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 $1,653 per month in Douala vs $721 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,636 per month in Douala vs $1,088 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,620 per month in Douala vs $1,454 in Da Nang, rent included.

Douala costs about 129% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Douala sits 24% above the global median, while Da Nang is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.78 FCFA 4,958
$1.94 ₫51.0K
352.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$125 FCFA 70.8K
$19.53 ₫512.6K
541.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.23 FCFA 2,952
$4.79 ₫125.7K
9.19%
Cappuccino
$1.89 FCFA 1,070
$1.57 ₫41.3K
20.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 FCFA 929
$0.54 ₫14.2K
203.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 FCFA 452
$0.31 ₫8,254
158.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 FCFA 641
$1.04 ₫27.2K
9.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 FCFA 1,456
$1.59 ₫41.8K
62.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.82 FCFA 1,594
$1.38 ₫36.3K
104.35%
White Bread (500g)
$0.42 FCFA 237
$1.02 ₫26.9K
-58.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.30 FCFA 1,296
$1.12 ₫29.4K
105.36%
Eggs
$1.93 FCFA 1,091
$1.48 ₫38.8K
30.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.40 FCFA 13.2K
$12.60 ₫330.7K
85.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.84 FCFA 4,427
$3.77 ₫98.9K
107.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.34 FCFA 3,576
$9.87 ₫259.1K
-35.76%
Apples (1kg)
$4.96 FCFA 2,799
$2.73 ₫71.6K
81.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.14 FCFA 1,210
$0.99 ₫25.9K
116.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 FCFA 1,203
$1.12 ₫29.5K
90.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 FCFA 763
$1.10 ₫28.8K
22.73%
Potato (1kg)
$3.29 FCFA 1,859
$1.15 ₫30.1K
186.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 FCFA 1,232
$1.21 ₫31.8K
80.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 FCFA 415
$0.99 ₫26.1K
-25.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 FCFA 377
$0.49 ₫12.8K
36.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.54 FCFA 2,000
$1.33 ₫34.8K
166.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.53 FCFA 4,814
$7.57 ₫198.5K
12.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 FCFA 761
$0.85 ₫22.4K
58.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 FCFA 1,073
$1.66 ₫43.5K
14.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 FCFA 386
$0.34 ₫9,029
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.62 FCFA 9,944
$3.92 ₫102.9K
349.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 FCFA 285
$0.90 ₫23.6K
-43.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 FCFA 426
$0.75 ₫19.7K
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.30 FCFA 4,687
$12.01 ₫315.1K
-30.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 FCFA 800
$0.86 ₫22.5K
65.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K FCFA 17.2M
$27.2K ₫715.0M
11.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.1K FCFA 9.1M
$28.9K ₫758.4M
-44.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$166 FCFA 93.8K
$74.5 ₫2.0M
122.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.06 FCFA 14.7K
$5.87 ₫154.1K
343.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$180 FCFA 101.3K
$8.32 ₫218.4K
2057.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.22 FCFA 13.1K
$20.15 ₫528.8K
15.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.43 FCFA 1,936
$7.74 ₫203.0K
-55.68%
Cinema Ticket
$9.03 FCFA 5,094
$3.05 ₫80.0K
196.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$542 FCFA 306.1K
$154 ₫4.0M
251.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,498 FCFA 2.0M
$13.1K ₫344.3M
-73.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.1 FCFA 45.8K
$39.19 ₫1.0M
106.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.3 FCFA 38.6K
$25.78 ₫676.5K
165.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$142 FCFA 80.3K
$51.3 ₫1.3M
177.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157 FCFA 88.4K
$75.2 ₫2.0M
108.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$898 FCFA 506.8K
$364 ₫9.6M
146.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$583 FCFA 328.8K
$245 ₫6.4M
137.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,942 FCFA 1.1M
$727 ₫19.1M
167.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 FCFA 638.5K
$458 ₫12.0M
146.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,085 FCFA 1.2M
$3,844 ₫100.9M
-45.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$997 FCFA 562.8K
$1,323 ₫34.7M
-24.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Douala
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 FCFA 93.5K
$347 ₫9.1M
-52.21%
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: June 15, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $898 in Douala versus $364 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 109% 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 $125 in Douala versus $20.00 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $189 – 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: $1,653 in Douala, $721 in Da Nang – roughly 129% 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 $2,479 per month in Douala and $1,082 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 $125 in Douala and $20.00 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 $721, than in Douala at $1,653. 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 $721 in Da Nang to $1,653 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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