Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $847 per month in Da Nang vs $810 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), rent included.

A couple spends around $1,370 per month in Da Nang vs $1,352 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), rent included.

A family of three spends $1,893 per month in Da Nang vs $1,895 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), rent included.

Da Nang costs about 5% more than Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 38% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.34 ₫61.3K

$1.90 ₫49.6K

23.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.79 ₫491.2K

$20.89 ₫546.1K

-10.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.83 ₫126.2K

$4.65 ₫121.6K

3.87%

Cappuccino

$1.65 ₫43.2K

$1.74 ₫45.4K

-5.17%

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

$0.63 ₫16.5K

$0.51 ₫13.3K

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₫8,783

$0.32 ₫8,341

6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.37 ₫35.9K

$1.16 ₫30.4K

18.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 ₫60.7K

$1.80 ₫47.1K

28.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 ₫37.0K

$1.61 ₫42.0K

-11.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 ₫33.5K

$1.01 ₫26.4K

26.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.6K

$1.01 ₫26.4K

4.95%

Eggs

$1.48 ₫38.7K

$1.61 ₫42.2K

-8.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.73 ₫332.9K

$12.25 ₫320.2K

3.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.99 ₫104.3K

$3.72 ₫97.3K

7.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.33 ₫244.1K

$10.59 ₫276.8K

-11.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 ₫69.8K

$3.03 ₫79.1K

-11.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 ₫27.5K

$1.31 ₫34.3K

-19.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 ₫32.8K

$1.73 ₫45.1K

-27.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ₫38.0K

$1.19 ₫31.1K

21.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.4K

$1.21 ₫31.8K

-6.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ₫31.5K

$1.13 ₫29.6K

6.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₫26.2K

$0.78 ₫20.4K

28.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₫12.3K

$0.53 ₫13.8K

-11.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.49 ₫39.0K

$1.20 ₫31.4K

24.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.45 ₫194.7K

$11.88 ₫310.6K

-37.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.89 ₫23.2K

$0.87 ₫22.8K

2.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 ₫54.5K

$1.45 ₫37.9K

43.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 ₫8,642

$0.28 ₫7,405

17.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.71 ₫96.9K

$11.45 ₫299.4K

-67.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 ₫27.1K

$0.69 ₫18.1K

50.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 ₫16.7K

$0.61 ₫15.9K

4.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.34 ₫505.6K

$3.12 ₫81.5K

519.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 ₫23.0K

$0.87 ₫22.7K

1.15%

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

$29.9K ₫782.7M

$30.7K ₫802.6M

-2.48%

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

$27.3K ₫713.5M

$30.7K ₫803.1M

-11.15%

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

$86.0 ₫2.2M

$102 ₫2.7M

-15.94%

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

$5.95 ₫155.5K

$5.82 ₫152.3K

2.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.05 ₫210.4K

$9.98 ₫261.0K

-19.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.34 ₫584.1K

$23.20 ₫606.5K

-3.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.30 ₫138.6K

$11.59 ₫302.9K

-54.27%

Cinema Ticket

$3.08 ₫80.4K

$3.47 ₫90.6K

-11.24%

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

$158 ₫4.1M

$480 ₫12.5M

-67.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.3K ₫400.0M

$22.6K ₫589.7M

-32.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.45 ₫1.2M

$53.7 ₫1.4M

-15.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.51 ₫719.2K

$34.20 ₫894.1K

-19.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 ₫2.7M

$90.2 ₫2.4M

13.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 ₫2.1M

$93.9 ₫2.5M

-14.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$517 ₫13.5M

$568 ₫14.8M

-8.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$340 ₫8.9M

$267 ₫7.0M

27.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$989 ₫25.8M

$1,238 ₫32.4M

-20.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$747 ₫19.5M

$674 ₫17.6M

10.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,777 ₫98.8M

$4,829 ₫126.3M

-21.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,279 ₫33.4M

$1,876 ₫49.1M

-31.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$358 ₫9.3M

$491 ₫12.9M

-27.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.72

8.64

24.07%

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

Last update for Da Nang: August 8, 2026

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): August 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $517 in Da Nang versus $568 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). 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 37% higher in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), 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 $19.00 in Da Nang versus $21.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $206 – 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 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $847 in Da Nang, $810 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – roughly 5% apart. Da Nang costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,270 per month in Da Nang and $1,215 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Da Nang – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang and $21.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), where all-in costs run around $810, than in Da Nang at $847. In Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) it covers expenses comfortably, while in Da Nang it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $810 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to $847 in Da Nang. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). 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.