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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $850 per month in Da Nang vs $1,204 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,380 per month in Da Nang vs $1,868 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,909 per month in Da Nang vs $2,531 in Cartago, rent included.

Da Nang is about 29% cheaper than Cartago, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Da Nang and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 37% lower, Cartago 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.15 ₫55.8K

$7.28 COP 23.7K

-70.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.42 ₫504.6K

$35.84 COP 116.7K

-45.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.49 ₫116.6K

$8.09 COP 26.3K

-44.50%

Cappuccino

$1.73 ₫45.0K

$1.54 COP 5,027

12.34%

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

$0.69 ₫18.0K

$1.24 COP 4,050

-44.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₫8,314

$0.78 COP 2,542

-58.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 ₫34.4K

$3.04 COP 9,884

-56.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 ₫60.9K

$3.53 COP 11.5K

-33.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ₫39.9K

$1.54 COP 5,021

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 ₫32.2K

$1.82 COP 5,933

-31.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 ₫26.2K

$1.42 COP 4,624

-28.87%

Eggs

$1.45 ₫37.8K

$2.73 COP 8,887

-46.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.88 ₫334.7K

$6.15 COP 20.0K

109.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.23 ₫110.0K

$6.87 COP 22.4K

-38.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.38 ₫243.7K

$9.87 COP 32.1K

-4.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.58 ₫67.0K

$3.49 COP 11.4K

-26.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 ₫30.9K

$1.33 COP 4,345

-10.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 ₫34.4K

$1.74 COP 5,670

-24.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ₫39.5K

$1.58 COP 5,153

-3.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 ₫29.7K

$1.43 COP 4,646

-20.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 ₫33.9K

$1.52 COP 4,949

-13.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₫27.0K

$1.09 COP 3,557

-4.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₫12.6K

$0.98 COP 3,188

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.53 ₫39.7K

$3.68 COP 12.0K

-58.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.63 ₫198.2K

$12.55 COP 40.8K

-39.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₫22.9K

$1.45 COP 4,726

-39.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 ₫56.3K

$2.36 COP 7,696

-8.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 ₫8,152

$1.01 COP 3,279

-69.31%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.90 ₫127.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 ₫28.2K

$0.82 COP 2,668

32.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₫15.9K

$1.77 COP 5,763

-65.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.05 ₫495.0K

$9.40 COP 30.6K

102.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 ₫23.2K

$1.28 COP 4,174

-30.47%

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

$30.9K ₫802.9M

$25.8K COP 83.9M

19.90%

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

$27.4K ₫710.8M

$33.8K COP 109.9M

-19.01%

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

$88.7 ₫2.3M

$109 COP 355.2K

-18.74%

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

$6.17 ₫160.3K

$12.54 COP 40.8K

-50.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.31 ₫215.8K

$30.07 COP 97.9K

-72.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.42 ₫582.6K

$37.69 COP 122.7K

-40.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.35 ₫139.1K

Cinema Ticket

$3.01 ₫78.2K

$8.09 COP 26.3K

-62.79%

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

$164 ₫4.3M

$606 COP 2.0M

-72.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.3K ₫396.6M

$6,123 COP 19.9M

149.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.40 ₫1.2M

$76.1 COP 247.7K

-40.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.85 ₫723.6K

$53.1 COP 172.9K

-47.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 ₫2.6M

$123 COP 398.9K

-17.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ₫2.2M

$106 COP 345.2K

-21.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$516 ₫13.4M

$762 COP 2.5M

-32.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₫8.7M

$463 COP 1.5M

-27.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,051 ₫27.3M

$909 COP 3.0M

15.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$805 ₫20.9M

$877 COP 2.9M

-8.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,877 ₫100.7M

$2,004 COP 6.5M

93.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,286 ₫33.4M

$1,463 COP 4.8M

-12.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$351 ₫9.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.72

11.58

-7.43%

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

Last update for Da Nang: September 27, 2026

Last update for Cartago: September 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $516 in Da Nang versus $762 in Cartago. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang versus $36.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $234 – making Da Nang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cartago is pricier by about 42%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,275 per month in Da Nang and $1,806 in Cartago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Da Nang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $850 in Da Nang and $1,204 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $164 per month in Da Nang and $606 in Cartago. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $850, than in Cartago at $1,204. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Da Nang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.