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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,636 per month in Douala vs $707 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,621 per month in Douala vs $1,081 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,606 per month in Douala vs $1,455 in Da Nang, rent included.

Douala costs about 131% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Douala sits 22% above the global median, while Da Nang is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.02 FCFA 5,062
$1.94 ₫50.8K
364.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$126 FCFA 70.4K
$19.32 ₫506.9K
549.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.15 FCFA 2,890
$4.69 ₫122.9K
9.81%
Cappuccino
$1.89 FCFA 1,062
$1.57 ₫41.3K
20.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 FCFA 941
$0.54 ₫14.2K
211.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 FCFA 467
$0.29 ₫7,500
186.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.18 FCFA 660
$1.02 ₫26.7K
15.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 FCFA 1,492
$1.68 ₫44.0K
58.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.90 FCFA 1,627
$1.42 ₫37.2K
104.23%
White Bread (500g)
$0.45 FCFA 250
$1.00 ₫26.4K
-55.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.24 FCFA 1,258
$1.13 ₫29.5K
98.23%
Eggs
$1.91 FCFA 1,069
$1.42 ₫37.3K
34.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.75 FCFA 12.8K
$12.36 ₫324.3K
84.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.72 FCFA 4,329
$3.79 ₫99.3K
103.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.58 FCFA 3,690
$10.17 ₫266.8K
-35.30%
Apples (1kg)
$4.94 FCFA 2,773
$2.75 ₫72.3K
79.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.10 FCFA 1,177
$0.93 ₫24.4K
125.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 FCFA 1,171
$1.09 ₫28.5K
91.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 FCFA 762
$1.09 ₫28.7K
24.77%
Potato (1kg)
$3.38 FCFA 1,897
$1.11 ₫29.1K
204.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 FCFA 1,256
$1.20 ₫31.6K
86.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 FCFA 408
$1.05 ₫27.5K
-30.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 FCFA 375
$0.48 ₫12.5K
39.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.59 FCFA 2,011
$1.36 ₫35.8K
163.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.32 FCFA 4,669
$7.55 ₫198.2K
10.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 FCFA 758
$0.80 ₫20.9K
68.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 FCFA 1,092
$1.67 ₫43.7K
16.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.65 FCFA 362
$0.34 ₫9,004
91.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.48 FCFA 9,807
$3.78 ₫99.1K
362.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.55 FCFA 306
$0.83 ₫21.8K
-33.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 FCFA 426
$0.70 ₫18.4K
8.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.19 FCFA 4,592
$11.79 ₫309.2K
-30.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 FCFA 768
$0.92 ₫24.0K
48.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K FCFA 17.4M
$27.2K ₫713.0M
14.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.0K FCFA 9.0M
$27.9K ₫730.7M
-42.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 FCFA 95.2K
$76.4 ₫2.0M
122.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.96 FCFA 14.6K
$5.81 ₫152.5K
346.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$182 FCFA 101.9K
$8.47 ₫222.2K
2044.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.43 FCFA 13.1K
$19.98 ₫524.2K
17.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.47 FCFA 1,948
$7.68 ₫201.5K
-54.82%
Cinema Ticket
$8.60 FCFA 4,822
$3.04 ₫79.7K
182.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 FCFA 297.3K
$156 ₫4.1M
240.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,540 FCFA 2.0M
$12.7K ₫332.0M
-72.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.1 FCFA 45.5K
$39.04 ₫1.0M
107.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.3 FCFA 39.4K
$25.36 ₫665.3K
177.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 FCFA 79.4K
$52.7 ₫1.4M
168.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$153 FCFA 86.0K
$76.5 ₫2.0M
100.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 FCFA 513.0K
$354 ₫9.3M
158.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$585 FCFA 328.3K
$247 ₫6.5M
136.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,889 FCFA 1.1M
$743 ₫19.5M
154.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,129 FCFA 633.3K
$459 ₫12.1M
145.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,108 FCFA 1.2M
$3,867 ₫101.4M
-45.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,005 FCFA 563.8K
$1,277 ₫33.5M
-21.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 FCFA 91.6K
$324 ₫8.5M
-49.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.21
10.67
80.04%

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

Last update for Douala: April 25, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $915 in Douala versus $354 in Da Nang. 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 98% higher in Da Nang, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $126 in Douala versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $282 vs $188 – 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
Douala vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Douala and Da Nang compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,636 in Douala, $707 in Da Nang – roughly 131% apart. Douala costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Douala compared to Da Nang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,454 per month in Douala and $1,060 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Douala and Da Nang?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 50% more in Douala, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $126 in Douala and $19.00 in Da Nang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $707, than in Douala at $1,636. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Douala and Da Nang?
It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $707 in Da Nang to $1,636 in Douala. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Douala or Da Nang safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Douala and Da Nang?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Douala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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