Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Santa Cruz Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Santa Cruz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $707 per month in Da Nang vs $1,871 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,081 per month in Da Nang vs $2,862 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,455 per month in Da Nang vs $3,854 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

Da Nang is about 62% cheaper than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Da Nang sits 47% below the global median, while Santa Cruz is 40% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ₫50.8K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.32 ₫506.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₫122.9K

Cappuccino

$1.57 ₫41.3K

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₫14.2K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,500

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₫26.7K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₫44.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 ₫37.2K

$2.19 AWG 3.92

-35.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 ₫26.4K

$2.62 AWG 4.69

-61.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.5K

$4.50 AWG 8.06

-74.89%

Eggs

$1.42 ₫37.3K

$4.60 AWG 8.24

-69.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.36 ₫324.3K

$7.98 AWG 14.29

54.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 ₫99.3K

$7.51 AWG 13.45

-49.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.17 ₫266.8K

$6.53 AWG 11.69

55.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₫72.3K

$4.46 AWG 7.99

-38.34%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 ₫24.4K

$4.47 AWG 8.01

-79.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.5K

$8.43 AWG 15.09

-87.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.7K

$6.83 AWG 12.22

-84.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 ₫29.1K

$6.85 AWG 12.25

-83.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ₫31.6K

$1.93 AWG 3.45

-37.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 ₫27.5K

$3.10 AWG 5.56

-66.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.5K

$4.50 AWG 8.06

-89.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.8K

$10.11 AWG 18.10

-86.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.55 ₫198.2K

$19.55 AWG 34.99

-61.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₫20.9K

$2.46 AWG 4.40

-67.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₫43.7K

$2.98 AWG 5.33

-43.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫9,004

$1.97 AWG 3.52

-82.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.78 ₫99.1K

$154 AWG 276

-97.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₫21.8K

$19.67 AWG 35.22

-95.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.79 ₫309.2K

$19.64 AWG 35.16

-39.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 ₫24.0K

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.2K ₫713.0M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.9K ₫730.7M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$76.4 ₫2.0M

$139 AWG 249

-45.00%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.81 ₫152.5K

$71.4 AWG 128

-91.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.47 ₫222.2K

$201 AWG 361

-95.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.98 ₫524.2K

$70.7 AWG 126

-71.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.68 ₫201.5K

$46.41 AWG 83.1

-83.45%

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 ₫79.7K

$8.42 AWG 15.07

-63.90%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$156 ₫4.1M

$138 AWG 247

12.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₫332.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.04 ₫1.0M

$77.0 AWG 138

-49.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.36 ₫665.3K

$109 AWG 195

-76.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

$140 AWG 250

-62.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 ₫2.0M

$139 AWG 249

-44.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₫9.3M

$1,291 AWG 2,311

-72.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 ₫6.5M

$556 AWG 995

-55.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$743 ₫19.5M

$1,546 AWG 2,767

-51.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₫12.1M

$1,366 AWG 2,445

-66.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 ₫101.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,277 ₫33.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 ₫8.5M

$3,557 AWG 6,367

-90.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

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

Last update for Da Nang: April 27, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Da Nang versus $1,291 in Santa Cruz. 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 998% higher in Santa Cruz, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Santa Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $707 in Da Nang, $1,871 in Santa Cruz – roughly 165% apart. Santa Cruz costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,060 per month in Da Nang and $2,806 in Santa Cruz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $707 in Da Nang and $1,871 in Santa Cruz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $156 per month in Da Nang and $138 in Santa Cruz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $707, than in Santa Cruz at $1,871. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Cruz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $707 in Da Nang to $1,871 in Santa Cruz. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Cruz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.