😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $868 in Da Nang versus $538 in Badulla.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,419 in Da Nang versus $877 in Badulla.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,970 in Da Nang versus $1,217 in Badulla.
🌍Living in Da Nang is roughly 61% more expensive than in Badulla, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Da Nang37% lower, Badulla61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.35₫61.1K
$4.49LKR 1,484
-47.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.28₫501.6K
$25.54LKR 8,445
-24.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.71₫122.6K
$7.77LKR 2,570
-39.38%
Cappuccino
$1.80₫46.9K
$2.48LKR 820
-27.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69₫18.0K
$0.68LKR 226
1.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32₫8,208
$0.25LKR 82.4
28.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.31₫34.1K
$2.27LKR 749
-42.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30₫59.8K
$2.95LKR 976
-22.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50₫38.9K
$1.58LKR 524
-5.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25₫32.5K
$0.54LKR 178
131.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.05₫27.4K
$0.67LKR 222
56.72%
Eggs
$1.52₫39.6K
$1.63LKR 539
-6.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.04₫339.3K
$13.02LKR 4,306
0.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05₫105.4K
$3.73LKR 1,233
8.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.26₫240.9K
$7.36LKR 2,434
25.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60₫67.6K
$6.69LKR 2,213
-61.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10₫28.7K
$0.83LKR 274
32.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29₫33.5K
$4.22LKR 1,396
-69.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.40₫36.3K
$1.23LKR 408
13.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13₫29.5K
$0.99LKR 326
14.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22₫31.9K
$0.80LKR 265
52.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01₫26.3K
$0.87LKR 289
16.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52₫13.6K
$0.45LKR 150
15.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57₫40.7K
$10.42LKR 3,445
-84.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.48₫194.7K
$13.52LKR 4,469
-44.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83₫21.5K
$1.89LKR 625
-56.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18₫56.7K
$2.87LKR 948
-24.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32₫8,203
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.04₫131.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.04₫27.0K
$0.39LKR 128
166.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62₫16.1K
$0.35LKR 115
77.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.13₫497.6K
$0.88LKR 292
2073.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83₫21.6K
$1.33LKR 439
-37.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K₫800.1M
$36.6KLKR 12.1M
-15.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K₫738.4M
$40.2KLKR 13.3M
-29.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.5₫2.3M
$55.4LKR 18.3K
59.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.00₫156.0K
$4.12LKR 1,361
45.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.95₫206.8K
$20.83LKR 6,888
-61.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.83₫594.1K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.41₫140.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.13₫81.4K
$4.32LKR 1,427
-27.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163₫4.2M
$38.72LKR 12.8K
320.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3K₫397.5M
$1,238LKR 409.3K
1134.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.57₫1.2M
$19.84LKR 6,561
124.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.95₫727.2K
$16.62LKR 5,494
68.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100₫2.6M
$78.8LKR 26.1K
27.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.2₫2.1M
$42.27LKR 14.0K
89.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$535₫13.9M
$75.5LKR 25.0K
608.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$342₫8.9M
$46.29LKR 15.3K
639.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,025₫26.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$787₫20.5M
$90.4LKR 29.9K
769.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,825₫99.5M
$4,574LKR 1.5M
-16.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,283₫33.4M
$762LKR 251.9K
68.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Badulla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$360₫9.4M
$228LKR 75.4K
57.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.72
12.69
-15.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Da Nang: September 12, 2026
Last update for Badulla: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $535 in Da Nang and $75.5 in Badulla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Da Nang pays 58% 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 $26.00 in Badulla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $227 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 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Da Nang or Badulla?
Average pay runs 58% higher in Da Nang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Da Nang and Badulla?
Rent for a central apartment: $535 in Da Nang versus $75.5 in Badulla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $163 in Da Nang versus $38.72 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 in Badulla?
Dining out is cheaper in Badulla – 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.
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 61% less than in Da Nang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.