Rp 22.3K

$1.10 ₫28.8K

14.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.1K

$1.15 ₫30.1K

57.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 64.1K

$1.21 ₫31.8K

199.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 Rp 16.6K

$0.99 ₫26.1K

-5.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.0K

$0.49 ₫12.8K

61.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$1.33 ₫34.8K

54.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.59 Rp 382.5K

$7.57 ₫198.5K

185.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

$0.85 ₫22.4K

164.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 Rp 76.8K

$1.66 ₫43.5K

160.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

$0.34 ₫9,029

85.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.67 Rp 171.2K

$3.92 ₫102.9K

146.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 Rp 22.1K

$0.90 ₫23.6K

38.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,652

$0.75 ₫19.7K

-49.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 Rp 105.5K

$12.01 ₫315.1K

-50.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 Rp 13.1K

$0.86 ₫22.5K

-13.95%

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

$24.5K Rp 434.5M

$27.2K ₫715.0M

-9.99%

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

$26.0K Rp 460.5M

$28.9K ₫758.4M

-10.05%

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

$92.1 Rp 1.6M

$74.5 ₫2.0M

23.56%

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

$2.98 Rp 52.8K

$5.87 ₫154.1K

-49.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.61 Rp 560.0K

$8.32 ₫218.4K

279.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.70 Rp 384.3K

$20.15 ₫528.8K

7.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 Rp 107.3K

$7.74 ₫203.0K

-21.71%

Cinema Ticket

$3.12 Rp 55.3K

$3.05 ₫80.0K

2.30%

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

$61.9 Rp 1.1M

$154 ₫4.0M

-59.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,588 Rp 134.4M

$13.1K ₫344.3M

-42.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.41 Rp 733.6K

$39.19 ₫1.0M

5.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.63 Rp 365.5K

$25.78 ₫676.5K

-19.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 Rp 2.2M

$51.3 ₫1.3M

142.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 Rp 2.2M

$75.2 ₫2.0M

64.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$222 Rp 3.9M

$364 ₫9.6M

-39.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$155 Rp 2.8M

$245 ₫6.4M

-36.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$492 Rp 8.7M

$727 ₫19.1M

-32.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 Rp 5.5M

$458 ₫12.0M

-32.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,084 Rp 19.2M

$3,844 ₫100.9M

-71.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$628 Rp 11.1M

$1,323 ₫34.7M

-52.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$195 Rp 3.4M

$347 ₫9.1M

-43.87%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Balikpapan and $364 in Da Nang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Da Nang pays 78% 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 $20.00 in Da Nang. Groceries flip the comparison at $252 vs $189, 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 8% in total monthly costs ($778 vs $721 including rent). Da Nang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Da Nang earns 78% less. 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 $364 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 147% less than in Balikpapan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $61.9 in Balikpapan versus $154 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 8% less than in Balikpapan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.