Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and BusanCost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Busan
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $857 in Da Nang versus $1,568 in Busan.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,402 in Da Nang versus $2,485 in Busan.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,946 in Da Nang versus $3,402 in Busan.
🌍Living in Da Nang costs roughly 45% less than in Busan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Da Nang is 36% below, Busan is 16% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Busan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.91₫49.6K
$7.44₩10.1K
-74.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40₫503.8K
$47.61₩64.6K
-59.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.56₫118.5K
$6.42₩8,710
-28.97%
Cappuccino
$1.75₫45.5K
$3.56₩4,826
-50.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64₫16.7K
$1.82₩2,473
-64.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34₫8,948
$1.41₩1,911
-75.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.35₫35.2K
$3.66₩4,972
-63.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36₫61.4K
$4.07₩5,521
-42.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Busan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57₫40.8K
$2.32₩3,143
-32.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19₫30.9K
$3.07₩4,170
-61.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.04₫27.1K
$2.99₩4,053
-65.22%
Eggs
$1.51₫39.1K
$2.53₩3,427
-40.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.13₫340.9K
$10.61₩14.4K
23.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.08₫105.9K
$10.10₩13.7K
-59.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.21₫239.1K
$24.30₩33.0K
-62.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.67₫69.3K
$10.75₩14.6K
-75.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15₫30.0K
$3.48₩4,715
-66.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33₫34.5K
$7.91₩10.7K
-83.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51₫39.3K
$5.80₩7,868
-73.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15₫29.8K
$5.94₩8,058
-80.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.25₫32.4K
$3.28₩4,448
-61.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04₫27.0K
$2.76₩3,741
-62.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50₫12.9K
$1.28₩1,738
-60.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.50₫39.1K
$3.29₩4,468
-54.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.85₫203.8K
$18.51₩25.1K
-57.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91₫23.5K
$2.28₩3,094
-60.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11₫54.8K
$3.32₩4,508
-36.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Busan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34₫8,853
$1.10₩1,496
-69.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.96₫128.7K
$57.7₩78.3K
-91.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.04₫27.0K
$3.56₩4,826
-70.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60₫15.6K
$0.76₩1,026
-21.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.00₫493.4K
$16.08₩21.8K
18.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88₫22.9K
$1.35₩1,825
-34.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K₫804.0M
$28.2K₩38.3M
9.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K₫713.0M
$32.1K₩43.6M
-14.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Busan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$87.4₫2.3M
$198₩269.1K
-55.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.95₫154.4K
$35.44₩48.1K
-83.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.27₫214.8K
$25.96₩35.2K
-68.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Busan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.18₫576.1K
$61.5₩83.4K
-63.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.28₫137.3K
$9.41₩12.8K
-43.89%
Cinema Ticket
$3.04₫79.0K
$11.49₩15.6K
-73.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Busan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159₫4.1M
$622₩843.9K
-74.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K₫390.2M
$21.1K₩28.7M
-28.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Busan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.07₫1.2M
$100₩136.1K
-54.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.49₫714.1K
$64.7₩87.8K
-57.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101₫2.6M
$92.5₩125.4K
9.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3₫2.1M
$122₩165.3K
-32.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Busan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$529₫13.7M
$694₩942.0K
-23.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$342₫8.9M
$350₩474.8K
-2.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,034₫26.9M
$1,295₩1.8M
-20.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$805₫20.9M
$689₩935.1K
16.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865₫100.4M
$10.0K₩13.6M
-61.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,293₫33.6M
$6,343₩8.6M
-79.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Busan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$355₫9.2M
$2,708₩3.7M
-86.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.72
4.22
154.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Da Nang: September 20, 2026
Last update for Busan: September 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $529 in Da Nang and $694 in Busan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Busan pays 663% 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 $48.00 in Busan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $472 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 Busan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Da Nang or Busan?
Da Nang wins on cost – living expenses run 83% lower than in Busan. 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 Busan?
On paper, salaries run 663% lower in Busan. 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 Busan?
Rent for a central apartment: $529 in Da Nang versus $694 in Busan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Da Nang compared to Busan?
A monthly transit pass in Da Nang runs roughly 1063% less than in Busan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Da Nang and in Busan?
Childcare runs $159 in Da Nang versus $622 in Busan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Da Nang or in Busan?
At $857 in Da Nang versus $1,568 in Busan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Da Nang but tight or insufficient in Busan. The gap between the two cities makes Da Nang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Da Nang or Busan?
Both work as nomad bases, but Da Nang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $857 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 Busan?
Safety-wise, Da Nang and Busan 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 83% less than in Busan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.