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 $721 per month in Da Nang vs $831 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,088 per month in Da Nang vs $1,277 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,454 per month in Da Nang vs $1,722 in Cartago, rent included.

Da Nang is about 13% cheaper than Cartago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Da Nang and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 46% lower, Cartago 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ₫51.0K

$3.65 COP 12.6K

-46.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.53 ₫513.1K

$28.95 COP 99.5K

-32.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.79 ₫125.8K

$7.20 COP 24.7K

-33.47%

Cappuccino

$1.57 ₫41.3K

$1.59 COP 5,464

-1.26%

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

$0.54 ₫14.2K

$0.88 COP 3,020

-38.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₫8,263

$0.60 COP 2,055

-48.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 ₫27.2K

$1.01 COP 3,482

2.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₫41.9K

$2.61 COP 8,969

-39.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ₫36.4K

$1.27 COP 4,376

8.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$1.47 COP 5,065

-30.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.5K

$1.22 COP 4,184

-8.20%

Eggs

$1.48 ₫38.8K

$2.48 COP 8,511

-40.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.60 ₫331.0K

$4.19 COP 14.4K

200.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 ₫99.0K

$5.53 COP 19.0K

-31.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.87 ₫259.4K

$7.46 COP 25.6K

32.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 ₫71.7K

$2.42 COP 8,323

12.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$0.96 COP 3,297

3.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.5K

$1.15 COP 3,944

-2.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.8K

$1.31 COP 4,518

-16.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.1K

$0.82 COP 2,812

40.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ₫31.9K

$1.06 COP 3,646

14.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 ₫26.1K

$0.70 COP 2,394

41.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₫12.8K

$0.69 COP 2,355

-28.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.33 ₫34.9K

$2.96 COP 10.2K

-55.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.57 ₫198.7K

$11.82 COP 40.6K

-35.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.5K

$1.11 COP 3,817

-23.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₫43.5K

$1.87 COP 6,436

-11.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫9,039

$0.72 COP 2,476

-52.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.92 ₫103.0K

$30.55 COP 105.0K

-87.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

$1.55 COP 5,337

-41.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 ₫19.8K

$1.90 COP 6,521

-60.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.01 ₫315.5K

$9.72 COP 33.4K

23.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 ₫22.6K

$0.93 COP 3,199

-7.53%

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

$27.2K ₫715.8M

$21.9K COP 75.2M

24.62%

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

$28.9K ₫759.2M

$29.6K COP 101.9M

-2.48%

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

$74.5 ₫2.0M

$80.8 COP 277.8K

-7.78%

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

$5.87 ₫154.2K

$8.60 COP 29.6K

-31.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.32 ₫218.6K

$24.44 COP 84.0K

-65.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.15 ₫529.4K

$23.06 COP 79.3K

-12.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.74 ₫203.2K

Cinema Ticket

$3.05 ₫80.1K

$4.97 COP 17.1K

-38.63%

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

$154 ₫4.0M

$229 COP 787.3K

-32.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.1K ₫344.7M

$6,068 COP 20.9M

116.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.19 ₫1.0M

$62.8 COP 215.8K

-37.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.78 ₫677.2K

$44.20 COP 151.9K

-41.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.3 ₫1.3M

$77.1 COP 264.9K

-33.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.2 ₫2.0M

$91.3 COP 313.8K

-17.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 ₫9.6M

$278 COP 957.0K

30.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$245 ₫6.4M

$243 COP 833.6K

1.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ₫19.1M

$536 COP 1.8M

35.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 ₫12.0M

$437 COP 1.5M

4.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,844 ₫101.0M

$1,460 COP 5.0M

163.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,323 ₫34.8M

$1,117 COP 3.8M

18.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$347 ₫9.1M

$324 COP 1.1M

7.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

11.58

-7.86%

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

Last update for Da Nang: June 15, 2026

Last update for Cartago: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in Da Nang versus $278 in Cartago. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 7% higher in Da Nang, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Da Nang versus $29.00 in Cartago. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Da Nang vs $182 in Cartago – so Cartago wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 15%, 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 $1,082 per month in Da Nang and $1,246 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 $721 in Da Nang and $831 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 679% less in Da Nang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $721 in Da Nang and $831 in Cartago, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.