🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $865 in Bintulu versus $874 in Da Nang.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,330 in Bintulu versus $1,402 in Da Nang.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,795 in Bintulu versus $1,930 in Da Nang.
🌍Living in Bintulu costs roughly 1% less than in Da Nang, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bintulu37% lower, Da Nang36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bintulu
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.87MYR 15.66
$2.33₫60.8K
66.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80MYR 76.0
$19.42₫506.4K
-3.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.07MYR 24.54
$4.46₫116.3K
36.10%
Cappuccino
$2.89MYR 11.68
$1.72₫44.9K
68.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MYR 2.81
$0.68₫17.8K
1.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42MYR 1.68
$0.34₫8,933
23.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93MYR 11.86
$1.30₫33.9K
125.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18MYR 20.94
$2.36₫61.6K
119.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bintulu
Da Nang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.10MYR 8.48
$1.54₫40.2K
36.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36MYR 5.50
$1.22₫31.9K
11.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.34MYR 5.41
$1.06₫27.6K
26.42%
Eggs
$2.27MYR 9.17
$1.52₫39.7K
49.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.16MYR 69.4
$12.97₫338.0K
32.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.54MYR 14.33
$4.05₫105.7K
-12.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.84MYR 23.61
$9.27₫241.8K
-37.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.77MYR 7.17
$2.69₫70.2K
-34.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02MYR 4.14
$1.11₫28.9K
-8.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70MYR 6.88
$1.33₫34.6K
27.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13MYR 4.57
$1.38₫35.9K
-18.12%
Potato(1kg)
$0.51MYR 2.07
$1.09₫28.5K
-53.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21MYR 4.90
$1.21₫31.6K
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75MYR 3.03
$1.03₫26.9K
-27.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41MYR 1.66
$0.52₫13.6K
-21.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28MYR 17.31
$1.55₫40.5K
176.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.63MYR 79.4
$7.71₫201.1K
154.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.08MYR 12.46
$0.90₫23.6K
242.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04MYR 8.23
$2.14₫55.8K
-4.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Bintulu
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.21MYR 4.88
$0.32₫8,222
278.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.56MYR 67.0
$5.07₫132.1K
226.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95MYR 3.85
$1.03₫26.9K
-7.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90MYR 3.63
$0.65₫17.0K
38.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.55MYR 10.32
$19.08₫497.3K
-86.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59MYR 2.39
$0.85₫22.2K
-30.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9KMYR 181.4K
$30.7K₫801.3M
46.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.2KMYR 162.6K
$27.6K₫718.3M
46.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bintulu
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$61.2MYR 247
$88.0₫2.3M
-30.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.46MYR 131
$6.28₫163.7K
416.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.07MYR 126
$7.91₫206.3K
292.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bintulu
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.4MYR 276
$22.18₫578.3K
208.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.18MYR 49.23
$5.30₫138.2K
129.81%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54MYR 18.35
$3.02₫78.7K
50.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bintulu
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$126MYR 508
$161₫4.2M
-21.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,322MYR 29.6K
$15.1K₫394.3M
-51.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bintulu
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.3MYR 268
$46.10₫1.2M
43.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.73MYR 144
$27.21₫709.3K
31.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.3MYR 321
$103₫2.7M
-22.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.0MYR 380
$81.7₫2.1M
14.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bintulu
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$226MYR 914
$529₫13.8M
-57.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158MYR 637
$346₫9.0M
-54.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476MYR 1,926
$1,037₫27.0M
-54.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347MYR 1,402
$809₫21.1M
-57.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,726MYR 6,980
$3,809₫99.3M
-54.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,183MYR 4,782
$1,312₫34.2M
-9.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bintulu
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$606MYR 2,450
$350₫9.1M
73.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
10.72
-58.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bintulu: August 30, 2026
Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $226 in Bintulu and $529 in Da Nang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bintulu pays 73% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Bintulu vs $19.00 in Da Nang. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $198, 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
Bintulu vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bintulu and in Da Nang?
Bintulu and Da Nang differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($865 vs $874 including rent). Bintulu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Are salaries higher in Bintulu or in Da Nang?
Average pay runs 73% higher in Bintulu, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bintulu compared to Da Nang?
Rent for a central apartment: $226 in Bintulu versus $529 in Da Nang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Bintulu compared to Da Nang?
All in, you'll spend $865 per month in Bintulu versus $874 in Da Nang – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Bintulu compared to Da Nang?
A monthly transit pass in Bintulu runs roughly 227% less than in Da Nang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Bintulu or in Da Nang?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Bintulu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bintulu or Da Nang?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bintulu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $865 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bintulu hard to pass up.
How safe is Bintulu compared to Da Nang?
Safety-wise, Bintulu 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bintulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Da Nang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.