Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Da Nang Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Da Nang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $954 per month in Johor Bahru vs $721 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,384 per month in Johor Bahru vs $1,088 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,813 per month in Johor Bahru vs $1,454 in Da Nang, rent included.

Johor Bahru costs about 32% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Johor Bahru and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Johor Bahru 28% lower, Da Nang 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 MYR 14.92

$1.94 ₫51.0K

87.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.70 MYR 77.0

$19.53 ₫513.1K

-4.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 MYR 19.02

$4.79 ₫125.8K

-3.55%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.31

$1.57 ₫41.3K

90.45%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 MYR 3.31

$0.54 ₫14.2K

48.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 MYR 2.02

$0.31 ₫8,263

58.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 MYR 14.40

$1.04 ₫27.2K

236.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.63 MYR 27.30

$1.59 ₫41.9K

316.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 MYR 7.66

$1.38 ₫36.4K

34.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 4.12

$1.02 ₫26.9K

-1.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 MYR 5.36

$1.12 ₫29.5K

16.07%

Eggs

$1.89 MYR 7.77

$1.48 ₫38.8K

27.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.72 MYR 44.10

$12.60 ₫331.0K

-14.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.56 MYR 14.64

$3.77 ₫99.0K

-5.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.06 MYR 33.15

$9.87 ₫259.4K

-18.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 MYR 11.43

$2.73 ₫71.7K

1.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.98

$0.99 ₫26.0K

46.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.56 MYR 10.53

$1.12 ₫29.5K

128.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 MYR 5.01

$1.10 ₫28.8K

10.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$1.15 ₫30.1K

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.46

$1.21 ₫31.9K

9.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 MYR 3.88

$0.99 ₫26.1K

-5.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.28

$0.49 ₫12.8K

12.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MYR 17.89

$1.33 ₫34.9K

227.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.43 MYR 59.4

$7.57 ₫198.7K

90.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.65 MYR 10.92

$0.85 ₫22.5K

211.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 MYR 12.45

$1.66 ₫43.5K

81.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.84

$0.34 ₫9,039

102.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 MYR 47.71

$3.92 ₫103.0K

195.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.02 MYR 4.20

$0.90 ₫23.6K

13.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 MYR 4.23

$0.75 ₫19.8K

37.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.50 MYR 39.10

$12.01 ₫315.5K

-20.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 2.07

$0.86 ₫22.6K

-41.86%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.9K MYR 147.7K

$27.2K ₫715.8M

31.74%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.8K MYR 114.5K

$28.9K ₫759.2M

-3.76%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.78 MYR 172

$74.5 ₫2.0M

-43.95%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.07 MYR 37.31

$5.87 ₫154.2K

54.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.16 MYR 128

$8.32 ₫218.6K

274.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.11 MYR 144

$20.15 ₫529.4K

74.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.93 MYR 24.40

$7.74 ₫203.2K

-23.39%

Cinema Ticket

$4.87 MYR 20.05

$3.05 ₫80.1K

59.67%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$189 MYR 777

$154 ₫4.0M

22.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,837 MYR 28.1K

$13.1K ₫344.7M

-47.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.34 MYR 203

$39.19 ₫1.0M

25.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.13 MYR 78.7

$25.78 ₫677.2K

-25.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.8 MYR 221

$51.3 ₫1.3M

4.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.40 MYR 162

$75.2 ₫2.0M

-47.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 MYR 1,892

$364 ₫9.6M

26.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 MYR 1,676

$245 ₫6.4M

66.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$819 MYR 3,370

$727 ₫19.1M

12.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 MYR 2,463

$458 ₫12.0M

30.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,021 MYR 8,316

$3,844 ₫101.0M

-47.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,158 MYR 4,767

$1,323 ₫34.8M

-12.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,096 MYR 4,512

$347 ₫9.1M

216.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

10.67

-61.86%

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

Last update for Johor Bahru: June 15, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Johor Bahru 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 216% higher in Johor Bahru, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Johor Bahru versus $20.00 in Da Nang. Groceries tell a different story – $219 in Johor Bahru vs $189 in Da Nang – so Da Nang wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Johor Bahru vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $954 in Johor Bahru, $721 in Da Nang – roughly 32% apart. Johor Bahru costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,431 per month in Johor Bahru and $1,082 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Johor Bahru, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Johor Bahru and $20.00 in Da Nang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $721, than in Johor Bahru at $954. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Johor Bahru it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $721 in Da Nang to $954 in Johor Bahru. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Johor Bahru makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.