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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $720 per month in Da Nang vs $455 in Thimphu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,104 per month in Da Nang vs $757 in Thimphu, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,488 per month in Da Nang vs $1,059 in Thimphu, rent included.

Da Nang costs about 58% more than Thimphu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Da Nang and Thimphu are more affordable than the global median – Da Nang 46% lower, Thimphu 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ₫51.8K

$2.93 BTN 248

-32.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.92 ₫497.2K

$17.63 BTN 1,488

7.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₫120.8K

$3.47 BTN 293

32.56%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ₫42.9K

$1.48 BTN 125

10.14%

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

$0.50 ₫13.1K

$0.48 BTN 40.91

4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₫7,495

$0.17 BTN 14.15

70.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$2.98 BTN 252

-65.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₫42.0K

$2.30 BTN 194

-30.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$0.87 BTN 73.1

64.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$0.95 BTN 79.8

7.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.3K

$0.74 BTN 62.5

55.41%

Eggs

$1.42 ₫37.4K

$2.00 BTN 169

-29.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.25 ₫321.8K

$3.24 BTN 273

278.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ₫95.5K

$3.77 BTN 319

-3.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.13 ₫266.3K

$4.25 BTN 359

138.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₫72.2K

$2.54 BTN 215

8.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 ₫26.2K

$1.52 BTN 128

-34.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.6K

$1.86 BTN 157

-41.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.1K

$0.73 BTN 61.7

46.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 ₫29.8K

$0.54 BTN 45.20

109.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 ₫30.2K

$0.62 BTN 52.0

85.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 ₫27.4K

$0.46 BTN 38.43

126.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.6K

$0.34 BTN 28.88

41.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.7K

$3.76 BTN 317

-63.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.71 ₫202.5K

$3.19 BTN 270

141.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 ₫22.7K

$0.64 BTN 53.8

34.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₫43.7K

$1.04 BTN 87.4

59.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₫8,325

$1.71 BTN 144

-81.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.92 ₫103.0K

$4.10 BTN 346

-4.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

$0.85 BTN 71.6

5.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.0K

$2.23 BTN 188

-69.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.67 ₫306.7K

$0.19 BTN 15.82

6042.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 ₫23.4K

$0.97 BTN 82.2

-8.25%

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

$26.8K ₫705.1M

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

$28.1K ₫738.4M

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

$74.3 ₫2.0M

$23.29 BTN 1,966

219.06%

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

$5.71 ₫150.1K

$38.02 BTN 3,209

-84.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.07 ₫212.1K

$27.34 BTN 2,308

-70.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.37 ₫535.3K

$48.52 BTN 4,096

-58.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 ₫201.0K

$7.60 BTN 642

0.66%

Cinema Ticket

$3.11 ₫81.6K

$3.43 BTN 290

-9.33%

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

$156 ₫4.1M

$242 BTN 20.4K

-35.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₫333.9M

$681 BTN 57.4K

1767.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.62 ₫1.0M

$9.13 BTN 771

323.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.00 ₫683.1K

$11.81 BTN 997

120.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

$31.80 BTN 2,685

65.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.8 ₫2.0M

$31.61 BTN 2,668

139.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$360 ₫9.5M

$118 BTN 9,925

206.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₫6.5M

$63.5 BTN 5,363

291.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 ₫19.1M

$203 BTN 17.1K

258.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$459 ₫12.0M

$139 BTN 11.7K

230.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,870 ₫101.7M

$6,698 BTN 565.4K

-42.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,283 ₫33.7M

$390 BTN 33.0K

228.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$353 ₫9.3M

$349 BTN 29.4K

1.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

10.75

-0.74%

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

Last update for Da Nang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Thimphu: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $360 in Da Nang versus $118 in Thimphu. 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 1% higher in Da Nang, 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 $18.00 in Thimphu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $124 – making Thimphu 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 Thimphu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $720 in Da Nang, $455 in Thimphu – roughly 58% apart. Da Nang 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 $682 in Thimphu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Thimphu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% more in Da Nang, 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 $18.00 in Thimphu. 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 $455 in Thimphu, 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 $455 in Thimphu to $720 in Da Nang. 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 Thimphu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Da Nang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.