Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Tawau Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Tawau

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $707 per month in Da Nang vs $866 in Tawau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,081 per month in Da Nang vs $1,306 in Tawau, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,455 per month in Da Nang vs $1,747 in Tawau, rent included.

Da Nang is about 18% cheaper than Tawau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Da Nang and Tawau are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 47% lower, Tawau 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ₫50.8K

$3.60 MYR 14.22

-46.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.32 ₫506.9K

$19.22 MYR 75.9

0.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₫122.9K

$4.09 MYR 16.17

14.67%

Cappuccino

$1.57 ₫41.3K

$2.26 MYR 8.92

-30.53%

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

$0.54 ₫14.2K

$0.71 MYR 2.82

-23.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,500

$0.37 MYR 1.46

-21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₫26.7K

$2.34 MYR 9.24

-56.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 ₫44.0K

$3.38 MYR 13.34

-50.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 ₫37.2K

$1.59 MYR 6.29

-10.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 ₫26.4K

$1.31 MYR 5.16

-23.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.5K

$1.69 MYR 6.68

-33.14%

Eggs

$1.42 ₫37.3K

$2.13 MYR 8.40

-33.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.36 ₫324.3K

$14.80 MYR 58.5

-16.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.79 ₫99.3K

$4.27 MYR 16.85

-11.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.17 ₫266.8K

$9.68 MYR 38.22

5.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₫72.3K

$2.90 MYR 11.46

-5.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.93 ₫24.4K

$1.46 MYR 5.77

-36.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.5K

$2.61 MYR 10.32

-58.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.7K

$1.44 MYR 5.67

-24.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 ₫29.1K

$1.24 MYR 4.91

-10.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ₫31.6K

$1.28 MYR 5.06

-6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 ₫27.5K

$1.00 MYR 3.95

5.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.5K

$0.56 MYR 2.20

-14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.8K

$4.19 MYR 16.53

-67.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.55 ₫198.2K

$18.71 MYR 73.9

-59.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₫20.9K

$2.72 MYR 10.73

-70.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 ₫43.7K

$2.93 MYR 11.56

-43.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫9,004

$0.74 MYR 2.91

-54.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.78 ₫99.1K

$11.99 MYR 47.35

-68.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₫21.8K

$1.21 MYR 4.78

-31.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$1.03 MYR 4.09

-32.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.79 ₫309.2K

$5.96 MYR 23.55

97.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.92 ₫24.0K

$0.50 MYR 1.97

84.00%

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

$27.2K ₫713.0M

$35.8K MYR 141.5K

-24.16%

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

$27.9K ₫730.7M

$31.2K MYR 123.3K

-10.77%

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

$76.4 ₫2.0M

$42.76 MYR 169

78.62%

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

$5.81 ₫152.5K

$9.03 MYR 35.68

-35.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.47 ₫222.2K

$28.68 MYR 113

-70.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.98 ₫524.2K

$37.41 MYR 148

-46.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.68 ₫201.5K

$5.79 MYR 22.87

32.64%

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 ₫79.7K

$2.87 MYR 11.33

5.92%

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

$156 ₫4.1M

$186 MYR 735

-16.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₫332.0M

$6,868 MYR 27.1K

84.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.04 ₫1.0M

$60.7 MYR 240

-35.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.36 ₫665.3K

$27.49 MYR 109

-7.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

$73.7 MYR 291

-28.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 ₫2.0M

$50.7 MYR 200

50.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₫9.3M

$381 MYR 1,506

-7.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$247 ₫6.5M

$272 MYR 1,075

-9.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$743 ₫19.5M

$632 MYR 2,498

17.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₫12.1M

$468 MYR 1,849

-1.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,867 ₫101.4M

$1,762 MYR 6,961

119.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,277 ₫33.5M

$963 MYR 3,804

32.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$324 ₫8.5M

$423 MYR 1,671

-23.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

4.07

162.16%

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

Last update for Da Nang: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tawau: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Da Nang versus $381 in Tawau. 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 31% higher in Tawau, 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 Tawau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $254 – 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 Tawau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $707 in Da Nang, $866 in Tawau – roughly 23% apart. Tawau 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 $1,299 in Tawau. 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 35% more in Tawau, 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 Tawau. 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 $707 in Da Nang and $866 in Tawau, 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 $707 in Da Nang to $866 in Tawau. 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, Tawau makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.