Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Arequipa

For one person, living is cheaper in Arequipa: $709 a month against $866 in Da Nang, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Da Nang outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Da Nang
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$866
/mo nomad
Arequipa
🇵🇪 Peru
$709
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Da Nang and in Arequipa

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Da Nang and in Arequipa actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $866 per month in Da Nang vs $709 in Arequipa, rent included.

  • Da Nang $866
  • Arequipa $709

A couple spends around $1,402 per month in Da Nang vs $1,117 in Arequipa, rent included.

  • Da Nang $1,402
  • Arequipa $1,117

A family of three spends $1,937 per month in Da Nang vs $1,524 in Arequipa, rent included.

  • Da Nang $1,937
  • Arequipa $1,524

Da Nang costs about 22% more than Arequipa, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Da Nang and Arequipa are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 36% lower, Arequipa 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Arequipa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.30 ₫59.7K
$3.46 PEN 11.87
-33.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.11 ₫494.6K
$27.89 PEN 95.8
-31.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.54 ₫117.4K
$5.93 PEN 20.37
-23.44%
Cappuccino
$1.73 ₫44.7K
$2.42 PEN 8.31
-28.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₫15.5K
$0.81 PEN 2.78
-25.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₫8,807
$0.39 PEN 1.33
-12.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ₫35.9K
$2.09 PEN 7.16
-33.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 ₫60.8K
$4.27 PEN 14.68
-44.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Arequipa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 ₫41.1K
$1.34 PEN 4.61
18.66%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 ₫31.7K
$1.36 PEN 4.66
-9.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 ₫27.1K
$1.45 PEN 4.99
-27.59%
Eggs
$1.49 ₫38.5K
$2.29 PEN 7.85
-34.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.26 ₫343.2K
$6.25 PEN 21.47
112.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.25 ₫110.1K
$4.59 PEN 15.75
-7.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₫247.8K
$7.33 PEN 25.16
30.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 ₫68.3K
$1.76 PEN 6.03
50.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 ₫31.2K
$1.18 PEN 4.05
1.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.31 ₫34.0K
$1.13 PEN 3.88
15.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ₫39.5K
$0.99 PEN 3.41
54.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 ₫29.6K
$0.67 PEN 2.29
70.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 ₫33.9K
$0.67 PEN 2.31
95.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ₫26.8K
$0.56 PEN 1.91
83.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₫13.7K
$0.76 PEN 2.60
-30.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.51 ₫39.2K
$5.13 PEN 17.62
-70.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.54 ₫195.2K
$5.18 PEN 17.80
45.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₫24.2K
$2.67 PEN 9.17
-65.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₫56.2K
$2.30 PEN 7.90
-5.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Arequipa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 ₫8,963
$0.28 PEN 0.95
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.01 ₫129.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.04 ₫26.9K
$2.02 PEN 6.92
-48.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ₫14.5K
$2.01 PEN 6.92
-72.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.19 ₫496.8K
$13.01 PEN 44.68
47.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 ₫23.1K
$1.54 PEN 5.28
-42.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K ₫788.3M
$18.9K PEN 65.0K
60.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ₫726.2M
$25.1K PEN 86.3K
11.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Arequipa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.5 ₫2.0M
$23.36 PEN 80.2
236.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.17 ₫159.8K
$10.26 PEN 35.24
-39.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.35 ₫216.1K
$23.44 PEN 80.5
-64.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Arequipa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.33 ₫655.7K
$25.08 PEN 86.1
1.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.45 ₫141.0K
$8.00 PEN 27.47
-31.87%
Cinema Ticket
$3.29 ₫85.1K
$7.35 PEN 25.24
-55.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Arequipa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$160 ₫4.2M
$75.3 PEN 258
113.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ₫385.9M
$6,598 PEN 22.7K
125.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Arequipa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.73 ₫1.2M
$47.74 PEN 164
-6.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.90 ₫722.2K
$26.42 PEN 90.7
5.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 ₫2.6M
$67.6 PEN 232
51.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.1 ₫2.1M
$57.5 PEN 198
41.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Arequipa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$532 ₫13.8M
$347 PEN 1,192
53.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 ₫9.0M
$237 PEN 813
46.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,039 ₫26.9M
$719 PEN 2,471
44.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₫20.6M
$419 PEN 1,439
89.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,852 ₫99.7M
$1,963 PEN 6,740
96.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,328 ₫34.4M
$989 PEN 3,397
34.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Arequipa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$354 ₫9.2M
$619 PEN 2,125
-42.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.72
15
-28.53%

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

Last update for Da Nang: October 20, 2026

Last update for Arequipa: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
$346
Arequipa
$237 31.6% $109
Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
$202
Arequipa
$174 13.9% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
$115
Arequipa
$90 22.1% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
$93
Arequipa
$57 38.7% $36
Eating Out
Da Nang
$68
Arequipa
$98 44.2% $30
Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
$32
Arequipa
$40 24.7% $7.9
Getting Around
Da Nang
$10
Arequipa
$13 * 29% $3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $532 in Da Nang versus $347 in Arequipa. 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 75% higher in Arequipa, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang versus $28.00 in Arequipa. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Da Nang vs $174 in Arequipa – so Arequipa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Da Nang
🇵🇪 Arequipa
🕒 Local time
07:53 7:53 AM
19:53 7:53 PM
12 h behind Da Nang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,245,200
17,062
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PEN, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,105 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

Peruvian Sol exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 3.43 PEN (1 PEN = 0.291 USD). 1 EUR = 3.86 PEN (1 PEN = 0.259 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Da Nang Arequipa 19,970 km ≈ 25 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Da Nang
  • Arequipa

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Arequipa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Da Nang or Arequipa?
Da Nang costs about 22% more than Arequipa, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Da Nang and in Arequipa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Da Nang and $1,063 in Arequipa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Da Nang or Arequipa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Arequipa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Da Nang and in Arequipa?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang and $28.00 in Arequipa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Da Nang or in Arequipa?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Da Nang, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Da Nang or in Arequipa?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Da Nang and $709 in Arequipa, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Da Nang or Arequipa?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Arequipa costs $709 versus $866 in Da Nang. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Da Nang compared to Arequipa?
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.
Should I move to Da Nang or to Arequipa?
If budget matters most, go with Arequipa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Da Nang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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