Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Da Nang

For one person, living is cheaper in Islamabad: $599 a month against $863 in Da Nang, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Islamabad
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$599
/mo nomad
Da Nang
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$863
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $599 per month in Islamabad vs $863 in Da Nang, rent included.

  • Islamabad $599
  • Da Nang $863

A couple spends around $930 per month in Islamabad vs $1,404 in Da Nang, rent included.

  • Islamabad $930
  • Da Nang $1,404

A family of three spends $1,261 per month in Islamabad vs $1,945 in Da Nang, rent included.

  • Islamabad $1,261
  • Da Nang $1,945

Islamabad is about 31% cheaper than Da Nang, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Islamabad and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Islamabad 56% lower, Da Nang 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Islamabad
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.63 PKR 1,004
$2.30 ₫59.4K
57.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.40 PKR 6,478
$19.62 ₫508.0K
19.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.54 PKR 1,534
$4.60 ₫119.1K
20.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.57 PKR 987
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.73 PKR 1,864
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.64 PKR 730
$1.66 ₫43.0K
59.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 PKR 89.6
$0.61 ₫15.7K
-47.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 63.7
$0.34 ₫8,877
-32.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.34 ₫34.6K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.36 ₫61.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
Da Nang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 PKR 259
$1.60 ₫41.5K
-41.25%
White Bread (500g)
$0.72 PKR 200
$1.21 ₫31.3K
-40.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 PKR 361
$1.00 ₫25.9K
30.00%
Eggs
$1.22 PKR 339
$1.51 ₫39.1K
-19.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.05 PKR 1,674
$12.90 ₫333.9K
-53.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.09 PKR 855
$4.29 ₫111.1K
-27.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.35 PKR 1,482
$9.06 ₫234.6K
-40.95%
Apples (1kg)
$1.26 PKR 350
$2.73 ₫70.6K
-53.85%
Banana (1kg)
$0.87 PKR 241
$1.19 ₫30.8K
-26.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.04 PKR 288
$1.29 ₫33.4K
-19.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 PKR 146
$1.60 ₫41.3K
-66.88%
Potato (1kg)
$0.29 PKR 81.2
$1.18 ₫30.4K
-75.42%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 PKR 99.4
$1.33 ₫34.3K
-72.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.28 PKR 76.4
$1.01 ₫26.1K
-72.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 108
$0.53 ₫13.7K
-26.42%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.95 PKR 539
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 PKR 331
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 PKR 743
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.24 PKR 619
$1.56 ₫40.3K
43.59%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.93 ₫205.2K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.88 ₫22.9K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.12 ₫54.9K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Islamabad
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 PKR 43.07
$0.32 ₫8,182
-50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.34 PKR 5,905
$4.99 ₫129.3K
327.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.24 PKR 344
$1.05 ₫27.1K
18.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.74 PKR 204
$0.55 ₫14.3K
34.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.60 PKR 442
$19.50 ₫504.8K
-91.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 PKR 378
$0.95 ₫24.5K
44.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.5K PKR 15.1M
$30.9K ₫799.2M
76.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K PKR 6.6M
$28.0K ₫724.6M
-14.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 PKR 28.6K
$76.6 ₫2.0M
34.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.99 PKR 1,658
$6.47 ₫167.6K
-7.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.15 PKR 4,746
$8.08 ₫209.1K
112.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.20 PKR 7,806
$24.98 ₫646.6K
12.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.47 PKR 2,344
$5.35 ₫138.6K
58.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.43 PKR 1,226
$3.07 ₫79.4K
44.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Islamabad
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$75.7 PKR 20.9K
$161 ₫4.2M
-53.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,004 PKR 1.4M
$15.2K ₫392.3M
-66.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.72 PKR 7,118
$45.38 ₫1.2M
-43.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.48 PKR 9,543
$27.22 ₫704.7K
26.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.5 PKR 26.4K
$100 ₫2.6M
-4.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.32 PKR 11.4K
$80.9 ₫2.1M
-48.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$276 PKR 76.5K
$529 ₫13.7M
-47.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$139 PKR 38.3K
$349 ₫9.0M
-60.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$572 PKR 158.2K
$1,053 ₫27.3M
-45.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 PKR 74.9K
$811 ₫21.0M
-66.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,629 PKR 450.8K
$3,834 ₫99.3M
-57.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$836 PKR 231.5K
$1,308 ₫33.9M
-36.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Islamabad
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$380 PKR 105.2K
$363 ₫9.4M
4.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.08
10.72
22.01%

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

Last update for Islamabad: October 10, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Islamabad
$139
Da Nang
$349 152% $211
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Islamabad
$126
Da Nang
$91 27.9% $35
Groceries & Markets
Islamabad
$102
Da Nang
$201 96.5% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Islamabad
$89
Da Nang
$114 28.7% $25
Eating Out
Islamabad
$80
Da Nang
$67 15.4% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Islamabad
$37
Da Nang
$31 16.1% $6
Getting Around
Islamabad
$27
Da Nang
$10 62.6% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $276 in Islamabad versus $529 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 5% higher in Islamabad, 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $20.00 in Da Nang. Groceries tell a different story – $102 in Islamabad vs $201 in Da Nang – so Islamabad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Islamabad
🇻🇳 Da Nang
🕒 Local time
16:53 4:53 PM
18:53 6:53 PM
2 h ahead of Islamabad
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,009,832 Capital
1,245,200
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 277 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.61 USD). 1 EUR = 311 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.21 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,105 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Islamabad Da Nang 4,020 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Islamabad
  • Da Nang

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
Islamabad vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Islamabad and in Da Nang compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $599 in Islamabad, $863 in Da Nang – roughly 44% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Islamabad compared to Da Nang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $899 per month in Islamabad and $1,295 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Islamabad and Da Nang?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Islamabad, 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 96% 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Islamabad and $20.00 in Da Nang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How far does $1,000 go in Islamabad compared to Da Nang?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $599 in Islamabad and $863 in Da Nang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Islamabad and Da Nang?
It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $599 in Islamabad to $863 in Da Nang. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Islamabad 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 Islamabad and Da Nang?
If budget matters most, go with Islamabad. 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.

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