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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $707 per month in Da Nang vs $4,149 in Santa Cruz, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,081 per month in Da Nang vs $5,895 in Santa Cruz, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,455 per month in Da Nang vs $7,641 in Santa Cruz, CA, rent included.

Da Nang is about 83% cheaper than Santa Cruz, CA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Da Nang sits 47% below the global median, while Santa Cruz, CA is 210% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ₫50.9K

$22.14 $22.14

-91.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.32 ₫507.4K

$80.9 $80.9

-76.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₫123.0K

$12.35 $12.35

-62.02%

Cappuccino

$1.57 ₫41.3K

$5.93 $5.93

-73.52%

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

$0.54 ₫14.2K

$3.34 $3.34

-83.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,507

$2.46 $2.46

-88.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₫26.8K

$7.03 $7.03

-85.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₫44.0K

$7.31 $7.31

-77.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 ₫37.3K

$1.43 $1.43

-0.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 ₫26.4K

$5.12 $5.12

-80.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.5K

$6.76 $6.76

-83.28%

Eggs

$1.42 ₫37.3K

$6.22 $6.22

-77.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.36 ₫324.6K

$23.70 $23.70

-47.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 ₫99.4K

$14.93 $14.93

-74.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.17 ₫267.1K

$23.15 $23.15

-56.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₫72.3K

$7.30 $7.30

-62.33%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 ₫24.4K

$2.92 $2.92

-68.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.5K

$5.19 $5.19

-79.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.7K

$7.48 $7.48

-85.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 ₫29.1K

$3.80 $3.80

-70.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ₫31.6K

$3.81 $3.81

-68.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 ₫27.5K

$2.83 $2.83

-62.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.5K

$2.85 $2.85

-83.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.8K

$14.18 $14.18

-90.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.55 ₫198.4K

$24.70 $24.70

-69.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₫20.9K

$2.10 $2.10

-61.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₫43.8K

$2.80 $2.80

-40.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫9,013

$1.97 $1.97

-82.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.78 ₫99.2K

$66.2 $66.2

-94.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₫21.8K

$4.22 $4.22

-80.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₫18.5K

$1.88 $1.88

-62.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.79 ₫309.5K

$39.72 $39.72

-70.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 ₫24.0K

$1.24 $1.24

-25.81%

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

$27.2K ₫713.7M

$35.3K $35.3K

-23.07%

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

$27.9K ₫731.4M

$25.7K $25.7K

8.39%

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

$76.4 ₫2.0M

$224 $224

-65.92%

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

$5.81 ₫152.7K

$47.07 $47.07

-87.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.47 ₫222.5K

$67.9 $67.9

-87.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.98 ₫524.7K

$60.0 $60.0

-66.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.68 ₫201.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 ₫79.8K

$17.08 $17.08

-82.20%

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

$156 ₫4.1M

$3,213 $3,213

-95.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₫332.3M

$37.7K $37.7K

-66.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.04 ₫1.0M

$62.7 $62.7

-37.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.36 ₫666.0K

$45.17 $45.17

-43.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

$81.0 $81.0

-34.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 ₫2.0M

$116 $116

-34.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₫9.3M

$2,865 $2,865

-87.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 ₫6.5M

$2,640 $2,640

-90.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$743 ₫19.5M

$5,628 $5,628

-86.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₫12.1M

$4,288 $4,288

-89.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 ₫101.5M

$8,020 $8,020

-51.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,277 ₫33.5M

$11.3K $11.3K

-88.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 ₫8.5M

$5,470 $5,470

-94.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

6.36

67.77%

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, CA: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Da Nang versus $2,865 in Santa Cruz, CA. 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 1588% higher in Santa Cruz, CA, 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 $19.00 in Da Nang versus $81.0 in Santa Cruz, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $575 – 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 Santa Cruz, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $707 in Da Nang, $4,149 in Santa Cruz, CA – roughly 487% apart. Santa Cruz, CA costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,060 per month in Da Nang and $6,224 in Santa Cruz, CA. 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.

Groceries cost about 206% more in Santa Cruz, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Da Nang and $81.0 in Santa Cruz, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap 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, CA at $4,149. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Cruz, CA 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 $4,149 in Santa Cruz, CA. 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, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.