Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Johor Bahru Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Johor Bahru

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $855 per month in Da Nang vs $1,061 in Johor Bahru, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,389 per month in Da Nang vs $1,551 in Johor Bahru, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,923 per month in Da Nang vs $2,042 in Johor Bahru, rent included.

Da Nang is about 19% cheaper than Johor Bahru, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Da Nang and Johor Bahru are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 38% lower, Johor Bahru 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Johor Bahru
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.33 ₫60.5K
$3.64 MYR 14.81
-35.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.15 ₫496.2K
$21.40 MYR 87.1
-10.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.49 ₫116.3K
$4.95 MYR 20.14
-9.29%
Cappuccino
$1.78 ₫46.1K
$3.03 MYR 12.31
-41.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₫17.4K
$0.84 MYR 3.43
-20.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₫8,264
$0.52 MYR 2.11
-38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.32 ₫34.3K
$4.40 MYR 17.91
-70.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₫60.7K
$6.13 MYR 24.95
-61.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Johor Bahru
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 ₫38.2K
$1.75 MYR 7.13
-16.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.23 ₫32.0K
$1.11 MYR 4.51
10.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 ₫27.6K
$1.46 MYR 5.95
-27.40%
Eggs
$1.54 ₫39.9K
$1.76 MYR 7.16
-12.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.10 ₫339.5K
$18.53 MYR 75.4
-29.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.08 ₫105.7K
$4.64 MYR 18.86
-12.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.19 ₫238.2K
$10.85 MYR 44.12
-15.30%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 ₫67.1K
$3.47 MYR 14.11
-25.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.7K
$1.69 MYR 6.86
-34.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.29 ₫33.4K
$3.96 MYR 16.09
-67.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ₫37.9K
$1.63 MYR 6.64
-10.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 ₫29.0K
$1.47 MYR 5.98
-23.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 ₫32.9K
$1.74 MYR 7.08
-27.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 ₫26.2K
$1.33 MYR 5.43
-24.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₫12.6K
$0.55 MYR 2.25
-10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.49 ₫38.7K
$4.28 MYR 17.41
-65.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.85 ₫203.4K
$14.41 MYR 58.6
-45.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₫21.6K
$2.87 MYR 11.66
-71.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 ₫56.7K
$3.04 MYR 12.35
-27.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Johor Bahru
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 ₫8,932
$0.77 MYR 3.13
-55.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.90 ₫126.9K
$12.45 MYR 50.6
-60.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.03 ₫26.7K
$1.44 MYR 5.85
-28.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 ₫15.8K
$0.71 MYR 2.89
-14.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.51 ₫505.7K
$9.69 MYR 39.44
101.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 ₫23.6K
$0.78 MYR 3.19
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K ₫807.6M
$42.9K MYR 174.6K
-27.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K ₫717.0M
$36.1K MYR 146.9K
-23.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Johor Bahru
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.1 ₫2.3M
$53.3 MYR 217
67.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.02 ₫156.0K
$11.37 MYR 46.27
-47.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.18 ₫211.9K
$29.26 MYR 119
-72.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Johor Bahru
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.12 ₫573.4K
$40.41 MYR 164
-45.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.33 ₫138.3K
$5.62 MYR 22.86
-5.16%
Cinema Ticket
$3.12 ₫81.0K
$4.86 MYR 19.75
-35.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Johor Bahru
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$163 ₫4.2M
$167 MYR 679
-2.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K ₫394.2M
$4,463 MYR 18.2K
240.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Johor Bahru
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.51 ₫1.2M
$66.5 MYR 271
-33.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.06 ₫727.2K
$16.90 MYR 68.8
66.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 ₫2.6M
$81.7 MYR 332
24.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.8 ₫2.1M
$40.29 MYR 164
105.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Johor Bahru
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$531 ₫13.8M
$518 MYR 2,108
2.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$341 ₫8.8M
$395 MYR 1,606
-13.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,044 ₫27.1M
$903 MYR 3,673
15.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$787 ₫20.4M
$631 MYR 2,567
24.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,768 ₫97.7M
$2,032 MYR 8,266
85.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,309 ₫33.9M
$1,176 MYR 4,784
11.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Johor Bahru
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$349 ₫9.1M
$1,090 MYR 4,434
-67.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.72
4.06
164.04%

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

Last update for Da Nang: September 6, 2026

Last update for Johor Bahru: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $531 in Da Nang versus $518 in Johor Bahru. 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 212% higher in Johor Bahru, 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 $21.00 in Johor Bahru. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $273 – 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 Johor Bahru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Da Nang and in Johor Bahru compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $855 in Da Nang, $1,061 in Johor Bahru – roughly 24% apart. Johor Bahru costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Da Nang compared to Johor Bahru?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,282 per month in Da Nang and $1,591 in Johor Bahru. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Da Nang and Johor Bahru?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 39% more in Johor Bahru, 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 $21.00 in Johor Bahru. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $855, than in Johor Bahru at $1,061. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johor Bahru it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Da Nang and Johor Bahru?
It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $855 in Da Nang to $1,061 in Johor Bahru. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Da Nang or Johor Bahru 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 Johor Bahru?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Johor Bahru makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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