😐A single person spends $823 per month in El Nido vs $718 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,306 per month in El Nido vs $1,103 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,788 per month in El Nido vs $1,488 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐El Nido costs about 15% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both El Nido and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – El Nido39% lower, Da Nang46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Nido
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.17₱311
$1.97₫51.6K
162.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.48₱1,834
$18.89₫495.8K
61.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.26₱256
$4.69₫123.0K
-9.17%
Cappuccino
$3.98₱239
$1.57₫41.3K
153.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36₱82.0
$0.53₫13.9K
156.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₱24.00
$0.31₫8,217
29.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.36₱82.1
$1.04₫27.2K
30.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08₱125
$1.68₫44.0K
23.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Nido
Da Nang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.82₱110
$1.42₫37.2K
28.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22₱73.3
$0.93₫24.4K
31.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73₱104
$1.16₫30.3K
49.14%
Eggs
$2.60₱156
$1.42₫37.2K
83.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.16₱491
$12.55₫329.5K
-34.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.31₱199
$3.80₫99.7K
-12.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.31₱500
$10.03₫263.1K
-17.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00₱181
$2.61₫68.4K
14.94%
Banana(1kg)
$0.69₱41.33
$0.97₫25.5K
-28.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.71₱163
$1.08₫28.3K
150.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.11₱127
$1.05₫27.6K
100.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.21₱133
$1.11₫29.0K
99.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11₱127
$1.21₫31.7K
74.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11₱66.7
$1.05₫27.5K
5.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₱42.79
$0.48₫12.6K
47.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80₱168
$1.37₫35.9K
104.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.10₱548
$7.52₫197.2K
21.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16₱70.1
$0.79₫20.8K
46.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06₱124
$1.57₫41.3K
31.21%
🚌 Getting Around
El Nido
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37₱22.04
$0.32₫8,385
15.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$3.81₫99.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.78₱46.89
$0.89₫23.5K
-12.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.15
$0.69₫18.2K
-68.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.10₱127
$11.82₫310.3K
-82.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04₱62.5
$0.90₫23.5K
15.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K₱1.6M
$27.3K₫716.8M
-1.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K₱1.2M
$28.7K₫753.6M
-29.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Nido
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$114₱6,885
$76.0₫2.0M
50.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.43₱1,952
$5.97₫156.8K
443.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.75₱1,911
$8.14₫213.5K
290.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Nido
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.21₱2,059
$19.79₫519.5K
72.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.42₱266
$7.47₫195.9K
-40.83%
Cinema Ticket
$5.88₱354
$2.98₫78.2K
97.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Nido
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153₱9,236
$155₫4.1M
-1.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,376₱263.4K
$12.9K₫337.4M
-65.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Nido
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.35₱2,789
$39.96₫1.0M
15.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35₱1,586
$25.51₫669.5K
3.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6₱4,551
$52.6₫1.4M
43.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.7₱3,232
$76.8₫2.0M
-30.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Nido
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263₱15.8K
$352₫9.2M
-25.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$179₱10.8K
$244₫6.4M
-26.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580₱34.9K
$721₫18.9M
-19.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$400₱24.1K
$460₫12.1M
-12.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,567₱154.5K
$3,748₫98.4M
-31.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,264₫33.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Nido
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$262₱15.7K
$333₫8.7M
-21.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
10.67
-37.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Nido: April 22, 2026
Last update for Da Nang: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $263 in El Nido versus $352 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 27% 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 $30 in El Nido versus $19 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $187 – 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
El Nido vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in El Nido and Da Nang compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $823 in El Nido, $718 in Da Nang – roughly 15% apart. El Nido costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in El Nido compared to Da Nang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,235 per month in El Nido and $1,078 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between El Nido 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 is more expensive overall: El Nido or Da Nang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $823 in El Nido and $718 in Da Nang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between El Nido and Da Nang?
Kindergarten costs $153 per month in El Nido and $155 in Da Nang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in El Nido vs Da Nang?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $823 in El Nido and $718 in Da Nang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between El Nido and Da Nang?
It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $718 in Da Nang to $823 in El Nido. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is El Nido 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 El Nido and Da Nang?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, El Nido makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.