😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $718 in Da Nang versus $532 in Badulla.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,105 in Da Nang versus $854 in Badulla.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,491 in Da Nang versus $1,177 in Badulla.
😐Living in Da Nang is roughly 35% more expensive than Badulla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Da Nang47% lower, Badulla60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.88₫49.5K
$3.99LKR 1,330
-52.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.54₫512.9K
$25.26LKR 8,427
-22.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.80₫125.9K
$8.42LKR 2,810
-42.99%
Cappuccino
$1.61₫42.3K
$2.73LKR 909
-41.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54₫14.1K
$0.73LKR 245
-26.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29₫7,600
$0.38LKR 127
-23.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08₫28.3K
$2.33LKR 777
-53.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₫41.6K
$3.45LKR 1,149
-53.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37₫35.9K
$1.68LKR 562
-18.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02₫26.8K
$0.51LKR 172
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17₫30.7K
$0.73LKR 243
60.27%
Eggs
$1.47₫38.5K
$2.13LKR 710
-30.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23₫321.0K
$14.30LKR 4,769
-14.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.81₫100.0K
$4.01LKR 1,337
-4.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.04₫263.5K
$7.88LKR 2,627
27.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62₫68.7K
$7.31LKR 2,437
-64.16%
Banana(1kg)
$0.98₫25.6K
$1.12LKR 373
-12.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12₫29.3K
$5.88LKR 1,960
-80.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.11₫29.1K
$1.24LKR 415
-10.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14₫29.8K
$1.11LKR 370
2.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15₫30.1K
$1.42LKR 472
-19.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01₫26.5K
$1.16LKR 386
-12.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52₫13.6K
$0.56LKR 187
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.36₫35.6K
$10.18LKR 3,397
-86.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.78₫204.3K
$12.85LKR 4,288
-39.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85₫22.3K
$1.99LKR 664
-57.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64₫43.0K
$2.83LKR 942
-42.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34₫8,989
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.75₫98.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85₫22.3K
$0.39LKR 130
117.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₫19.5K
$0.35LKR 118
111.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.95₫313.7K
$0.60LKR 202
1891.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85₫22.3K
$1.26LKR 421
-32.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K₫706.5M
$26.3KLKR 8.8M
2.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K₫757.8M
$35.2KLKR 11.7M
-17.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.0₫2.0M
$60.2LKR 20.1K
24.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.01₫157.8K
$4.23LKR 1,411
42.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.43₫221.3K
$14.91LKR 4,974
-43.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.69₫516.9K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.83₫205.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.13₫82.3K
$3.40LKR 1,136
-7.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152₫4.0M
$36.14LKR 12.1K
320.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7K₫334.5M
$433LKR 144.3K
2844.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.87₫1.0M
$27.33LKR 9,116
45.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.49₫669.0K
$19.72LKR 6,579
29.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$51.9₫1.4M
$69.1LKR 23.1K
-24.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.2₫2.0M
$38.71LKR 12.9K
94.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$353₫9.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$248₫6.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$718₫18.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$449₫11.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,837₫100.7M
$4,516LKR 1.5M
-15.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,299₫34.1M
$734LKR 244.9K
76.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$353₫9.3M
$218LKR 72.8K
61.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.67
12
-11.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Da Nang: June 9, 2026
Last update for Badulla: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Da Nang pays 62% 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: $20.00 in Da Nang vs $25.00 in Badulla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $252 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 Badulla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Badulla cheaper than Da Nang?
Badulla is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Da Nang or Badulla?
Da Nang pays 62% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $152 in Da Nang versus $36.14 in Badulla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Da Nang or Badulla?
Dining out is cheaper in Badulla – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $20.00 in Da Nang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Da Nang or Badulla?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Badulla gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Da Nang or Badulla more family-friendly?
For families, Badulla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Da Nang, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Da Nang or Badulla?
Safety-wise, Da Nang and Badulla 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Badulla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Da Nang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.