🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $855 in Da Nang versus $2,800 in Arendal.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,389 in Da Nang versus $3,949 in Arendal.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,923 in Da Nang versus $5,098 in Arendal.
🌍Living in Da Nang costs roughly 69% less than in Arendal, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Da Nang is 38% below, Arendal is 103% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Arendal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.33₫60.5K
$20.59NOK 191
-88.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.15₫496.2K
$67.6NOK 627
-71.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.49₫116.3K
$16.19NOK 150
-72.27%
Cappuccino
$1.78₫46.1K
$5.73NOK 53.2
-68.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67₫17.4K
$3.67NOK 34.05
-81.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32₫8,264
$3.30NOK 30.57
-90.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.32₫34.3K
$12.09NOK 112
-89.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34₫60.7K
$12.42NOK 115
-81.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Arendal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47₫38.2K
$2.47NOK 22.95
-40.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23₫32.0K
$3.76NOK 34.86
-67.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06₫27.6K
$3.96NOK 36.71
-73.23%
Eggs
$1.54₫39.9K
$5.01NOK 46.51
-69.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.10₫339.5K
$15.04NOK 140
-12.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.08₫105.7K
$14.99NOK 139
-72.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.19₫238.2K
$35.11NOK 326
-73.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.59₫67.1K
$3.66NOK 33.93
-29.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11₫28.7K
$2.83NOK 26.24
-60.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29₫33.4K
$3.54NOK 32.82
-63.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46₫37.9K
$4.90NOK 45.46
-70.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12₫29.0K
$2.58NOK 23.91
-56.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27₫32.9K
$3.22NOK 29.84
-60.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01₫26.2K
$2.83NOK 26.21
-64.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49₫12.6K
$2.42NOK 22.45
-79.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.49₫38.7K
$18.04NOK 167
-91.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.85₫203.4K
$15.03NOK 139
-47.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83₫21.6K
$3.71NOK 34.42
-77.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19₫56.7K
$4.51NOK 41.84
-51.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Arendal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34₫8,932
$3.84NOK 35.59
-91.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.90₫126.9K
$91.4NOK 848
-94.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.03₫26.7K
$6.40NOK 59.3
-83.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61₫15.8K
$1.73NOK 16.09
-64.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.51₫505.7K
$105NOK 978
-81.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91₫23.6K
$2.37NOK 21.97
-61.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K₫807.6M
$50.5KNOK 468.6K
-38.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K₫717.0M
$42.0KNOK 389.5K
-34.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Arendal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1₫2.3M
$257NOK 2,389
-65.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.02₫156.0K
$36.25NOK 336
-83.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.18₫211.9K
$81.7NOK 758
-89.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Arendal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.12₫573.4K
$38.34NOK 356
-42.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.33₫138.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.12₫81.0K
$16.01NOK 149
-80.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Arendal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163₫4.2M
$324NOK 3,003
-49.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K₫394.2M
$14.6KNOK 135.4K
4.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Arendal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.51₫1.2M
$129NOK 1,195
-65.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.06₫727.2K
$45.21NOK 419
-37.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102₫2.6M
$128NOK 1,184
-20.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.8₫2.1M
$205NOK 1,904
-59.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Arendal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$531₫13.8M
$1,171NOK 10.9K
-54.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$341₫8.8M
$1,090NOK 10.1K
-68.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,044₫27.1M
$1,635NOK 15.2K
-36.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$787₫20.4M
$1,495NOK 13.9K
-47.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,768₫97.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,309₫33.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Arendal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$349₫9.1M
$4,205NOK 39.0K
-91.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.72
4.68
129.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Da Nang: September 6, 2026
Last update for Arendal: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $531 in Da Nang and $1,171 in Arendal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Arendal pays 1104% 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: $19.00 in Da Nang vs $68.0 in Arendal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $510 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
Da Nang vs Arendal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Da Nang and in Arendal?
Da Nang and Arendal differ by about 228% in total monthly costs ($855 vs $2,800 including rent). Da Nang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1104% lower in Arendal. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Da Nang and in Arendal?
Rent for a central apartment: $531 in Da Nang versus $1,171 in Arendal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Da Nang and Arendal?
Childcare runs $163 in Da Nang versus $324 in Arendal. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 159% higher in Arendal. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $855 in Da Nang versus $2,800 in Arendal, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Da Nang but tight or insufficient in Arendal. The gap between the two cities makes Da Nang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Da Nang and Arendal?
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.
Is Da Nang or Arendal safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Da Nang and Arendal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Da Nang or Arendal?
Expats usually find Da Nang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 228% less than in Arendal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.