😐A single person spends $1,308 per month in Popayan vs $874 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Popayan vs $1,402 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,778 per month in Popayan vs $1,930 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐Popayan costs about 50% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Popayan and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Popayan5% lower, Da Nang36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Popayan
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.52COP 20.5K
$2.33₫60.8K
179.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.39COP 120.9K
$19.42₫506.4K
97.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90COP 28.0K
$4.46₫116.3K
99.55%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,247
$1.72₫44.9K
70.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,604
$0.68₫17.8K
114.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83COP 2,612
$0.34₫8,933
144.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.33COP 7,333
$1.30₫33.9K
79.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17COP 13.1K
$2.36₫61.6K
76.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Popayan
Da Nang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39COP 4,392
$1.54₫40.2K
-9.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52COP 7,950
$1.22₫31.9K
106.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,311
$1.06₫27.6K
29.25%
Eggs
$2.93COP 9,220
$1.52₫39.7K
92.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.39COP 23.3K
$12.97₫338.0K
-43.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.91COP 34.4K
$4.05₫105.7K
169.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10COP 41.2K
$9.27₫241.8K
41.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56COP 11.2K
$2.69₫70.2K
32.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,828
$1.11₫28.9K
37.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96COP 6,157
$1.33₫34.6K
47.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.02COP 6,373
$1.38₫35.9K
46.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.44COP 4,537
$1.09₫28.5K
32.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,058
$1.21₫31.6K
33.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00COP 3,141
$1.03₫26.9K
-2.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00COP 3,135
$0.52₫13.6K
92.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10COP 12.9K
$1.55₫40.5K
164.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.24COP 48.0K
$7.71₫201.1K
97.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32COP 4,170
$0.90₫23.6K
46.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82COP 8,866
$2.14₫55.8K
31.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Popayan
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98COP 3,080
$0.32₫8,222
206.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$5.07₫132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.76COP 5,533
$1.03₫26.9K
70.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.08COP 6,535
$0.65₫17.0K
220.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.81COP 27.7K
$19.08₫497.3K
-53.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35COP 4,258
$0.85₫22.2K
58.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1KCOP 69.6M
$30.7K₫801.3M
-28.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KCOP 109.7M
$27.6K₫718.3M
26.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Popayan
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117COP 368.4K
$88.0₫2.3M
32.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.88COP 37.4K
$6.28₫163.7K
89.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.04COP 107.2K
$7.91₫206.3K
330.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Popayan
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$22.18₫578.3K
43.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$5.30₫138.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.68COP 21.0K
$3.02₫78.7K
121.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Popayan
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$676COP 2.1M
$161₫4.2M
320.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,426COP 20.2M
$15.1K₫394.3M
-57.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Popayan
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.8COP 279.7K
$46.10₫1.2M
92.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.2COP 177.0K
$27.21₫709.3K
106.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133COP 418.8K
$103₫2.7M
29.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9COP 308.4K
$81.7₫2.1M
19.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Popayan
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$708COP 2.2M
$529₫13.8M
33.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$444COP 1.4M
$346₫9.0M
28.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$930COP 2.9M
$1,037₫27.0M
-10.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$861COP 2.7M
$809₫21.1M
6.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,137COP 6.7M
$3,809₫99.3M
-43.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,654COP 5.2M
$1,312₫34.2M
26.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Popayan
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$350₫9.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.58
10.72
8.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Popayan: August 30, 2026
Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $708 in Popayan 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Popayan versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 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
Popayan vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Popayan and in Da Nang compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,308 in Popayan, $874 in Da Nang – roughly 50% apart. Popayan costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Popayan compared to Da Nang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,962 per month in Popayan and $1,311 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Popayan and Da Nang?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Popayan or Da Nang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,308 in Popayan and $874 in Da Nang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Popayan and Da Nang?
Kindergarten costs $676 per month in Popayan and $161 in Da Nang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $874, than in Popayan at $1,308. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Popayan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Popayan and Da Nang?
It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $874 in Da Nang to $1,308 in Popayan. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Popayan 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 Popayan and Da Nang?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Popayan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.