Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Kinabalu and Da Nang Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Kinabalu and Da Nang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $937 per month in Kota Kinabalu vs $874 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,460 per month in Kota Kinabalu vs $1,402 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,983 per month in Kota Kinabalu vs $1,930 in Da Nang, rent included.

Kota Kinabalu costs about 7% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kota Kinabalu and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Kota Kinabalu 32% lower, Da Nang 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 MYR 14.72

$2.33 ₫60.8K

56.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.15 MYR 81.5

$19.42 ₫506.4K

3.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.03 MYR 20.35

$4.46 ₫116.3K

12.78%

Cappuccino

$2.76 MYR 11.16

$1.72 ₫44.9K

60.47%

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

$0.56 MYR 2.25

$0.68 ₫17.8K

-17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.35

$0.34 ₫8,933

-2.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 MYR 10.10

$1.30 ₫33.9K

92.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.67 MYR 14.85

$2.36 ₫61.6K

55.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.84 MYR 7.46

$1.54 ₫40.2K

19.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 MYR 5.49

$1.22 ₫31.9K

11.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 MYR 9.34

$1.06 ₫27.6K

117.92%

Eggs

$3.60 MYR 14.56

$1.52 ₫39.7K

136.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.42 MYR 115

$12.97 ₫338.0K

119.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 MYR 14.69

$4.05 ₫105.7K

-10.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 MYR 27.42

$9.27 ₫241.8K

-26.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 MYR 9.25

$2.69 ₫70.2K

-14.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.61

$1.11 ₫28.9K

25.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 MYR 7.81

$1.33 ₫34.6K

45.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MYR 8.19

$1.38 ₫35.9K

47.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 MYR 7.18

$1.09 ₫28.5K

63.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 MYR 8.72

$1.21 ₫31.6K

78.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 MYR 4.19

$1.03 ₫26.9K

0.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 MYR 1.77

$0.52 ₫13.6K

-15.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.78 MYR 19.31

$1.55 ₫40.5K

208.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.33 MYR 66.0

$7.71 ₫201.1K

111.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.69 MYR 14.91

$0.90 ₫23.6K

310.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MYR 10.21

$2.14 ₫55.8K

18.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 MYR 7.90

$0.32 ₫8,222

509.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$42.28 MYR 171

$5.07 ₫132.1K

733.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.95 MYR 7.89

$1.03 ₫26.9K

89.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.24 MYR 0.97

$0.65 ₫17.0K

-63.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.08 ₫497.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 MYR 2.83

$0.85 ₫22.2K

-17.65%

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

$41.7K MYR 168.8K

$30.7K ₫801.3M

35.81%

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

$35.6K MYR 143.8K

$27.6K ₫718.3M

29.13%

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

$68.8 MYR 278

$88.0 ₫2.3M

-21.88%

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

$9.77 MYR 39.48

$6.28 ₫163.7K

55.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.19 MYR 130

$7.91 ₫206.3K

306.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.7 MYR 213

$22.18 ₫578.3K

137.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.06 MYR 12.37

$5.30 ₫138.2K

-42.26%

Cinema Ticket

$5.41 MYR 21.86

$3.02 ₫78.7K

79.14%

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

$144 MYR 581

$161 ₫4.2M

-10.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,144 MYR 28.9K

$15.1K ₫394.3M

-52.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$84.5 MYR 342

$46.10 ₫1.2M

83.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.58 MYR 152

$27.21 ₫709.3K

38.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.5 MYR 382

$103 ₫2.7M

-7.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.80 MYR 197

$81.7 ₫2.1M

-40.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 MYR 1,733

$529 ₫13.8M

-18.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 MYR 788

$346 ₫9.0M

-43.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$680 MYR 2,750

$1,037 ₫27.0M

-34.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 MYR 1,529

$809 ₫21.1M

-53.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,845 MYR 7,458

$3,809 ₫99.3M

-51.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,092 MYR 4,417

$1,312 ₫34.2M

-16.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$582 MYR 2,354

$350 ₫9.1M

66.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.9

10.72

-63.62%

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

Last update for Kota Kinabalu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $429 in Kota Kinabalu 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 67% higher in Kota Kinabalu, 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 Kinabalu versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $198 – 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

Kota Kinabalu vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $937 in Kota Kinabalu, $874 in Da Nang – roughly 7% apart. Kota Kinabalu costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,405 per month in Kota Kinabalu and $1,311 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 48% more in Kota Kinabalu, 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 $20.00 in Kota Kinabalu and $19.00 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 $874, than in Kota Kinabalu at $937. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kota Kinabalu 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 $874 in Da Nang to $937 in Kota Kinabalu. 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, Kota Kinabalu makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.