Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Shah Alam Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Shah Alam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $874 per month in Da Nang vs $958 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,402 per month in Da Nang vs $1,436 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,930 per month in Da Nang vs $1,913 in Shah Alam, rent included.

Da Nang is about 9% cheaper than Shah Alam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Da Nang and Shah Alam are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 36% lower, Shah Alam 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 ₫60.8K

$3.82 MYR 15.42

-39.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.42 ₫506.3K

$19.79 MYR 79.8

-1.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 ₫116.3K

$4.15 MYR 16.74

7.47%

Cappuccino

$1.72 ₫44.9K

$2.94 MYR 11.87

-41.50%

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

$0.68 ₫17.8K

$0.77 MYR 3.10

-11.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 ₫8,932

$0.38 MYR 1.53

-10.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 ₫33.9K

$3.43 MYR 13.84

-62.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 ₫61.6K

$4.59 MYR 18.51

-48.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ₫40.1K

$1.87 MYR 7.56

-17.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 ₫31.9K

$1.07 MYR 4.32

14.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.5K

$1.44 MYR 5.80

-26.39%

Eggs

$1.52 ₫39.7K

$2.13 MYR 8.59

-28.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.97 ₫338.0K

$13.27 MYR 53.5

-2.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ₫105.7K

$4.33 MYR 17.48

-6.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.27 ₫241.7K

$9.79 MYR 39.51

-5.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 ₫70.2K

$3.44 MYR 13.88

-21.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 ₫28.9K

$1.70 MYR 6.87

-34.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 ₫34.6K

$2.76 MYR 11.15

-51.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 ₫35.9K

$1.83 MYR 7.38

-24.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.5K

$1.25 MYR 5.05

-12.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ₫31.6K

$2.07 MYR 8.36

-41.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$1.47 MYR 5.92

-29.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₫13.6K

$0.57 MYR 2.31

-8.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 ₫40.5K

$4.20 MYR 16.96

-63.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 ₫201.1K

$19.08 MYR 77.0

-59.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

$2.79 MYR 11.24

-67.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 ₫55.8K

$4.47 MYR 18.04

-52.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,222

$0.77 MYR 3.09

-58.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.07 ₫132.1K

$16.34 MYR 65.9

-68.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$1.28 MYR 5.15

-19.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 ₫17.0K

$0.39 MYR 1.57

66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.08 ₫497.3K

$7.56 MYR 30.50

152.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₫22.2K

$0.75 MYR 3.02

13.33%

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

$30.7K ₫801.2M

$42.1K MYR 170.0K

-27.05%

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

$27.6K ₫718.2M

$35.5K MYR 143.3K

-22.42%

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

$88.0 ₫2.3M

$38.25 MYR 154

130.07%

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

$6.28 ₫163.7K

$9.86 MYR 39.79

-36.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.91 ₫206.2K

$29.96 MYR 121

-73.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.18 ₫578.3K

$39.58 MYR 160

-43.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.30 ₫138.2K

$5.02 MYR 20.25

5.58%

Cinema Ticket

$3.02 ₫78.7K

$6.68 MYR 26.94

-54.79%

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

$161 ₫4.2M

$202 MYR 814

-20.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.1K ₫394.3M

$4,569 MYR 18.4K

231.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.10 ₫1.2M

$58.4 MYR 236

-21.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.21 ₫709.2K

$39.95 MYR 161

-31.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 ₫2.7M

$68.5 MYR 276

49.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.7 ₫2.1M

$70.8 MYR 286

15.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$529 ₫13.8M

$350 MYR 1,412

51.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 ₫9.0M

$311 MYR 1,255

11.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 ₫27.0M

$567 MYR 2,288

82.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$809 ₫21.1M

$555 MYR 2,241

45.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,809 ₫99.3M

$1,489 MYR 6,007

155.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,312 ₫34.2M

$1,181 MYR 4,764

11.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$350 ₫9.1M

$1,238 MYR 4,994

-71.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.72

4.24

152.83%

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

Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $529 in Da Nang versus $350 in Shah Alam. 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 254% higher in Shah Alam, 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 $20.00 in Shah Alam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $264 – 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 Shah Alam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $874 in Da Nang, $958 in Shah Alam – roughly 10% apart. Shah Alam costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,311 per month in Da Nang and $1,437 in Shah Alam. 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 34% more in Shah Alam, 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 $20.00 in Shah Alam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $874 in Da Nang and $958 in Shah Alam, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $874 in Da Nang to $958 in Shah Alam. 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, Shah Alam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.