Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and El Nido

For one person, living is cheaper in El Nido: $739 a month against $866 in Da Nang, rent and utilities included – about $1,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Da Nang
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$866
/mo nomad
El Nido
🇵🇭 Philippines
$739
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Da Nang and in El Nido

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Da Nang and in El Nido actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $866 per month in Da Nang vs $739 in El Nido, rent included.

  • Da Nang $866
  • El Nido $739

A couple spends around $1,402 per month in Da Nang vs $1,148 in El Nido, rent included.

  • Da Nang $1,402
  • El Nido $1,148

A family of three spends $1,937 per month in Da Nang vs $1,557 in El Nido, rent included.

  • Da Nang $1,937
  • El Nido $1,557

Da Nang costs about 17% more than El Nido, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Da Nang and El Nido are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 36% lower, El Nido 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
El Nido
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.30 ₫59.7K
$4.84 ₱305
-52.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.11 ₫494.6K
$28.13 ₱1,771
-32.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.54 ₫117.4K
$3.70 ₱233
22.70%
Cappuccino
$1.73 ₫44.7K
$2.25 ₱142
-23.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₫15.5K
$1.17 ₱73.8
-48.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₫8,807
$0.32 ₱20.45
6.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ₫35.9K
$1.30 ₱81.8
6.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 ₫60.8K
$1.99 ₱125
18.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
El Nido
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.59 ₫41.1K
$1.59 ₱100
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 ₫31.7K
$1.00 ₱63.1
23.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 ₫27.1K
$1.29 ₱81.4
-18.60%
Eggs
$1.49 ₫38.5K
$1.95 ₱123
-23.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.26 ₫343.2K
$5.33 ₱336
148.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.25 ₫110.1K
$3.98 ₱250
6.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.57 ₫247.8K
$6.98 ₱439
37.11%
Apples (1kg)
$2.64 ₫68.3K
$2.25 ₱142
17.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 ₫31.2K
$1.54 ₱97.1
-22.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.31 ₫34.0K
$2.26 ₱142
-42.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 ₫39.5K
$1.16 ₱72.8
31.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 ₫29.6K
$1.95 ₱123
-41.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 ₫33.9K
$2.01 ₱127
-34.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ₫26.8K
$0.92 ₱58.0
11.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₫13.7K
$0.53 ₱33.65
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.51 ₫39.2K
$3.35 ₱211
-54.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.54 ₫195.2K
$7.24 ₱456
4.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₫24.2K
$1.00 ₱62.9
-7.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₫56.2K
$1.87 ₱118
16.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
El Nido
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 ₫8,963
$0.24 ₱15.07
45.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$5.01 ₫129.6K
$10.28 ₱648
-51.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.04 ₫26.9K
$0.85 ₱53.8
22.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ₫14.5K
$0.20 ₱12.47
180.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.19 ₫496.8K
$1.72 ₱108
1015.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 ₫23.1K
$1.31 ₱82.3
-32.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K ₫788.3M
$19.2K ₱1.2M
58.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K ₫726.2M
$21.6K ₱1.4M
29.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
El Nido
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.5 ₫2.0M
$121 ₱7,638
-35.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.17 ₫159.8K
$14.38 ₱906
-57.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.35 ₫216.1K
$24.44 ₱1,539
-65.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
El Nido
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.33 ₫655.7K
$34.90 ₱2,197
-27.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.45 ₫141.0K
$3.99 ₱251
36.59%
Cinema Ticket
$3.29 ₫85.1K
$5.23 ₱329
-37.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
El Nido
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$160 ₫4.2M
$124 ₱7,818
29.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.9K ₫385.9M
$6,869 ₱432.4K
117.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
El Nido
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.73 ₫1.2M
$33.86 ₱2,132
32.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.90 ₫722.2K
$18.81 ₱1,185
48.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 ₫2.6M
$66.9 ₱4,211
52.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.1 ₫2.1M
$49.95 ₱3,145
62.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
El Nido
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$532 ₫13.8M
$269 ₱17.0K
97.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 ₫9.0M
$177 ₱11.2K
95.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,039 ₫26.9M
$535 ₱33.7K
94.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$794 ₫20.6M
$358 ₱22.5K
122.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,852 ₫99.7M
$2,607 ₱164.1K
47.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,328 ₫34.4M
$900 ₱56.7K
47.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
El Nido
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$354 ₫9.2M
$257 ₱16.2K
38.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.72
6.79
57.88%

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

Last update for Da Nang: October 20, 2026

Last update for El Nido: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
$346
El Nido
$177 48.8% $169
Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
$202
El Nido
$174 13.8% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
$115
El Nido
$76 33.8% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
$93
El Nido
$160 72.1% $67
Eating Out
Da Nang
$68
El Nido
$93 36.8% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
$32
El Nido
$45 42.2% $13
Getting Around
Da Nang
$10
El Nido
$13 28% $2.9

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $532 in Da Nang versus $269 in El Nido. 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 38% higher in Da Nang, 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 $28.00 in El Nido. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Da Nang vs $174 in El Nido – so El Nido wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Da Nang
🇵🇭 El Nido
🕒 Local time
03:30 3:30 AM
04:30 4:30 AM
1 h ahead of Da Nang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,245,200
50,494
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,105 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Da Nang El Nido 1,320 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Da Nang
  • El Nido

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 El Nido: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Da Nang and in El Nido compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $866 in Da Nang, $739 in El Nido – roughly 17% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Da Nang compared to El Nido?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Da Nang and $1,109 in El Nido. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Da Nang and El Nido?
Rent is clearly cheaper in El Nido, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 16% more in Da Nang, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang and $28.00 in El Nido. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Da Nang compared to El Nido?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Da Nang and $739 in El Nido, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Da Nang and El Nido?
It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $739 in El Nido to $866 in Da Nang. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Da Nang or El Nido safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Da Nang and El Nido?
If budget matters most, go with El Nido. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Da Nang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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