🙂A single person spends $692 per month in Kota Bharu vs $844 in Da Nang, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,054 per month in Kota Bharu vs $1,386 in Da Nang, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,417 per month in Kota Bharu vs $1,928 in Da Nang, rent included.
🙂Kota Bharu is about 18% cheaper than Da Nang, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Kota Bharu and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Kota Bharu48% lower, Da Nang37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kota Bharu
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.25MYR 9.20
$2.27₫59.0K
-0.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.85MYR 81.1
$19.51₫507.2K
1.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.52MYR 18.45
$4.62₫120.1K
-2.16%
Cappuccino
$2.14MYR 8.74
$1.73₫45.1K
23.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50MYR 2.05
$0.65₫16.9K
-23.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28MYR 1.16
$0.32₫8,217
-12.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.25MYR 17.35
$1.37₫35.7K
210.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35MYR 17.77
$2.25₫58.5K
93.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kota Bharu
Da Nang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MYR 6.60
$1.58₫41.2K
2.53%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91MYR 3.71
$1.27₫32.9K
-28.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85MYR 3.45
$1.04₫27.0K
-18.27%
Eggs
$1.53MYR 6.26
$1.50₫39.0K
2.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.56MYR 55.4
$13.12₫341.1K
3.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99MYR 12.21
$4.17₫108.4K
-28.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.31MYR 25.76
$9.26₫240.7K
-31.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MYR 12.30
$2.71₫70.5K
11.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43MYR 5.85
$1.14₫29.7K
25.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69MYR 11.00
$1.33₫34.6K
102.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.12MYR 4.59
$1.53₫39.8K
-26.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91MYR 3.73
$1.14₫29.7K
-20.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07MYR 4.36
$1.31₫34.1K
-18.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14MYR 4.67
$1.01₫26.2K
12.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44MYR 1.81
$0.49₫12.7K
-10.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46MYR 14.15
$1.55₫40.4K
123.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.06MYR 77.9
$7.80₫202.8K
144.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86MYR 11.69
$0.88₫22.9K
225.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33MYR 21.78
$2.10₫54.5K
153.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Kota Bharu
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.75MYR 3.05
$0.31₫8,185
141.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.43MYR 50.8
$5.06₫131.5K
145.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.75MYR 7.15
$1.05₫27.2K
66.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41MYR 1.67
$0.57₫14.7K
-28.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.72MYR 15.19
$19.44₫505.4K
-80.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.49MYR 1.99
$0.89₫23.2K
-44.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.8KMYR 129.8K
$30.2K₫784.4M
5.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KMYR 119.4K
$27.9K₫725.1M
4.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kota Bharu
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.37MYR 153
$78.0₫2.0M
-52.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.73MYR 35.65
$6.34₫164.8K
37.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.64MYR 105
$8.23₫214.0K
211.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kota Bharu
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.43MYR 202
$22.58₫587.0K
118.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$5.43₫141.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.44MYR 18.13
$3.13₫81.3K
41.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kota Bharu
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$123MYR 503
$161₫4.2M
-23.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6KMYR 43.2K
$14.7K₫382.5M
-28.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kota Bharu
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1MYR 221
$45.61₫1.2M
18.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.67MYR 80.3
$27.84₫723.9K
-29.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.9MYR 326
$102₫2.6M
-21.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.9MYR 281
$81.1₫2.1M
-15.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kota Bharu
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244MYR 998
$516₫13.4M
-52.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$120MYR 492
$341₫8.9M
-64.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$675MYR 2,756
$1,047₫27.2M
-35.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$224MYR 916
$783₫20.3M
-71.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,790₫98.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,306₫34.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kota Bharu
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$292MYR 1,193
$350₫9.1M
-16.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.04
10.72
-62.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kota Bharu: October 5, 2026
Last update for Da Nang: October 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Kota Bharu versus $516 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 20% higher in Da Nang, 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 $20.00 in Kota Bharu versus $20.00 in Da Nang. Groceries tell a different story – $227 in Kota Bharu vs $200 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
Kota Bharu vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kota Bharu and in Da Nang compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $692 in Kota Bharu, $844 in Da Nang – roughly 22% apart. Da Nang costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kota Bharu compared to Da Nang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,037 per month in Kota Bharu and $1,266 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kota Bharu and Da Nang?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kota Bharu, 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Da Nang – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Kota Bharu 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 $800 go in Kota Bharu compared to Da Nang?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $692 in Kota Bharu and $844 in Da Nang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Kota Bharu and Da Nang?
It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $692 in Kota Bharu to $844 in Da Nang. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kota Bharu 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 Kota Bharu and Da Nang?
If budget matters most, go with Kota Bharu. 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.
Kota Bharu vs other spots: cost of living compared