😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $868 in Da Nang versus $843 in Bintulu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,419 in Da Nang versus $1,334 in Bintulu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,970 in Da Nang versus $1,824 in Bintulu.
🌍Living in Da Nang is roughly 3% more expensive than in Bintulu, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Da Nang37% lower, Bintulu38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.35₫61.1K
$3.89MYR 15.88
-39.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.28₫501.6K
$18.53MYR 75.6
4.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.71₫122.6K
$5.78MYR 23.57
-18.51%
Cappuccino
$1.80₫46.9K
$2.96MYR 12.09
-39.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69₫18.0K
$0.64MYR 2.62
7.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32₫8,208
$0.37MYR 1.53
-13.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.31₫34.1K
$2.93MYR 11.94
-55.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30₫59.8K
$5.13MYR 20.93
-55.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50₫38.9K
$2.16MYR 8.80
-30.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25₫32.5K
$1.37MYR 5.61
-8.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.05₫27.4K
$1.32MYR 5.39
-20.45%
Eggs
$1.52₫39.6K
$2.18MYR 8.90
-30.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.04₫339.3K
$16.92MYR 69.0
-22.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05₫105.4K
$3.46MYR 14.12
17.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.26₫240.9K
$5.93MYR 24.20
56.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60₫67.6K
$1.67MYR 6.82
55.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10₫28.7K
$1.01MYR 4.11
8.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29₫33.5K
$1.67MYR 6.82
-22.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.40₫36.3K
$1.16MYR 4.75
20.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13₫29.5K
$0.52MYR 2.10
117.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22₫31.9K
$1.20MYR 4.89
1.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01₫26.3K
$0.76MYR 3.09
32.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52₫13.6K
$0.44MYR 1.81
18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57₫40.7K
$4.20MYR 17.13
-62.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.48₫194.7K
$19.38MYR 79.1
-61.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83₫21.5K
$2.90MYR 11.85
-71.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18₫56.7K
$1.93MYR 7.87
12.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32₫8,203
$1.20MYR 4.88
-73.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.04₫131.1K
$16.15MYR 65.9
-68.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.04₫27.0K
$1.00MYR 4.07
4.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62₫16.1K
$0.89MYR 3.64
-30.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.13₫497.6K
$2.40MYR 9.77
697.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83₫21.6K
$0.59MYR 2.40
40.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K₫800.1M
$45.0KMYR 183.6K
-31.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K₫738.4M
$38.8KMYR 158.5K
-26.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.5₫2.3M
$59.7MYR 244
48.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.00₫156.0K
$31.36MYR 128
-80.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.95₫206.8K
$31.26MYR 128
-74.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.83₫594.1K
$68.8MYR 281
-66.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.41₫140.7K
$12.31MYR 50.2
-56.05%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13₫81.4K
$4.47MYR 18.22
-29.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163₫4.2M
$129MYR 528
25.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3K₫397.5M
$7,469MYR 30.5K
104.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.57₫1.2M
$66.1MYR 270
-32.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.95₫727.2K
$35.14MYR 143
-20.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100₫2.6M
$79.7MYR 325
25.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.2₫2.1M
$91.7MYR 374
-12.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$535₫13.9M
$219MYR 892
144.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$342₫8.9M
$155MYR 632
120.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,025₫26.7M
$487MYR 1,988
110.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$787₫20.5M
$338MYR 1,378
132.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,825₫99.5M
$1,724MYR 7,035
121.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,283₫33.4M
$1,139MYR 4,646
12.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$360₫9.4M
$603MYR 2,458
-40.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.72
4.5
138.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Da Nang: September 12, 2026
Last update for Bintulu: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $535 in Da Nang and $219 in Bintulu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bintulu pays 68% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Da Nang vs $19.00 in Bintulu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $232 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 Bintulu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Da Nang and in Bintulu?
Da Nang and Bintulu differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($868 vs $843 including rent). Bintulu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Are salaries higher in Da Nang or in Bintulu?
On paper, salaries run 68% lower in Bintulu. 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 Da Nang compared to Bintulu?
Rent for a central apartment: $535 in Da Nang versus $219 in Bintulu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Da Nang compared to Bintulu?
All in, you'll spend $868 per month in Da Nang versus $843 in Bintulu – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Da Nang compared to Bintulu?
A monthly transit pass in Bintulu runs roughly 220% less than in Da Nang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Da Nang or in Bintulu?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Bintulu gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Da Nang or Bintulu?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bintulu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $843 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bintulu hard to pass up.
How safe is Da Nang compared to Bintulu?
Safety-wise, Da Nang and Bintulu 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 Bintulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Da Nang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.