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 $839 per month in Da Nang vs $1,275 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Da Nang vs $1,940 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,885 per month in Da Nang vs $2,605 in Cartago, rent included.

Da Nang is about 34% cheaper than Cartago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Da Nang and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 39% lower, Cartago 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.27 ₫59.3K

$5.65 COP 17.3K

-59.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.50 ₫508.9K

$38.37 COP 117.6K

-49.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.73 ₫123.5K

$8.65 COP 26.5K

-45.32%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₫44.0K

$1.45 COP 4,447

16.55%

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

$0.68 ₫17.8K

$1.29 COP 3,962

-47.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₫9,491

$0.87 COP 2,676

-58.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.36 ₫35.4K

$1.95 COP 5,968

-30.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 ₫58.1K

$3.74 COP 11.5K

-40.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 ₫37.0K

$1.59 COP 4,866

-10.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ₫33.2K

$1.95 COP 5,983

-34.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.04 ₫27.1K

$1.58 COP 4,847

-34.18%

Eggs

$1.53 ₫39.9K

$2.87 COP 8,807

-46.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.95 ₫337.9K

$6.51 COP 19.9K

98.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.08 ₫106.4K

$7.28 COP 22.3K

-43.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.11 ₫237.8K

$10.23 COP 31.4K

-10.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ₫67.1K

$3.50 COP 10.7K

-26.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ₫27.8K

$1.41 COP 4,310

-24.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 ₫34.6K

$1.81 COP 5,547

-27.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 ₫37.6K

$1.75 COP 5,368

-17.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.3K

$1.45 COP 4,438

-22.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 ₫33.1K

$1.54 COP 4,726

-17.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 ₫27.3K

$1.11 COP 3,393

-5.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₫12.3K

$0.99 COP 3,044

-52.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 ₫40.6K

$3.71 COP 11.4K

-58.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 ₫204.9K

$13.24 COP 40.6K

-40.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₫23.5K

$1.47 COP 4,504

-38.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ₫54.1K

$2.50 COP 7,650

-17.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 ₫8,623

$1.02 COP 3,131

-67.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.86 ₫100.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₫27.0K

$0.79 COP 2,427

30.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₫15.9K

$2.31 COP 7,093

-73.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.18 ₫500.7K

$8.72 COP 26.7K

119.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 ₫23.4K

$1.30 COP 3,990

-30.77%

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

$30.8K ₫803.3M

$22.6K COP 69.3M

36.16%

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

$28.1K ₫732.4M

$36.5K COP 111.8M

-23.11%

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

$88.5 ₫2.3M

$114 COP 348.8K

-22.25%

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

$6.27 ₫163.6K

$13.54 COP 41.5K

-53.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.99 ₫208.4K

$31.16 COP 95.5K

-74.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.06 ₫575.8K

$38.31 COP 117.4K

-42.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.26 ₫137.4K

Cinema Ticket

$3.10 ₫81.0K

$8.50 COP 26.1K

-63.53%

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

$162 ₫4.2M

$618 COP 1.9M

-73.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ₫385.7M

$7,277 COP 22.3M

103.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.47 ₫1.2M

$78.6 COP 240.8K

-43.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.74 ₫724.1K

$54.3 COP 166.5K

-48.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 ₫2.6M

$129 COP 396.1K

-23.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.1 ₫2.1M

$111 COP 340.6K

-26.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₫13.7M

$637 COP 2.0M

-17.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 ₫8.8M

$562 COP 1.7M

-39.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$969 ₫25.3M

$1,123 COP 3.4M

-13.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$744 ₫19.4M

$950 COP 2.9M

-21.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,857 ₫100.7M

$1,910 COP 5.9M

101.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,278 ₫33.3M

$1,427 COP 4.4M

-10.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$359 ₫9.4M

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: August 18, 2026

Last update for Cartago: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $526 in Da Nang versus $637 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 $20.00 in Da Nang versus $38.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $244 – 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 52%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,258 per month in Da Nang and $1,913 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 $839 in Da Nang and $1,275 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $162 per month in Da Nang and $618 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 $839, than in Cartago at $1,275. 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.