Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Islamabad Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Islamabad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $704 per month in Da Nang vs $534 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,081 per month in Da Nang vs $847 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,458 per month in Da Nang vs $1,160 in Islamabad, rent included.

Da Nang costs about 32% more than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Da Nang and Islamabad are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 47% lower, Islamabad 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.93 ₫50.8K

$2.85 PKR 791

-32.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.46 ₫511.5K

$14.26 PKR 3,960

36.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.65 ₫122.2K

$5.44 PKR 1,511

-14.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 477

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.82 PKR 1,061

Cappuccino

$1.61 ₫42.3K

$1.97 PKR 547

-18.27%

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

$0.51 ₫13.4K

$0.40 PKR 110

27.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,592

$0.24 PKR 67.0

20.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₫28.2K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₫41.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ₫36.3K

$0.96 PKR 268

43.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 ₫24.9K

$0.66 PKR 183

43.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$1.28 PKR 355

-8.59%

Eggs

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$1.20 PKR 334

19.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 ₫331.0K

$6.07 PKR 1,687

107.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.64 ₫95.8K

$3.37 PKR 937

8.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.79 ₫257.3K

$4.35 PKR 1,209

125.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ₫72.4K

$1.04 PKR 289

165.38%

Banana (1kg)

$0.94 ₫24.8K

$0.84 PKR 234

11.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.4K

$0.91 PKR 253

23.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 ₫27.6K

$0.56 PKR 156

87.50%

Potato (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$0.41 PKR 115

168.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ₫31.4K

$0.57 PKR 158

108.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 ₫26.3K

$0.31 PKR 85.4

222.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.7K

$0.41 PKR 113

17.07%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.00 PKR 555

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 PKR 258

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 PKR 567

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 ₫36.3K

$2.14 PKR 595

-35.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.52 ₫197.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ₫21.4K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₫42.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,321

$0.17 PKR 46.51

88.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.73 ₫98.2K

$7.22 PKR 2,005

-48.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₫21.5K

$0.85 PKR 236

-3.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.3K

$0.43 PKR 120

60.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.03 ₫316.4K

$2.79 PKR 775

331.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 ₫24.0K

$0.98 PKR 271

-7.14%

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

$27.2K ₫715.1M

$20.9K PKR 5.8M

30.16%

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

$28.1K ₫739.2M

$25.9K PKR 7.2M

8.40%

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

$74.1 ₫1.9M

$114 PKR 31.6K

-34.86%

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

$5.97 ₫157.0K

$5.41 PKR 1,501

10.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.07 ₫212.3K

$18.69 PKR 5,190

-56.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.06 ₫527.5K

$22.13 PKR 6,144

-9.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.52 ₫197.6K

$6.12 PKR 1,698

22.88%

Cinema Ticket

$3.00 ₫78.9K

$4.14 PKR 1,150

-27.54%

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

$153 ₫4.0M

$60.2 PKR 16.7K

154.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₫336.9M

$2,753 PKR 764.4K

365.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.61 ₫1.0M

$21.08 PKR 5,854

87.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.60 ₫673.1K

$27.64 PKR 7,674

-7.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

$87.8 PKR 24.4K

-39.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.9 ₫2.0M

$40.94 PKR 11.4K

87.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$365 ₫9.6M

$199 PKR 55.3K

83.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$244 ₫6.4M

$110 PKR 30.5K

121.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 ₫19.2M

$505 PKR 140.1K

45.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$458 ₫12.0M

$299 PKR 83.0K

53.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,767 ₫99.0M

$1,513 PKR 420.1K

148.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,304 ₫34.3M

$647 PKR 179.8K

101.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$359 ₫9.4M

$385 PKR 106.9K

-6.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

20.2

-47.18%

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

Last update for Da Nang: July 14, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $365 in Da Nang versus $199 in Islamabad. 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 Islamabad, 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 $14.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $100 – making Islamabad 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 Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $704 in Da Nang, $534 in Islamabad – roughly 32% apart. Da Nang costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,056 per month in Da Nang and $801 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Islamabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 87% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang and $14.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $704 in Da Nang and $534 in Islamabad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $534 in Islamabad to $704 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 Islamabad. 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.