Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Da Nang and Upala

For one person, living is cheaper in Da Nang: $895 a month against $1,431 in Upala, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Da Nang, Vietnam
Upala, Costa Rica
Da Nang
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$895
/mo nomad
Upala
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,431
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Da Nang and in Upala

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Da Nang and in Upala actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $895 per month in Da Nang vs $1,431 in Upala, rent included.

  • Da Nang $895
  • Upala $1,431

A couple spends around $1,447 per month in Da Nang vs $2,262 in Upala, rent included.

  • Da Nang $1,447
  • Upala $2,262

A family of three spends $1,998 per month in Da Nang vs $3,092 in Upala, rent included.

  • Da Nang $1,998
  • Upala $3,092

Da Nang is about 37% cheaper than Upala, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Da Nang sits 34% below the global median, while Upala is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Da Nang
Upala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.26 ₫58.2K
$12.11 ₡5,444
-81.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.09 ₫491.5K
$54.7 ₡24.6K
-65.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.56 ₫117.4K
$11.83 ₡5,319
-61.45%
Cappuccino
$1.63 ₫42.0K
$3.65 ₡1,641
-55.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 ₫15.7K
$1.81 ₡813
-66.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₫8,400
$1.74 ₡784
-81.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.34 ₫34.4K
$3.34 ₡1,502
-59.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 ₫58.3K
$4.46 ₡2,005
-49.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
Upala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 ₫40.3K
$2.15 ₡967
-27.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 ₫33.5K
$1.70 ₡762
-23.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 ₫25.7K
$2.48 ₡1,114
-59.68%
Eggs
$1.58 ₫40.8K
$2.67 ₡1,199
-40.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.14 ₫338.3K
$3.33 ₡1,496
294.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.22 ₫108.6K
$6.76 ₡3,041
-37.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.70 ₫224.0K
$8.75 ₡3,934
-0.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 ₫73.6K
$1.81 ₡815
58.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 ₫31.6K
$0.65 ₡291
89.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.38 ₫35.6K
$2.87 ₡1,292
-51.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ₫40.9K
$2.71 ₡1,221
-41.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 ₫30.0K
$3.83 ₡1,724
-69.45%
Onion (1kg)
$1.25 ₫32.2K
$2.72 ₡1,222
-54.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 ₫24.7K
$1.12 ₡505
-14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₫13.0K
$2.69 ₡1,210
-81.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.52 ₫39.1K
$5.86 ₡2,637
-74.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 ₫194.3K
$8.89 ₡3,999
-15.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 ₫24.2K
$2.57 ₡1,156
-63.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 ₫62.1K
$3.70 ₡1,662
-34.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Da Nang
Upala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ₫8,300
$1.30 ₡585
-75.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.71 ₫172.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 ₫26.3K
$2.42 ₡1,087
-57.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 ₫12.0K
$1.63 ₡733
-71.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.48 ₫269.8K
$6.64 ₡2,984
57.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 ₫25.5K
$1.36 ₡612
-27.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K ₫792.9M
$34.1K ₡15.4M
-9.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K ₫731.1M
$42.2K ₡19.0M
-32.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
Upala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.8 ₫2.2M
$56.5 ₡25.4K
51.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.87 ₫177.0K
$36.32 ₡16.3K
-81.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.20 ₫237.0K
$21.90 ₡9,847
-57.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
Upala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.37 ₫704.7K
$69.0 ₡31.0K
-60.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.50 ₫141.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.47 ₫89.2K
$7.67 ₡3,447
-54.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Da Nang
Upala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$459 ₫11.8M
$981 ₡441.3K
-53.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.2K ₫519.4M
$17.0K ₡7.7M
18.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
Upala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.42 ₫1.1M
$33.10 ₡14.9K
25.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.37 ₫704.9K
$22.18 ₡9,975
23.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 ₫3.1M
$129 ₡57.9K
-6.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.0 ₫2.1M
$32.58 ₡14.6K
148.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
Upala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$543 ₫14.0M
$796 ₡357.8K
-31.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 ₫9.2M
$644 ₡289.4K
-44.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,141 ₫29.4M
$1,869 ₡840.6K
-38.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$830 ₫21.4M
$1,238 ₡556.8K
-32.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,798 ₫97.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,854 ₫47.7M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Da Nang
Upala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$429 ₫11.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.72
8.62
24.36%

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

Last update for Da Nang: October 31, 2026

Last update for Upala: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Da Nang
$359
Upala
$644 79.5% $285
Groceries & Markets
Da Nang
$201
Upala
$259 28.6% $58
Clothing & Footwear
Da Nang
$122
Upala
$97 19.8% $24
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Da Nang
$102
Upala
$115 12.7% $13
Eating Out
Da Nang
$66
Upala
$216 226% $150
Sport & Entertainment
Da Nang
$34
Upala
$84 146% $50
Getting Around
Da Nang
$11
Upala
$16 * 38.9% $4.4

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $543 in Da Nang versus $796 in Upala. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Da Nang versus $55 in Upala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $259 – making Da Nang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Da Nang
🇨🇷 Upala
🕒 Local time
04:17 4:17 AM
15:17 3:17 PM
13 h behind Da Nang
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,245,200
15,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 25,750 VND (100,000 VND = 3.88 USD). 1 EUR = 28,797 VND (100,000 VND = 3.47 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 450 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 503 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Da Nang Upala 16,680 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Da Nang
  • Upala

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Upala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Da Nang and in Upala compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $895 in Da Nang, $1,431 in Upala – Da Nang comes out roughly 37% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Da Nang compared to Upala?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,343 per month in Da Nang and $2,146 in Upala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Da Nang and Upala?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Da Nang, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $543 there versus $796 in Upala.
Which city is more expensive overall: Da Nang or Upala?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $895 in Da Nang and $1,431 in Upala. That makes Da Nang about 37% cheaper.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Da Nang and Upala?
Kindergarten costs $459 per month in Da Nang and $981 in Upala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $895, than in Upala at $1,431. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Upala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Da Nang or Upala?
Families tend to lean toward Da Nang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Da Nang vs other spots: cost of living compared

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