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 $718 per month in Da Nang vs $1,842 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,105 per month in Da Nang vs $2,836 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,491 per month in Da Nang vs $3,829 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

Da Nang is about 61% cheaper than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Da Nang sits 47% below the global median, while Santa Cruz is 37% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.88 ₫49.5K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.54 ₫512.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.80 ₫125.9K

Cappuccino

$1.61 ₫42.3K

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

$0.54 ₫14.1K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,600

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ₫28.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₫41.6K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 ₫35.9K

$2.16 AWG 3.87

-36.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ₫26.8K

$2.74 AWG 4.91

-62.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$4.53 AWG 8.11

-74.17%

Eggs

$1.47 ₫38.5K

$4.62 AWG 8.28

-68.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.23 ₫321.0K

$8.28 AWG 14.82

47.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 ₫100.0K

$7.41 AWG 13.26

-48.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.04 ₫263.5K

$6.78 AWG 12.14

48.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 ₫68.7K

$4.37 AWG 7.81

-40.05%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 ₫25.6K

$4.56 AWG 8.16

-78.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.3K

$8.49 AWG 15.19

-86.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 ₫29.1K

$6.68 AWG 11.96

-83.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 ₫29.8K

$6.82 AWG 12.21

-83.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.1K

$1.90 AWG 3.40

-39.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₫26.5K

$2.98 AWG 5.34

-66.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₫13.6K

$4.45 AWG 7.97

-88.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.6K

$10.44 AWG 18.69

-86.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.78 ₫204.3K

$19.67 AWG 35.20

-60.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$2.49 AWG 4.45

-65.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.64 ₫43.0K

$3.10 AWG 5.54

-47.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫8,989

$1.98 AWG 3.55

-82.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.75 ₫98.5K

$152 AWG 273

-97.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$19.34 AWG 34.61

-95.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₫19.5K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.95 ₫313.7K

$19.23 AWG 34.43

-37.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

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

$26.9K ₫706.5M

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

$28.9K ₫757.8M

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

$75.0 ₫2.0M

$139 AWG 249

-46.07%

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

$6.01 ₫157.8K

$72.7 AWG 130

-91.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.43 ₫221.3K

$205 AWG 367

-95.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.69 ₫516.9K

$68.5 AWG 123

-71.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.83 ₫205.6K

$46.81 AWG 83.8

-83.27%

Cinema Ticket

$3.13 ₫82.3K

$8.48 AWG 15.18

-63.09%

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

$152 ₫4.0M

$141 AWG 253

7.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₫334.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.87 ₫1.0M

$77.4 AWG 139

-48.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 ₫669.0K

$110 AWG 196

-76.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.9 ₫1.4M

$136 AWG 244

-61.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.2 ₫2.0M

$138 AWG 247

-45.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$353 ₫9.3M

$1,282 AWG 2,294

-72.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₫6.5M

$555 AWG 993

-55.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$718 ₫18.8M

$1,582 AWG 2,831

-54.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 ₫11.8M

$1,386 AWG 2,481

-67.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,837 ₫100.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,299 ₫34.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$353 ₫9.3M

$3,569 AWG 6,388

-90.11%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $353 in Da Nang versus $1,282 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 911% 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: $718 in Da Nang, $1,842 in Santa Cruz – roughly 157% apart. Santa Cruz costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,077 per month in Da Nang and $2,763 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 $718 in Da Nang and $1,842 in Santa Cruz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $152 per month in Da Nang and $141 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 $718, than in Santa Cruz at $1,842. 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 $718 in Da Nang to $1,842 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.