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: $874 in Da Nang versus $777 in Buea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,402 in Da Nang versus $1,409 in Buea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,930 in Da Nang versus $2,041 in Buea.

Living in Da Nang is roughly 12% more expensive than in Buea, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Da Nang 36% lower, Buea 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 ₫60.8K

$1.78 FCFA 1,005

30.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.42 ₫506.3K

$123 FCFA 69.4K

-84.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 ₫116.3K

$6.11 FCFA 3,444

-27.00%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ₫44.9K

$2.14 FCFA 1,207

-19.63%

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

$0.68 ₫17.8K

$1.30 FCFA 733

-47.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₫8,932

$0.48 FCFA 272

-29.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₫33.9K

$1.07 FCFA 604

21.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₫61.6K

$1.57 FCFA 883

50.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ₫40.1K

$2.97 FCFA 1,673

-48.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₫31.9K

$0.39 FCFA 218

212.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.5K

$1.66 FCFA 934

-36.14%

Eggs

$1.52 ₫39.7K

$1.99 FCFA 1,122

-23.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.97 ₫338.0K

$22.80 FCFA 12.8K

-43.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ₫105.7K

$8.02 FCFA 4,519

-49.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.27 ₫241.7K

$4.37 FCFA 2,464

112.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 ₫70.2K

$3.59 FCFA 2,025

-25.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 ₫28.9K

$1.39 FCFA 781

-20.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 ₫34.6K

$0.87 FCFA 488

52.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₫35.9K

$1.43 FCFA 807

-3.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.5K

$1.74 FCFA 980

-37.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ₫31.6K

$1.44 FCFA 812

-15.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$0.79 FCFA 447

30.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₫13.6K

$0.69 FCFA 387

-24.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 ₫40.5K

$2.61 FCFA 1,472

-40.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 ₫201.1K

$8.94 FCFA 5,039

-13.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

$1.22 FCFA 686

-26.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₫55.8K

$1.72 FCFA 968

24.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,222

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 ₫132.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$0.28 FCFA 159

267.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ₫17.0K

$0.54 FCFA 305

20.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.08 ₫497.3K

$5.23 FCFA 2,950

264.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₫22.2K

$1.24 FCFA 700

-31.45%

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

$30.7K ₫801.2M

$19.4K FCFA 11.0M

58.05%

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

$27.6K ₫718.2M

$15.7K FCFA 8.9M

75.04%

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

$88.0 ₫2.3M

$61.6 FCFA 34.7K

42.97%

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

$6.28 ₫163.7K

$17.75 FCFA 10.0K

-64.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.91 ₫206.2K

$176 FCFA 99.0K

-95.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.18 ₫578.3K

$26.36 FCFA 14.9K

-15.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.30 ₫138.2K

$4.40 FCFA 2,479

20.45%

Cinema Ticket

$3.02 ₫78.7K

$8.98 FCFA 5,062

-66.37%

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

$161 ₫4.2M

$540 FCFA 304.1K

-70.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ₫394.3M

$3,502 FCFA 2.0M

331.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.10 ₫1.2M

$35.55 FCFA 20.0K

29.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.21 ₫709.2K

$69.4 FCFA 39.1K

-60.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 ₫2.7M

$142 FCFA 80.3K

-28.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.7 ₫2.1M

$70.3 FCFA 39.6K

16.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 ₫13.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₫9.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 ₫27.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$809 ₫21.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,809 ₫99.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,312 ₫34.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$350 ₫9.1M

$135 FCFA 76.1K

158.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.72

19.04

-43.70%

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

Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026

Last update for Buea: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Da Nang pays 159% 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 $123 in Buea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $254 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 Buea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Da Nang and Buea differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($874 vs $777 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 159% 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.

Childcare runs $161 in Da Nang versus $540 in Buea. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Buea – a meal for two runs $123 versus $19.00 in Da Nang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 12% less than in Da Nang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.