Cost of Living Comparison Between Lae and Da Nang Cost of Living Comparison Between Lae and Da Nang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $846 per month in Lae vs $855 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,533 per month in Lae vs $1,389 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,220 per month in Lae vs $1,923 in Da Nang, rent included.

Lae is about 1% cheaper than Da Nang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lae and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Lae 39% lower, Da Nang 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.06 PGK 109

$2.33 ₫60.5K

975.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.3 PGK 227

$19.15 ₫496.2K

172.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.49 ₫116.3K

Cappuccino

$2.75 PGK 11.92

$1.78 ₫46.1K

54.49%

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

$0.80 PGK 3.49

$0.67 ₫17.4K

19.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.57 PGK 2.49

$0.32 ₫8,264

78.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 PGK 14.75

$1.32 ₫34.3K

157.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.42 PGK 23.54

$2.34 ₫60.7K

131.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 PGK 8.67

$1.47 ₫38.2K

36.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 PGK 6.21

$1.23 ₫32.0K

16.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 PGK 5.49

$1.06 ₫27.6K

18.87%

Eggs

$3.94 PGK 17.09

$1.54 ₫39.9K

155.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.56 PGK 41.49

$13.10 ₫339.5K

-27.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.27 PGK 40.24

$4.08 ₫105.7K

127.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 PGK 47.29

$9.19 ₫238.2K

18.61%

Apples (1kg)

$4.60 PGK 19.97

$2.59 ₫67.1K

77.61%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 PGK 12.13

$1.11 ₫28.7K

152.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.22 PGK 26.98

$1.29 ₫33.4K

382.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 PGK 7.00

$1.46 ₫37.9K

10.27%

Potato (1kg)

$3.40 PGK 14.74

$1.12 ₫29.0K

203.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 PGK 9.98

$1.27 ₫32.9K

81.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 PGK 2.84

$1.01 ₫26.2K

-35.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 PGK 3.74

$0.49 ₫12.6K

75.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.67 PGK 28.94

$1.49 ₫38.7K

347.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.59 PGK 54.6

$7.85 ₫203.4K

60.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 PGK 11.40

$0.83 ₫21.6K

216.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 PGK 18.98

$2.19 ₫56.7K

99.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 PGK 1.53

$0.34 ₫8,932

2.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.90 ₫126.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.03 ₫26.7K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₫15.8K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.51 ₫505.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 PGK 4.33

$0.91 ₫23.6K

9.89%

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

$31.2K ₫807.6M

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

$27.7K ₫717.0M

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

$89.1 ₫2.3M

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

$6.02 ₫156.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.18 ₫211.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.12 ₫573.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.33 ₫138.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.12 ₫81.0K

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

$163 ₫4.2M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.2K ₫394.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.51 ₫1.2M

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.06 ₫727.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 ₫2.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.8 ₫2.1M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$448 PGK 1,943

$531 ₫13.8M

-15.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 PGK 1,162

$341 ₫8.8M

-21.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 PGK 5,488

$1,044 ₫27.1M

21.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 PGK 2,691

$787 ₫20.4M

-21.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,768 ₫97.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,309 ₫33.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$158 PGK 685

$349 ₫9.1M

-54.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.72

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

Last update for Lae: September 5, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $448 in Lae versus $531 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 121% 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 $52.0 in Lae versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $310 vs $197 – 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

Lae vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $846 in Lae, $855 in Da Nang – roughly 1% apart. Da Nang costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,269 per month in Lae and $1,282 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lae, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Lae and $19.00 in Da Nang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $846 in Lae and $855 in Da Nang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lae, where all-in costs run around $846, than in Da Nang at $855. In Lae it covers expenses comfortably, while in Da Nang 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 $846 in Lae to $855 in Da Nang. 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 Lae. 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.