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 $720 per month in Da Nang vs $857 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,104 per month in Da Nang vs $1,310 in Shah Alam, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,488 per month in Da Nang vs $1,763 in Shah Alam, rent included.

Da Nang is about 16% cheaper than Shah Alam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Da Nang and Shah Alam are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 46% lower, Shah Alam 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ₫51.8K

$3.02 MYR 12.05

-34.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.92 ₫497.5K

$18.93 MYR 75.5

-0.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₫120.9K

$4.13 MYR 16.47

11.38%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ₫42.9K

$2.73 MYR 10.88

-40.29%

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

$0.50 ₫13.1K

$0.72 MYR 2.89

-30.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,500

$0.37 MYR 1.47

-21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$3.44 MYR 13.72

-70.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₫42.0K

$4.43 MYR 17.68

-63.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$1.88 MYR 7.50

-23.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$0.94 MYR 3.76

8.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.4K

$1.50 MYR 5.99

-23.33%

Eggs

$1.42 ₫37.5K

$2.06 MYR 8.21

-31.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.25 ₫322.0K

$14.26 MYR 56.9

-14.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ₫95.6K

$4.94 MYR 19.72

-26.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.13 ₫266.4K

$8.09 MYR 32.26

25.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₫72.2K

$2.83 MYR 11.27

-2.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 ₫26.2K

$1.46 MYR 5.81

-31.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.6K

$2.58 MYR 10.28

-57.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.1K

$1.21 MYR 4.85

-11.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.8K

$1.18 MYR 4.70

-4.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.2K

$1.40 MYR 5.59

-17.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₫27.4K

$0.89 MYR 3.55

16.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.6K

$0.57 MYR 2.26

-15.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.7K

$4.17 MYR 16.62

-67.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 ₫202.7K

$19.18 MYR 76.5

-59.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₫22.7K

$2.65 MYR 10.57

-67.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₫43.8K

$3.81 MYR 15.21

-56.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,330

$0.69 MYR 2.76

-53.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.92 ₫103.0K

$15.28 MYR 61.0

-74.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

$0.96 MYR 3.81

-6.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.1K

$0.54 MYR 2.17

27.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.67 ₫306.9K

$7.13 MYR 28.45

63.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 ₫23.5K

$0.46 MYR 1.85

93.48%

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

$26.8K ₫705.5M

$33.5K MYR 133.7K

-19.89%

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

$28.1K ₫738.8M

$27.7K MYR 110.5K

1.43%

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

$74.3 ₫2.0M

$41.35 MYR 165

79.71%

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

$5.71 ₫150.2K

$10.16 MYR 40.52

-43.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.07 ₫212.3K

$30.62 MYR 122

-73.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.37 ₫535.7K

$38.96 MYR 155

-47.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 ₫201.1K

$5.98 MYR 23.87

27.93%

Cinema Ticket

$3.11 ₫81.7K

$6.36 MYR 25.39

-51.10%

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

$156 ₫4.1M

$213 MYR 849

-26.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₫334.1M

$6,253 MYR 25.0K

103.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.62 ₫1.0M

$49.63 MYR 198

-22.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.00 ₫683.5K

$34.84 MYR 139

-25.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

$61.3 MYR 245

-14.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.8 ₫2.0M

$48.83 MYR 195

55.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 ₫9.5M

$372 MYR 1,485

-3.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₫6.5M

$266 MYR 1,061

-6.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ₫19.1M

$576 MYR 2,299

26.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₫12.1M

$481 MYR 1,919

-4.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,870 ₫101.7M

$1,553 MYR 6,195

149.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,283 ₫33.7M

$1,223 MYR 4,880

4.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$353 ₫9.3M

$1,263 MYR 5,040

-72.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

4.16

156.49%

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

Last update for Da Nang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Shah Alam: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Da Nang versus $372 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 258% 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 $19.00 in Shah Alam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $249 – 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: $720 in Da Nang, $857 in Shah Alam – roughly 19% apart. Shah Alam costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,080 per month in Da Nang and $1,286 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 32% 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 $19.00 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 $720 in Da Nang and $857 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 $720 in Da Nang to $857 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.