Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Koh Samui

For one person, living is cheaper in Da Nang: $889 a month against $1,221 in Koh Samui, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Da Nang, Vietnam
Koh Samui, Thailand
Da Nang
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$889
/mo nomad
Koh Samui
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,221
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Da Nang and in Koh Samui

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 Koh Samui actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $889 per month in Da Nang vs $1,221 in Koh Samui, rent included.

  • Da Nang $889
  • Koh Samui $1,221

A couple spends around $1,426 per month in Da Nang vs $2,093 in Koh Samui, rent included.

  • Da Nang $1,426
  • Koh Samui $2,093

A family of three spends $1,963 per month in Da Nang vs $2,965 in Koh Samui, rent included.

  • Da Nang $1,963
  • Koh Samui $2,965

Da Nang is about 27% cheaper than Koh Samui, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Da Nang and Koh Samui are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 35% lower, Koh Samui 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.17 ₫56.0K
$4.31 ฿145
-49.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.53 ₫504.0K
$32.28 ฿1,089
-39.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.53 ₫117.0K
$8.55 ฿289
-47.02%
Cappuccino
$1.64 ₫42.4K
$2.75 ฿92.7
-40.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₫15.6K
$0.89 ฿30.00
-32.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₫8,901
$0.49 ฿16.55
-30.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.33 ₫34.4K
$2.56 ฿86.3
-48.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 ₫61.0K
$3.61 ฿122
-34.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 ₫41.2K
$1.66 ฿55.9
-3.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 ₫31.0K
$1.46 ฿49.30
-17.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.05 ₫27.1K
$1.58 ฿53.3
-33.54%
Eggs
$1.52 ₫39.3K
$2.16 ฿73.0
-29.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.82 ₫330.7K
$19.29 ฿651
-33.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.17 ₫107.5K
$3.34 ฿113
24.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.33 ₫240.6K
$10.86 ฿366
-14.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 ₫67.2K
$2.94 ฿99.2
-11.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.21 ₫31.3K
$1.60 ฿54.1
-24.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₫33.1K
$2.29 ฿77.1
-44.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 ₫40.5K
$2.05 ฿69.2
-23.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 ₫31.0K
$1.45 ฿48.79
-17.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.31 ₫33.9K
$1.37 ฿46.13
-4.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 ₫26.9K
$1.12 ฿37.67
-7.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₫12.7K
$0.55 ฿18.62
-10.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.51 ₫39.0K
$4.26 ฿144
-64.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.97 ₫205.6K
$18.41 ฿621
-56.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₫24.0K
$1.82 ฿61.4
-48.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 ₫56.3K
$2.85 ฿96.2
-23.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₫7,693
$1.53 ฿51.7
-80.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.31 ₫162.7K
$58.1 ฿1,959
-89.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.04 ₫26.8K
$3.15 ฿106
-66.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ₫14.6K
$1.07 ฿36.12
-46.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.27 ₫497.1K
$4.08 ฿138
372.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 ₫23.4K
$1.53 ฿51.7
-40.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K ₫795.4M
$27.5K ฿928.8K
11.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K ₫732.2M
$27.7K ฿936.1K
2.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.5 ₫2.0M
$104 ฿3,492
-24.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.35 ₫163.9K
$11.49 ฿388
-44.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.33 ₫214.9K
$18.05 ฿609
-53.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.08 ₫698.6K
$69.9 ฿2,358
-61.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.32 ₫137.2K
$11.34 ฿383
-53.09%
Cinema Ticket
$3.37 ₫86.8K
$8.14 ฿275
-58.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$423 ₫10.9M
$509 ฿17.2K
-16.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K ₫389.5M
$12.4K ฿416.9K
22.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.19 ₫1.2M
$62.9 ฿2,120
-28.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.75 ₫716.1K
$29.10 ฿982
-4.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 ₫2.6M
$95.8 ฿3,231
5.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.8 ₫2.1M
$87.2 ฿2,942
-5.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$553 ₫14.3M
$607 ฿20.5K
-8.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 ₫9.5M
$420 ฿14.2K
-12.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,228 ₫31.7M
$1,653 ฿55.8K
-25.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$821 ₫21.2M
$1,221 ฿41.2K
-32.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,858 ₫99.5M
$3,583 ฿120.9K
7.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,877 ₫48.4M
$2,588 ฿87.3K
-27.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$362 ₫9.4M
$405 ฿13.7K
-10.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.72
5.57
92.46%

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

Last update for Da Nang: October 25, 2026

Last update for Koh Samui: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
$369
Koh Samui
$420 13.8% $51
Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
$200
Koh Samui
$267 33.4% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
$115
Koh Samui
$124 7.2% $8.3
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
$93
Koh Samui
$133 42.7% $40
Eating Out
Da Nang
$66
Koh Samui
$119 80.1% $53
Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
$34
Koh Samui
$86 155% $52
Getting Around
Da Nang
$11
Koh Samui
$73 539% $61

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $553 in Da Nang versus $607 in Koh Samui. 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 12% higher in Koh Samui, 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 $20 in Da Nang versus $32 in Koh Samui. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $267 – making Da Nang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Da Nang
🇹🇭 Koh Samui
🕒 Local time
22:30 10:30 PM
22:30 10:30 PM
Same time as Da Nang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,245,200
62,110
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 25,802 VND (100,000 VND = 3.88 USD). 1 EUR = 28,810 VND (100,000 VND = 3.47 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 31, 2026: 1 USD = 33.74 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.67 THB (100 THB = 2.65 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Da Nang Koh Samui 1,150 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Da Nang
  • Koh Samui

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 Koh Samui: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Da Nang and in Koh Samui compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $889 in Da Nang, $1,221 in Koh Samui – Da Nang comes out roughly 27% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Da Nang compared to Koh Samui?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,333 per month in Da Nang and $1,832 in Koh Samui. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do apartment prices compare in Da Nang and in Koh Samui?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $553 in Da Nang and $607 in Koh Samui. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 33% more in Koh Samui, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20 in Da Nang and $32 in Koh Samui. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $889, than in Koh Samui at $1,221. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Koh Samui it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should digital nomads live: Da Nang or Koh Samui?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Da Nang costs $889 versus $1,221 in Koh Samui. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Is Da Nang or Koh Samui safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
How do I decide between Da Nang and Koh Samui?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Koh Samui makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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