Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Koh Samui Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Koh Samui

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $711 per month in Da Nang vs $1,209 in Koh Samui, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,077 per month in Da Nang vs $2,204 in Koh Samui, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,443 per month in Da Nang vs $3,200 in Koh Samui, rent included.

Da Nang is about 41% cheaper than Koh Samui, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Da Nang and Koh Samui are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 47% lower, Koh Samui 10% lower.

Currency
ðŸ― Eating Out
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.89 â‚Ŧ49.5K
$4.67 āļŋ150
-59.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.22 â‚Ŧ504.1K
$46.12 āļŋ1,478
-58.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.83 â‚Ŧ126.6K
$8.86 āļŋ284
-45.49%
Cappuccino
$1.56 â‚Ŧ40.8K
$3.08 āļŋ98.5
-49.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 â‚Ŧ13.1K
$0.68 āļŋ21.71
-26.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 â‚Ŧ7,582
$0.36 āļŋ11.60
-19.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.07 â‚Ŧ28.0K
$2.43 āļŋ78.0
-55.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 â‚Ŧ41.5K
$3.77 āļŋ121
-58.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 â‚Ŧ37.8K
$2.26 āļŋ72.5
-36.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.95 â‚Ŧ24.9K
$1.83 āļŋ58.7
-48.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 â‚Ŧ29.6K
$2.26 āļŋ72.5
-50.00%
Eggs
$1.48 â‚Ŧ38.9K
$2.29 āļŋ73.4
-35.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.38 â‚Ŧ324.7K
$19.50 āļŋ625
-36.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.75 â‚Ŧ98.3K
$3.64 āļŋ117
3.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.94 â‚Ŧ260.6K
$13.36 āļŋ428
-25.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.72 â‚Ŧ71.4K
$3.21 āļŋ103
-15.26%
Banana (1kg)
$0.92 â‚Ŧ24.1K
$1.70 āļŋ54.6
-45.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.12 â‚Ŧ29.4K
$2.31 āļŋ73.9
-51.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 â‚Ŧ29.1K
$1.98 āļŋ63.5
-43.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 â‚Ŧ29.9K
$1.55 āļŋ49.67
-26.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 â‚Ŧ31.8K
$1.43 āļŋ45.90
-15.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 â‚Ŧ27.4K
$1.01 āļŋ32.40
2.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 â‚Ŧ12.8K
$0.48 āļŋ15.45
2.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.35 â‚Ŧ35.4K
$4.50 āļŋ144
-70.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.77 â‚Ŧ203.8K
$19.22 āļŋ616
-59.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 â‚Ŧ22.7K
$1.84 āļŋ58.9
-53.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 â‚Ŧ43.0K
$2.68 āļŋ86.0
-38.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 â‚Ŧ8,949
$1.50 āļŋ48.08
-77.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.84 â‚Ŧ100.8K
$45.33 āļŋ1,452
-91.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.89 â‚Ŧ23.2K
$3.21 āļŋ103
-72.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 â‚Ŧ18.4K
$1.05 āļŋ33.80
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.67 â‚Ŧ306.0K
$14.68 āļŋ470
-20.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 â‚Ŧ24.2K
$1.41 āļŋ45.25
-34.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K â‚Ŧ703.2M
$29.2K āļŋ934.9K
-8.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8K â‚Ŧ755.7M
$34.8K āļŋ1.1M
-17.24%
ðŸ§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.0 â‚Ŧ2.0M
$130 āļŋ4,156
-42.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.00 â‚Ŧ157.5K
$14.59 āļŋ468
-58.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.16 â‚Ŧ214.1K
$19.63 āļŋ629
-58.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.13 â‚Ŧ528.1K
$62.6 āļŋ2,007
-67.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.75 â‚Ŧ203.2K
$18.10 āļŋ580
-57.18%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13 â‚Ŧ82.2K
$9.49 āļŋ304
-67.02%
ðŸ§ļ Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$152 â‚Ŧ4.0M
$757 āļŋ24.2K
-79.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K â‚Ŧ336.6M
$17.7K āļŋ567.3K
-27.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.68 â‚Ŧ1.0M
$59.0 āļŋ1,891
-34.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 â‚Ŧ662.0K
$34.51 āļŋ1,106
-26.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.3 â‚Ŧ1.3M
$116 āļŋ3,723
-55.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.8 â‚Ŧ2.0M
$84.2 āļŋ2,698
-8.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$360 â‚Ŧ9.4M
$526 āļŋ16.8K
-31.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$244 â‚Ŧ6.4M
$375 āļŋ12.0K
-35.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$734 â‚Ŧ19.3M
$1,752 āļŋ56.1K
-58.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$456 â‚Ŧ11.9M
$1,283 āļŋ41.1K
-64.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,738 â‚Ŧ98.0M
$3,223 āļŋ103.3K
15.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,275 â‚Ŧ33.4M
$2,291 āļŋ73.4K
-44.36%
ðŸ’ĩ Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$334 â‚Ŧ8.8M
$403 āļŋ12.9K
-17.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.67
5.33
100.19%

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

Last update for Da Nang: April 13, 2026

Last update for Koh Samui: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Da Nang versus $526 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 21% 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 $19 in Da Nang versus $46 in Koh Samui. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $292 – 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 Koh Samui: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Da Nang and Koh Samui compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $711 in Da Nang, $1,209 in Koh Samui – roughly 70% apart. Koh Samui costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Da Nang compared to Koh Samui?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,067 per month in Da Nang and $1,813 in Koh Samui. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Da Nang and Koh Samui?
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 55% more in Koh Samui, 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 $46.00 in Koh Samui. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafÃĐ 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 $711, than in Koh Samui at $1,209. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Koh Samui it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Da Nang and Koh Samui?
It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $711 in Da Nang to $1,209 in Koh Samui. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Da Nang or Koh Samui 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 Koh Samui?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, 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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