🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $771 in Colombo versus $874 in Da Nang.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,191 in Colombo versus $1,402 in Da Nang.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,610 in Colombo versus $1,930 in Da Nang.
🌍Living in Colombo costs roughly 12% less than in Da Nang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Colombo44% lower, Da Nang36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Colombo
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51LKR 1,480
$2.33₫60.8K
93.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.96LKR 8,517
$19.42₫506.4K
33.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.80LKR 2,557
$4.46₫116.3K
74.89%
Cappuccino
$2.47LKR 810
$1.72₫44.9K
43.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70LKR 228
$0.68₫17.8K
2.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25LKR 81.8
$0.34₫8,933
-26.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24LKR 734
$1.30₫33.9K
72.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08LKR 1,010
$2.36₫61.6K
30.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Colombo
Da Nang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63LKR 535
$1.54₫40.2K
5.84%
White Bread(500g)
$0.57LKR 187
$1.22₫31.9K
-53.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80LKR 264
$1.06₫27.6K
-24.53%
Eggs
$1.65LKR 541
$1.52₫39.7K
8.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.08LKR 4,292
$12.97₫338.0K
0.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.96LKR 1,627
$4.05₫105.7K
22.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.27LKR 2,384
$9.27₫241.8K
-21.57%
Apples(1kg)
$6.76LKR 2,218
$2.69₫70.2K
151.30%
Banana(1kg)
$0.83LKR 272
$1.11₫28.9K
-25.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.17LKR 1,369
$1.33₫34.6K
213.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.29LKR 423
$1.38₫35.9K
-6.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05LKR 343
$1.09₫28.5K
-3.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81LKR 266
$1.21₫31.6K
-33.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88LKR 290
$1.03₫26.9K
-14.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49LKR 159
$0.52₫13.6K
-5.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.25LKR 3,361
$1.55₫40.5K
561.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.97LKR 4,584
$7.71₫201.1K
81.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.89LKR 621
$0.90₫23.6K
110.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78LKR 911
$2.14₫55.8K
29.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Colombo
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17LKR 56.5
$0.32₫8,222
-46.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.39LKR 2,425
$5.07₫132.1K
45.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.42LKR 138
$1.03₫26.9K
-59.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36LKR 117
$0.65₫17.0K
-44.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.88LKR 288
$19.08₫497.3K
-95.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33LKR 435
$0.85₫22.2K
56.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4KLKR 10.0M
$30.7K₫801.3M
-1.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.7KLKR 13.7M
$27.6K₫718.3M
51.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Colombo
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.9LKR 18.0K
$88.0₫2.3M
-37.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.13LKR 1,354
$6.28₫163.7K
-34.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.85LKR 6,838
$7.91₫206.3K
163.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Colombo
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.29LKR 4,687
$22.18₫578.3K
-35.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.67LKR 1,858
$5.30₫138.2K
6.98%
Cinema Ticket
$4.33LKR 1,419
$3.02₫78.7K
43.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Colombo
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.34LKR 12.2K
$161₫4.2M
-76.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,223LKR 401.1K
$15.1K₫394.3M
-91.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Colombo
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.78LKR 6,487
$46.10₫1.2M
-57.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.93LKR 5,555
$27.21₫709.3K
-37.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.4LKR 26.0K
$103₫2.7M
-22.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.25LKR 13.9K
$81.7₫2.1M
-48.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Colombo
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$547LKR 179.5K
$529₫13.8M
3.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$248LKR 81.2K
$346₫9.0M
-28.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,575LKR 516.8K
$1,037₫27.0M
51.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$403LKR 132.3K
$809₫21.1M
-50.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,772LKR 1.2M
$3,809₫99.3M
-0.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,203LKR 394.7K
$1,312₫34.2M
-8.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Colombo
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$250LKR 82.0K
$350₫9.1M
-28.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.69
10.72
18.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Colombo: August 30, 2026
Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $547 in Colombo and $529 in Da Nang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Da Nang pays 40% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Colombo vs $19.00 in Da Nang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $198 per month, with Da Nang cheaper across the board.
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
Colombo vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Colombo or Da Nang?
Colombo wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Da Nang. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Colombo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Colombo or in Da Nang?
On paper, salaries run 40% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Colombo compared to Da Nang?
Rent for a central apartment: $547 in Colombo versus $529 in Da Nang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Colombo or in Da Nang?
Shoppers in Da Nang pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Colombo and in Da Nang?
Dining out is cheaper in Colombo – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $19.00 in Da Nang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Colombo or in Da Nang?
At $771 in Colombo versus $874 in Da Nang, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Colombo but tight or insufficient in Da Nang. The gap between the two cities makes Colombo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Colombo or Da Nang?
Both work as nomad bases, but Colombo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $771 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Colombo hard to pass up.
How safe is Colombo compared to Da Nang?
Safety-wise, Colombo 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 Colombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Da Nang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.