Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and San Rafael, Costa Rica

For one person, living is cheaper in Da Nang: $895 a month against $1,718 in San Rafael, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Da Nang, Vietnam
San Rafael, Costa Rica
Da Nang
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$895
/mo nomad
San Rafael
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,718
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Da Nang and in San Rafael

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 San Rafael actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $895 per month in Da Nang vs $1,718 in San Rafael, rent included.

  • Da Nang $895
  • San Rafael $1,718

A couple spends around $1,447 per month in Da Nang vs $2,741 in San Rafael, rent included.

  • Da Nang $1,447
  • San Rafael $2,741

A family of three spends $1,998 per month in Da Nang vs $3,765 in San Rafael, rent included.

  • Da Nang $1,998
  • San Rafael $3,765

Da Nang is about 48% cheaper than San Rafael, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Da Nang sits 34% below the global median, while San Rafael is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
San Rafael
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.26 ₫58.2K
$12.45 ₡5,597
-81.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.09 ₫491.5K
$62.3 ₡28.0K
-69.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.56 ₫117.4K
$11.82 ₡5,315
-61.42%
Cappuccino
$1.63 ₫42.0K
$4.34 ₡1,951
-62.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₫15.7K
$2.61 ₡1,174
-76.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₫8,400
$1.93 ₡866
-82.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.34 ₫34.4K
$3.30 ₡1,484
-59.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₫58.3K
$4.46 ₡2,007
-49.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
San Rafael
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₫40.3K
$2.31 ₡1,039
-32.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 ₫33.5K
$3.06 ₡1,375
-57.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 ₫25.7K
$2.39 ₡1,074
-58.16%
Eggs
$1.58 ₫40.8K
$3.53 ₡1,589
-55.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.14 ₫338.3K
$10.70 ₡4,813
22.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.22 ₫108.6K
$10.61 ₡4,772
-60.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.70 ₫224.0K
$13.86 ₡6,232
-37.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 ₫73.6K
$5.12 ₡2,301
-44.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 ₫31.6K
$1.60 ₡717
-23.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 ₫35.6K
$4.89 ₡2,197
-71.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ₫40.9K
$3.82 ₡1,718
-58.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 ₫30.0K
$3.72 ₡1,671
-68.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 ₫32.2K
$3.71 ₡1,666
-66.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 ₫24.7K
$1.13 ₡509
-15.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₫13.0K
$3.20 ₡1,439
-84.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.52 ₫39.1K
$6.00 ₡2,696
-74.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 ₫194.3K
$19.67 ₡8,846
-61.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ₫24.2K
$2.87 ₡1,291
-67.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₫62.1K
$3.55 ₡1,595
-32.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
San Rafael
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ₫8,300
$1.35 ₡607
-76.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.71 ₫172.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 ₫26.3K
$2.46 ₡1,107
-58.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 ₫12.0K
$1.62 ₡728
-70.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.48 ₫269.8K
$8.85 ₡3,978
18.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 ₫25.5K
$1.56 ₡702
-36.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K ₫792.9M
$33.9K ₡15.3M
-9.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K ₫731.1M
$42.2K ₡19.0M
-32.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
San Rafael
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.8 ₫2.2M
$96.5 ₡43.4K
-11.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.87 ₫177.0K
$35.72 ₡16.1K
-80.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.20 ₫237.0K
$59.7 ₡26.9K
-84.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
San Rafael
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.37 ₫704.7K
$68.3 ₡30.7K
-59.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.50 ₫141.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.47 ₫89.2K
$7.73 ₡3,478
-55.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
San Rafael
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$459 ₫11.8M
$985 ₡442.8K
-53.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.2K ₫519.4M
$16.9K ₡7.6M
19.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
San Rafael
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.42 ₫1.1M
$72.3 ₡32.5K
-42.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.37 ₫704.9K
$56.9 ₡25.6K
-51.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₫3.1M
$127 ₡56.9K
-4.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.0 ₫2.1M
$133 ₡59.6K
-38.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
San Rafael
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$543 ₫14.0M
$795 ₡357.3K
-31.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 ₫9.2M
$621 ₡279.3K
-42.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,141 ₫29.4M
$1,888 ₡849.2K
-39.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$830 ₫21.4M
$1,271 ₡571.8K
-34.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,798 ₫97.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,854 ₫47.7M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
San Rafael
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$429 ₫11.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.72
8.62
24.36%

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

Last update for Da Nang: October 31, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
$359
San Rafael
$621 73.2% $262
Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
$201
San Rafael
$400 98.9% $199
Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
$122
San Rafael
$175 43.8% $53
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
$102
San Rafael
$192 88.4% $90
Eating Out
Da Nang
$66
San Rafael
$231 248% $164
Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
$34
San Rafael
$84 144% $50
Getting Around
Da Nang
$11
San Rafael
$16 * 40.4% $4.6

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $543 in Da Nang versus $795 in San Rafael. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Da Nang versus $62 in San Rafael. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $400 – making Da Nang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Da Nang
🇨🇷 San Rafael
🕒 Local time
03:56 3:56 AM
14:56 2:56 PM
13 h behind Da Nang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,245,200
30,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 25,750 VND (100,000 VND = 3.88 USD). 1 EUR = 28,797 VND (100,000 VND = 3.47 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 503 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Da Nang San Rafael 16,820 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Da Nang
  • San Rafael

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 San Rafael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Da Nang and in San Rafael compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $895 in Da Nang, $1,718 in San Rafael – Da Nang comes out roughly 48% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Da Nang compared to San Rafael?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,343 per month in Da Nang and $2,577 in San Rafael. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Da Nang and San Rafael?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Da Nang, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $543 there versus $795 in San Rafael.
Which city is more expensive overall: Da Nang or San Rafael?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $895 in Da Nang and $1,718 in San Rafael. That makes Da Nang about 48% cheaper.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Da Nang and San Rafael?
Kindergarten costs $459 per month in Da Nang and $985 in San Rafael. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing 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 $895, than in San Rafael at $1,718. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Rafael it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Da Nang or San Rafael?
Families tend to lean toward Da Nang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Da Nang vs other spots: cost of living compared

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