😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $868 in Da Nang versus $805 in Colombo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,419 in Da Nang versus $1,206 in Colombo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,970 in Da Nang versus $1,607 in Colombo.
🌍Living in Da Nang is roughly 8% more expensive than in Colombo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Da Nang37% lower, Colombo41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Colombo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.35₫61.1K
$4.36LKR 1,444
-46.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.28₫501.2K
$25.64LKR 8,489
-24.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.71₫122.5K
$7.51LKR 2,486
-37.28%
Cappuccino
$1.80₫46.8K
$2.57LKR 852
-29.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69₫18.0K
$0.69LKR 228
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32₫8,201
$0.27LKR 89.7
18.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.31₫34.0K
$2.23LKR 739
-41.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30₫59.7K
$3.07LKR 1,015
-25.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Colombo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50₫38.9K
$1.61LKR 535
-6.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25₫32.5K
$0.57LKR 189
119.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.05₫27.3K
$0.78LKR 259
34.62%
Eggs
$1.52₫39.6K
$1.65LKR 546
-7.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.04₫339.0K
$13.07LKR 4,327
-0.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05₫105.4K
$5.05LKR 1,672
-19.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.26₫240.7K
$7.12LKR 2,359
30.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60₫67.5K
$6.96LKR 2,306
-62.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10₫28.7K
$0.82LKR 272
34.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.29₫33.5K
$4.31LKR 1,427
-70.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.40₫36.3K
$1.23LKR 408
13.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13₫29.5K
$1.00LKR 331
13.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22₫31.8K
$0.81LKR 267
50.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01₫26.3K
$0.94LKR 310
7.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52₫13.6K
$0.46LKR 152
13.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57₫40.7K
$10.14LKR 3,357
-84.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.48₫194.5K
$13.53LKR 4,479
-44.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83₫21.5K
$1.91LKR 633
-56.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18₫56.6K
$2.85LKR 944
-23.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Colombo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32₫8,196
$0.17LKR 55.6
88.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.04₫131.0K
$7.05LKR 2,335
-28.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.04₫26.9K
$0.38LKR 127
173.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62₫16.0K
$0.37LKR 123
67.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.13₫497.2K
$0.88LKR 292
2073.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83₫21.6K
$1.35LKR 447
-38.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K₫799.4M
$37.2KLKR 12.3M
-17.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K₫737.7M
$40.9KLKR 13.5M
-30.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Colombo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.5₫2.3M
$55.6LKR 18.4K
59.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.00₫155.9K
$4.17LKR 1,382
43.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.95₫206.6K
$20.52LKR 6,793
-61.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Colombo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.83₫593.6K
$14.69LKR 4,864
55.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.41₫140.6K
$5.82LKR 1,926
-7.04%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13₫81.3K
$4.54LKR 1,503
-31.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Colombo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163₫4.2M
$38.14LKR 12.6K
326.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.3K₫397.1M
$1,226LKR 406.0K
1145.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Colombo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.57₫1.2M
$19.94LKR 6,601
123.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.95₫726.6K
$16.86LKR 5,583
65.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100₫2.6M
$80.6LKR 26.7K
24.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.2₫2.1M
$42.33LKR 14.0K
89.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Colombo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$535₫13.9M
$601LKR 198.9K
-10.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$342₫8.9M
$268LKR 88.7K
27.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,025₫26.6M
$1,486LKR 491.8K
-31.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$787₫20.4M
$432LKR 143.0K
82.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,825₫99.5M
$3,735LKR 1.2M
2.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,283₫33.4M
$1,192LKR 394.8K
7.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Colombo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$360₫9.3M
$250LKR 82.9K
43.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.72
12.69
-15.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Da Nang: September 12, 2026
Last update for Colombo: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $535 in Da Nang and $601 in Colombo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Da Nang pays 44% 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 $26.00 in Colombo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $237 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 Colombo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Da Nang or Colombo?
Colombo wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Da Nang. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Colombo the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Da Nang or in Colombo?
Average pay runs 44% higher in Da Nang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Da Nang compared to Colombo?
Rent for a central apartment: $535 in Da Nang versus $601 in Colombo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Da Nang or in Colombo?
Shoppers in Da Nang pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Da Nang and in Colombo?
Dining out is cheaper in Colombo – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $19.00 in Da Nang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Da Nang or in Colombo?
At $805 in Colombo versus $868 in Da Nang, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Colombo but tight or insufficient in Da Nang. The gap between the two cities makes Colombo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Da Nang or Colombo?
Both work as nomad bases, but Colombo delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $805 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Colombo hard to pass up.
How safe is Da Nang compared to Colombo?
Safety-wise, Da Nang and Colombo 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 Colombo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Da Nang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.