🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $704 in Da Nang versus $782 in Bintulu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,081 in Da Nang versus $1,237 in Bintulu.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,458 in Da Nang versus $1,692 in Bintulu.
🌍Living in Da Nang costs roughly 10% less than in Bintulu, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Da Nang47% lower, Bintulu41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.93₫50.8K
$3.84MYR 15.72
-49.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.46₫511.5K
$17.40MYR 71.2
11.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.65₫122.2K
$5.62MYR 23.00
-17.26%
Cappuccino
$1.61₫42.3K
$2.79MYR 11.41
-42.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51₫13.4K
$0.62MYR 2.55
-17.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29₫7,592
$0.36MYR 1.49
-19.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.07₫28.2K
$2.91MYR 11.91
-63.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₫41.7K
$4.91MYR 20.09
-67.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38₫36.3K
$1.74MYR 7.11
-20.69%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95₫24.9K
$1.31MYR 5.36
-27.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17₫30.7K
$1.25MYR 5.12
-6.40%
Eggs
$1.43₫37.5K
$2.20MYR 8.99
-35.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59₫331.0K
$16.43MYR 67.2
-23.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.64₫95.8K
$3.46MYR 14.15
5.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.79₫257.3K
$5.82MYR 23.82
68.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76₫72.4K
$1.68MYR 6.87
64.29%
Banana(1kg)
$0.94₫24.8K
$0.98MYR 4.01
-4.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12₫29.4K
$1.66MYR 6.79
-32.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.05₫27.6K
$1.06MYR 4.34
-0.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10₫28.9K
$0.49MYR 1.99
124.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19₫31.4K
$1.16MYR 4.76
2.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00₫26.3K
$0.72MYR 2.93
38.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48₫12.7K
$0.39MYR 1.61
23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.38₫36.3K
$3.89MYR 15.92
-64.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.52₫197.7K
$19.91MYR 81.5
-62.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81₫21.4K
$2.88MYR 11.76
-71.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60₫42.1K
$1.87MYR 7.63
-14.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32₫8,321
$1.16MYR 4.75
-72.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.73₫98.2K
$15.91MYR 65.1
-76.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.82₫21.5K
$0.92MYR 3.75
-10.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₫18.3K
$0.86MYR 3.53
-19.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$12.03₫316.4K
$2.37MYR 9.71
407.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91₫24.0K
$0.52MYR 2.12
75.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K₫715.1M
$42.1KMYR 172.4K
-35.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K₫739.2M
$37.0KMYR 151.1K
-23.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.1₫1.9M
$57.8MYR 236
28.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.97₫157.0K
$9.04MYR 36.97
-33.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.07₫212.3K
$29.17MYR 119
-72.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.06₫527.5K
$64.1MYR 262
-68.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.52₫197.6K
$5.84MYR 23.89
28.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.00₫78.9K
$4.18MYR 17.08
-28.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153₫4.0M
$120MYR 493
27.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.8K₫336.9M
$7,111MYR 29.1K
80.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.61₫1.0M
$62.3MYR 255
-36.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.60₫673.1K
$34.04MYR 139
-24.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.7₫1.4M
$76.0MYR 311
-30.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.9₫2.0M
$88.2MYR 361
-12.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$365₫9.6M
$208MYR 851
75.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$244₫6.4M
$151MYR 616
62.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$732₫19.2M
$462MYR 1,890
58.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$458₫12.0M
$313MYR 1,279
46.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,767₫99.0M
$1,751MYR 7,161
115.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,304₫34.3M
$1,164MYR 4,762
12.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Bintulu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$359₫9.4M
$609MYR 2,491
-41.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.67
4.5
137.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Da Nang: July 14, 2026
Last update for Bintulu: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $365 in Da Nang and $208 in Bintulu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bintulu pays 70% 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 $17.00 in Bintulu. Groceries flip the comparison at $186 vs $224, with Da Nang cheaper for home cooking.
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
Which city is more expensive, Da Nang or Bintulu?
Da Nang wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Bintulu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Da Nang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Da Nang or in Bintulu?
On paper, salaries run 70% 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: $365 in Da Nang versus $208 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 $704 per month in Da Nang versus $782 in Bintulu – a 11% 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 Da Nang runs roughly 327% less than in Bintulu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Da Nang or in Bintulu?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Da Nang 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 Da Nang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $704 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Da Nang 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 Da Nang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Bintulu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.