🙂A single person spends $718 per month in Da Nang vs $1,240 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,105 per month in Da Nang vs $2,188 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,491 per month in Da Nang vs $3,137 in Koh Samui, rent included.
🙂Da Nang is about 42% cheaper than Koh Samui, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Da Nang and Koh Samui are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang47% lower, Koh Samui8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.88₫49.5K
$4.52฿147
-58.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.54₫512.9K
$46.22฿1,506
-57.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.80₫125.9K
$8.77฿286
-45.27%
Cappuccino
$1.61₫42.3K
$2.93฿95.3
-45.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54₫14.1K
$0.69฿22.57
-21.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29₫7,600
$0.39฿12.71
-25.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08₫28.3K
$2.50฿81.5
-56.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₫41.6K
$3.68฿120
-56.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37₫35.9K
$2.17฿70.7
-36.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02₫26.8K
$1.82฿59.1
-43.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17₫30.7K
$2.20฿71.6
-46.82%
Eggs
$1.47₫38.5K
$2.23฿72.6
-34.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23₫321.0K
$19.55฿637
-37.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.81₫100.0K
$3.78฿123
0.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.04₫263.5K
$13.10฿427
-23.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62₫68.7K
$3.35฿109
-21.79%
Banana(1kg)
$0.98₫25.6K
$1.65฿53.6
-40.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12₫29.3K
$2.30฿74.9
-51.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.11₫29.1K
$2.00฿65.3
-44.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14₫29.8K
$1.60฿52.2
-28.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15₫30.1K
$1.43฿46.64
-19.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01₫26.5K
$0.98฿31.94
3.06%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52₫13.6K
$0.49฿15.96
6.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.36₫35.6K
$4.41฿144
-69.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.78₫204.3K
$18.67฿608
-58.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85₫22.3K
$1.86฿60.6
-54.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64₫43.0K
$2.71฿88.2
-39.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34₫8,989
$1.42฿46.15
-76.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.75₫98.5K
$47.10฿1,534
-92.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85₫22.3K
$3.21฿105
-73.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74₫19.5K
$1.10฿35.73
-32.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.95₫313.7K
$14.33฿467
-16.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85₫22.3K
$1.42฿46.09
-40.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K₫706.5M
$29.3K฿953.7K
-8.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.9K₫757.8M
$34.8K฿1.1M
-17.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.0₫2.0M
$129฿4,210
-41.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.01₫157.8K
$14.22฿463
-57.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.43₫221.3K
$19.86฿647
-57.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.69₫516.9K
$63.8฿2,076
-69.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.83₫205.6K
$17.91฿583
-56.28%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13₫82.3K
$9.45฿308
-66.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152₫4.0M
$769฿25.0K
-80.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.7K₫334.5M
$17.6K฿573.7K
-27.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.87₫1.0M
$57.7฿1,881
-30.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.49₫669.0K
$34.38฿1,120
-25.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$51.9₫1.4M
$114฿3,714
-54.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.2₫2.0M
$85.2฿2,773
-11.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$353₫9.3M
$516฿16.8K
-31.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$248₫6.5M
$371฿12.1K
-33.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$718₫18.8M
$1,753฿57.1K
-59.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$449₫11.8M
$1,279฿41.7K
-64.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,837₫100.7M
$3,127฿101.9K
22.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,299₫34.1M
$2,226฿72.5K
-41.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Koh Samui
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$353₫9.3M
$402฿13.1K
-12.25%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Koh Samui: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $353 in Da Nang versus $516 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 14% 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 $20.00 in Da Nang versus $46.00 in Koh Samui. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $290 – 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: $718 in Da Nang, $1,240 in Koh Samui – roughly 73% 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 $1,077 per month in Da Nang and $1,860 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 54% 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 $20.00 in Da Nang and $46.00 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 $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Koh Samui at $1,240. 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 $718 in Da Nang to $1,240 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.