Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihir Island and Da Nang Cost of Living Comparison Between Lihir Island and Da Nang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $232 per month in Lihir Island vs $718 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $427 per month in Lihir Island vs $1,105 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $622 per month in Lihir Island vs $1,491 in Da Nang, rent included.

Lihir Island is about 68% cheaper than Da Nang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Lihir Island and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Lihir Island 83% lower, Da Nang 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.71 PGK 20.22

$1.88 ₫49.5K

150.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.29 PGK 126

$19.54 ₫512.9K

49.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.85 PGK 25.13

$4.80 ₫125.9K

21.87%

Cappuccino

$2.36 PGK 10.14

$1.61 ₫42.3K

46.58%

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

$0.73 PGK 3.15

$0.54 ₫14.1K

35.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 PGK 3.04

$0.29 ₫7,600

144.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.65 PGK 15.66

$1.08 ₫28.3K

237.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PGK 10.08

$1.59 ₫41.6K

47.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 PGK 7.13

$1.37 ₫35.9K

21.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 PGK 6.09

$1.02 ₫26.8K

39.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 PGK 6.05

$1.17 ₫30.7K

20.51%

Eggs

$2.27 PGK 9.77

$1.47 ₫38.5K

54.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.23 ₫321.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.38 PGK 18.83

$3.81 ₫100.0K

14.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$2.42 PGK 10.40

$10.04 ₫263.5K

-75.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 ₫68.7K

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 PGK 6.04

$0.98 ₫25.6K

43.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.3K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 ₫29.1K

Potato (1kg)

$2.35 PGK 10.08

$1.14 ₫29.8K

106.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 3.94

$1.15 ₫30.1K

-20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₫26.5K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 PGK 1.96

$0.52 ₫13.6K

-11.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.01 PGK 25.83

$1.36 ₫35.6K

341.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.78 ₫204.3K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 PGK 10.25

$0.85 ₫22.3K

181.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PGK 10.22

$1.64 ₫43.0K

45.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫8,989

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.75 ₫98.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 ₫19.5K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.95 ₫313.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

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

$26.9K ₫706.5M

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

$28.9K ₫757.8M

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

$75.0 ₫2.0M

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

$6.01 ₫157.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.43 ₫221.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.69 ₫516.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.83 ₫205.6K

Cinema Ticket

$3.13 ₫82.3K

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

$152 ₫4.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.7K ₫334.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.87 ₫1.0M

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.49 ₫669.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.9 ₫1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.2 ₫2.0M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$353 ₫9.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₫6.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$718 ₫18.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$449 ₫11.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,837 ₫100.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,299 ₫34.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$353 ₫9.3M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

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

Last update for Lihir Island: June 8, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Lihir Island versus $20.00 in Da Nang. Groceries tell a different story – $114 in Lihir Island vs $188 in Da Nang – so Lihir Island 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

Lihir Island vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $232 in Lihir Island, $718 in Da Nang – roughly 209% apart. Da Nang costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $349 per month in Lihir Island and $1,077 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Lihir Island and $20.00 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 $232 in Lihir Island and $718 in Da Nang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $232 in Lihir Island and $718 in Da Nang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $232 in Lihir Island to $718 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 Lihir Island. 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.