Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $874 per month in Da Nang vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,402 per month in Da Nang vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,930 per month in Da Nang vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Da Nang is about 8% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Da Nang and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 36% lower, Chiang Mai 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.33 ₫60.8K
$2.08 ฿68.5
12.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.42 ₫506.1K
$19.64 ฿646
-1.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.46 ₫116.3K
$5.65 ฿186
-21.06%
Cappuccino
$1.72 ₫44.9K
$1.81 ฿59.3
-4.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ₫17.8K
$0.71 ฿23.44
-4.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₫8,927
$0.32 ฿10.38
6.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.30 ₫33.9K
$2.24 ฿73.5
-41.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 ₫61.5K
$3.63 ฿119
-34.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 ₫40.1K
$1.96 ฿64.4
-21.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 ₫31.9K
$1.50 ฿49.38
-18.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ₫27.5K
$1.34 ฿43.92
-20.90%
Eggs
$1.52 ₫39.7K
$2.26 ฿74.4
-32.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.97 ₫337.8K
$16.26 ฿534
-20.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 ₫105.6K
$2.95 ฿97.1
37.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.27 ₫241.6K
$9.94 ฿327
-6.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 ₫70.2K
$2.57 ฿84.5
4.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.9K
$1.06 ฿34.72
4.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 ₫34.5K
$1.61 ฿53.0
-17.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 ₫35.9K
$1.52 ฿49.96
-9.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 ₫28.5K
$1.27 ฿41.76
-14.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ₫31.6K
$1.07 ฿35.05
13.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ₫26.8K
$0.72 ฿23.67
43.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₫13.6K
$0.51 ฿16.72
1.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.55 ₫40.5K
$4.19 ฿138
-63.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.71 ₫201.0K
$17.87 ฿587
-56.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 ₫23.5K
$1.69 ฿55.7
-46.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ₫55.8K
$2.84 ฿93.2
-24.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ₫8,217
$0.93 ฿30.42
-65.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.07 ₫132.0K
$53.9 ฿1,770
-90.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 ₫26.9K
$1.23 ฿40.58
-16.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 ₫17.0K
$0.58 ฿18.96
12.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.08 ₫497.0K
$2.42 ฿79.7
688.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 ₫22.2K
$1.41 ฿46.42
-39.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K ₫800.8M
$21.4K ฿704.9K
43.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K ₫717.9M
$27.3K ฿898.5K
0.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.0 ₫2.3M
$63.7 ฿2,093
38.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.28 ₫163.6K
$12.85 ฿423
-51.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.91 ₫206.1K
$20.22 ฿665
-60.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.18 ₫578.0K
$38.74 ฿1,274
-42.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.30 ₫138.1K
$3.97 ฿130
33.50%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02 ₫78.6K
$6.74 ฿221
-55.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$161 ₫4.2M
$778 ฿25.6K
-79.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ₫394.1M
$14.6K ฿480.2K
3.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.10 ₫1.2M
$54.3 ฿1,785
-15.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.21 ₫708.9K
$25.45 ฿836
6.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 ₫2.7M
$94.3 ฿3,101
8.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7 ₫2.1M
$73.4 ฿2,414
11.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$529 ₫13.8M
$490 ฿16.1K
8.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 ₫9.0M
$289 ฿9,510
19.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,037 ₫27.0M
$894 ฿29.4K
16.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$809 ₫21.1M
$517 ฿17.0K
56.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,809 ₫99.2M
$1,955 ฿64.3K
94.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,312 ₫34.2M
$1,477 ฿48.5K
-11.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$350 ₫9.1M
$602 ฿19.8K
-41.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.72
5.57
92.46%

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

Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $529 in Da Nang versus $490 in Chiang Mai. 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 72% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $240 – 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 Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Da Nang or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Da Nang, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Da Nang and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,311 per month in Da Nang and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Da Nang or Chiang Mai?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Da Nang and in Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Da Nang and $778 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Da Nang or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 22% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Da Nang or in Chiang Mai?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $874, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Da Nang or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Da Nang costs $874 versus $947 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Da Nang compared to Chiang Mai?
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.
Should I move to Da Nang or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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