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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,295 per month in Cartagena vs $868 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Cartagena vs $1,419 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,966 per month in Cartagena vs $1,970 in Da Nang, rent included.

Cartagena costs about 49% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Cartagena and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Cartagena 5% lower, Da Nang 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.95 COP 15.5K

$2.35 ₫61.1K

110.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$135 COP 422.2K

$19.28 ₫501.2K

601.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 COP 31.8K

$4.71 ₫122.5K

116.35%

Cappuccino

$3.61 COP 11.3K

$1.80 ₫46.8K

100.56%

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

$1.88 COP 5,879

$0.69 ₫18.0K

172.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 COP 5,670

$0.32 ₫8,201

468.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 COP 6,425

$1.31 ₫34.0K

57.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 COP 15.2K

$2.30 ₫59.7K

111.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 COP 6,144

$1.50 ₫38.9K

31.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 COP 9,317

$1.25 ₫32.5K

139.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,703

$1.05 ₫27.3K

43.81%

Eggs

$5.21 COP 16.2K

$1.52 ₫39.6K

242.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.62 COP 42.5K

$13.04 ₫339.0K

4.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.97 COP 56.1K

$4.05 ₫105.4K

343.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.26 ₫240.7K

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ₫67.5K

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.7K

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 ₫33.5K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 ₫36.3K

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.5K

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 ₫31.8K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₫26.3K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 COP 6,464

$0.52 ₫13.6K

298.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.57 ₫40.7K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.76 COP 46.1K

$7.48 ₫194.5K

97.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 COP 4,362

$0.83 ₫21.5K

68.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₫56.6K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 COP 4,018

$0.32 ₫8,196

303.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 COP 185.2K

$5.04 ₫131.0K

1077.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 COP 15.1K

$1.04 ₫26.9K

366.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.84 COP 12.0K

$0.62 ₫16.0K

519.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.83 COP 30.7K

$19.13 ₫497.2K

-48.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,300

$0.83 ₫21.6K

66.27%

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

$23.9K COP 74.6M

$30.8K ₫799.4M

-22.20%

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

$34.8K COP 108.7M

$28.4K ₫737.7M

22.77%

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

$80.9 COP 252.4K

$88.5 ₫2.3M

-8.63%

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

$6.00 ₫155.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.95 ₫206.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.5 COP 282.5K

$22.83 ₫593.6K

296.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.41 ₫140.6K

Cinema Ticket

$8.48 COP 26.5K

$3.13 ₫81.3K

170.93%

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

$651 COP 2.0M

$163 ₫4.2M

300.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,929 COP 18.5M

$15.3K ₫397.1M

-61.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.57 ₫1.2M

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.95 ₫726.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 ₫2.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ₫2.1M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 COP 3.4M

$535 ₫13.9M

103.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 COP 1.8M

$342 ₫8.9M

69.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 COP 7.3M

$1,025 ₫26.6M

129.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$978 COP 3.1M

$787 ₫20.4M

24.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,825 ₫99.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$968 COP 3.0M

$1,283 ₫33.4M

-24.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$480 COP 1.5M

$360 ₫9.3M

33.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.72

39.93%

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

Last update for Cartagena: September 14, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,087 in Cartagena versus $535 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 34% higher in Cartagena, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $135 in Cartagena versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $196 – making Da Nang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Cartagena costs about 49% more than Da Nang, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,942 per month in Cartagena and $1,302 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Da Nang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $651 per month in Cartagena and $163 in Da Nang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Cartagena, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $868, than in Cartagena at $1,295. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Da Nang costs $868 versus $1,295 in Cartagena. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartagena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.