Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Buea Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Buea

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $720 in Da Nang versus $545 in Buea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,104 in Da Nang versus $795 in Buea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,488 in Da Nang versus $1,045 in Buea.

Living in Da Nang is roughly 32% more expensive than Buea, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Da Nang 46% lower, Buea 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ₫51.8K

$1.81 FCFA 1,020

8.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.92 ₫497.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₫120.8K

$6.09 FCFA 3,436

-24.47%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ₫42.9K

$2.13 FCFA 1,199

-23.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₫13.1K

$1.27 FCFA 715

-60.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,495

$0.50 FCFA 281

-42.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$1.04 FCFA 587

-1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₫42.0K

$1.40 FCFA 787

14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$3.03 FCFA 1,710

-52.81%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$0.38 FCFA 216

168.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.3K

$1.58 FCFA 890

-27.22%

Eggs

$1.42 ₫37.4K

$2.58 FCFA 1,455

-44.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.25 ₫321.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ₫95.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.13 ₫266.3K

$4.38 FCFA 2,472

131.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₫72.2K

$3.44 FCFA 1,937

-20.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 ₫26.2K

$1.39 FCFA 786

-28.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.6K

$0.86 FCFA 485

26.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.1K

$1.44 FCFA 813

-25.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.8K

$1.80 FCFA 1,018

-37.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.2K

$1.40 FCFA 788

-17.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₫27.4K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.6K

$0.72 FCFA 407

-33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.7K

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 ₫202.5K

$8.89 FCFA 5,013

-13.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₫22.7K

$1.27 FCFA 718

-32.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₫43.7K

$1.73 FCFA 976

-4.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,325

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.92 ₫103.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

$0.27 FCFA 154

233.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.0K

$0.46 FCFA 260

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.67 ₫306.7K

$5.16 FCFA 2,910

126.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 ₫23.4K

$1.21 FCFA 680

-26.45%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.8K ₫705.1M

$19.3K FCFA 10.9M

38.97%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.1K ₫738.4M

$21.3K FCFA 12.0M

31.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$74.3 ₫2.0M

$60.8 FCFA 34.3K

22.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.71 ₫150.1K

$17.66 FCFA 9,959

-67.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.07 ₫212.1K

$109 FCFA 61.5K

-92.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.37 ₫535.3K

$26.32 FCFA 14.8K

-22.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 ₫201.0K

$4.30 FCFA 2,425

77.91%

Cinema Ticket

$3.11 ₫81.6K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$156 ₫4.1M

$613 FCFA 345.9K

-74.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₫333.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.62 ₫1.0M

$35.45 FCFA 20.0K

8.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.00 ₫683.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.8 ₫2.0M

$69.4 FCFA 39.2K

9.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 ₫9.5M

$71.9 FCFA 40.5K

400.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₫6.5M

$61.7 FCFA 34.8K

302.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ₫19.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₫12.0M

$213 FCFA 120.2K

115.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,870 ₫101.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,283 ₫33.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$353 ₫9.3M

$132 FCFA 74.3K

168.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

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

Last update for Da Nang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Buea: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Da Nang and $71.9 in Buea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Da Nang pays 168% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Buea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Da Nang and Buea differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($720 vs $545 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Da Nang pays 168% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $360 in Da Nang versus $71.9 in Buea. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $156 in Da Nang versus $613 in Buea. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $720 per month in Da Nang versus $545 in Buea – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Buea gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Da Nang and Buea are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Buea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Da Nang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.