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 $868 per month in Da Nang vs $951 in Tawau, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,419 per month in Da Nang vs $1,399 in Tawau, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,970 per month in Da Nang vs $1,847 in Tawau, rent included.

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

Both Da Nang and Tawau are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 37% lower, Tawau 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.35 ₫61.1K

$3.11 MYR 12.73

-24.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.28 ₫501.4K

$19.83 MYR 81.2

-2.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.71 ₫122.5K

$4.10 MYR 16.78

14.88%

Cappuccino

$1.80 ₫46.8K

$3.07 MYR 12.56

-41.37%

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

$0.69 ₫18.0K

$1.02 MYR 4.17

-32.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ₫8,205

$0.38 MYR 1.57

-15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 ₫34.1K

$2.65 MYR 10.84

-50.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 ₫59.8K

$4.36 MYR 17.84

-47.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 ₫38.9K

$1.87 MYR 7.66

-19.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₫32.5K

$1.14 MYR 4.66

9.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.05 ₫27.3K

$1.49 MYR 6.11

-29.53%

Eggs

$1.52 ₫39.6K

$2.00 MYR 8.19

-24.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.04 ₫339.1K

$13.78 MYR 56.4

-5.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 ₫105.4K

$4.49 MYR 18.38

-9.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.26 ₫240.8K

$9.84 MYR 40.29

-5.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.60 ₫67.6K

$2.92 MYR 11.95

-10.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.7K

$1.78 MYR 7.30

-38.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.29 ₫33.5K

$2.17 MYR 8.87

-40.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 ₫36.3K

$1.86 MYR 7.60

-24.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.5K

$1.20 MYR 4.90

-5.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 ₫31.9K

$1.02 MYR 4.17

19.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₫26.3K

$1.33 MYR 5.44

-24.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₫13.6K

$0.56 MYR 2.30

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.57 ₫40.7K

$4.45 MYR 18.22

-64.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.48 ₫194.6K

$18.95 MYR 77.6

-60.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₫21.5K

$2.90 MYR 11.85

-71.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 ₫56.6K

$3.38 MYR 13.85

-35.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,200

$0.78 MYR 3.18

-58.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.04 ₫131.1K

$11.45 MYR 46.86

-55.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 ₫26.9K

$1.19 MYR 4.89

-12.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₫16.1K

$0.49 MYR 1.99

26.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.13 ₫497.4K

$8.00 MYR 32.73

139.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₫21.6K

$0.73 MYR 2.98

13.70%

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

$30.8K ₫799.8M

$41.5K MYR 169.9K

-25.92%

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

$28.4K ₫738.1M

$34.2K MYR 140.0K

-17.03%

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

$88.5 ₫2.3M

$51.0 MYR 209

73.68%

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

$6.00 ₫156.0K

$10.52 MYR 43.04

-42.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.95 ₫206.7K

$28.28 MYR 116

-71.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.83 ₫593.8K

$42.62 MYR 174

-46.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.41 ₫140.7K

$7.38 MYR 30.20

-26.69%

Cinema Ticket

$3.13 ₫81.3K

$3.62 MYR 14.81

-13.54%

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

$163 ₫4.2M

$181 MYR 741

-10.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.3K ₫397.3M

$5,615 MYR 23.0K

172.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.57 ₫1.2M

$52.0 MYR 213

-14.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.95 ₫726.9K

$30.14 MYR 123

-7.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 ₫2.6M

$92.9 MYR 380

7.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.2 ₫2.1M

$66.9 MYR 274

19.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$535 ₫13.9M

$382 MYR 1,562

40.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 ₫8.9M

$286 MYR 1,170

19.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,025 ₫26.6M

$743 MYR 3,040

37.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$787 ₫20.5M

$535 MYR 2,190

47.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,825 ₫99.5M

$2,277 MYR 9,319

68.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,283 ₫33.4M

$1,204 MYR 4,930

6.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$360 ₫9.4M

$416 MYR 1,701

-13.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.72

4.2

155.24%

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

Last update for Da Nang: September 12, 2026

Last update for Tawau: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $535 in Da Nang versus $382 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 16% 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 $20.00 in Tawau. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $258 – 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: $868 in Da Nang, $951 in Tawau – roughly 10% apart. Tawau costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,302 per month in Da Nang and $1,427 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 31% 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 $20.00 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 $868 in Da Nang and $951 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 $868 in Da Nang to $951 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.