Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael, CA and Da Nang

For one person, living is cheaper in Da Nang: $844 a month against $4,955 in San Rafael, CA, rent and utilities included – about $49,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

San Rafael, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$4,955
/mo nomad
Da Nang
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$844
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in San Rafael, CA and in Da Nang

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in San Rafael, CA and in Da Nang actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,955 per month in San Rafael, CA vs $844 in Da Nang, rent included.

  • San Rafael, CA $4,955
  • Da Nang $844

A couple spends around $6,421 per month in San Rafael, CA vs $1,386 in Da Nang, rent included.

  • San Rafael, CA $6,421
  • Da Nang $1,386

A family of three spends $7,886 per month in San Rafael, CA vs $1,928 in Da Nang, rent included.

  • San Rafael, CA $7,886
  • Da Nang $1,928

San Rafael, CA costs about 487% more than Da Nang, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

San Rafael, CA sits 270% above the global median, while Da Nang is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Rafael, CA
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.06 $25.06
$2.27 ₫58.7K
1003.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 $120
$19.51 ₫504.8K
517.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.07 $12.07
$4.62 ₫119.6K
161.26%
Cappuccino
$4.67 $4.67
$1.73 ₫44.8K
169.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$0.65 ₫16.9K
356.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$0.32 ₫8,179
831.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.40 $5.40
$1.37 ₫35.5K
294.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.96 $6.96
$2.25 ₫58.2K
209.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Rafael, CA
Da Nang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 $1.50
$1.58 ₫41.0K
-5.06%
White Bread (500g)
$4.43 $4.43
$1.27 ₫32.8K
248.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$9.69 $9.69
$1.04 ₫26.9K
831.73%
Eggs
$5.52 $5.52
$1.50 ₫38.8K
268.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.55 $22.55
$13.12 ₫339.5K
71.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.37 $15.37
$4.17 ₫107.9K
268.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.20 $18.20
$9.26 ₫239.6K
96.54%
Apples (1kg)
$7.34 $7.34
$2.71 ₫70.2K
170.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$1.14 ₫29.6K
157.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.65 $6.65
$1.33 ₫34.4K
400.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.27 $8.27
$1.53 ₫39.6K
440.52%
Potato (1kg)
$5.78 $5.78
$1.14 ₫29.5K
407.02%
Onion (1kg)
$5.44 $5.44
$1.31 ₫34.0K
315.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.20 $3.20
$1.01 ₫26.1K
216.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.87 $3.87
$0.49 ₫12.7K
689.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.79 $10.79
$1.55 ₫40.2K
596.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.81 $12.81
$7.80 ₫201.8K
64.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.88 ₫22.8K
152.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$2.10 ₫54.3K
46.67%
🚌 Getting Around
San Rafael, CA
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 $1.99
$0.31 ₫8,147
541.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.5 $64.5
$5.06 ₫130.9K
1174.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.10 $4.10
$1.05 ₫27.1K
290.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.29 $4.29
$0.57 ₫14.7K
652.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.62 $28.62
$19.44 ₫503.0K
47.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 $1.44
$0.89 ₫23.1K
61.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2K $32.2K
$30.2K ₫780.7M
6.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$27.9K ₫721.7M
-2.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Rafael, CA
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$259 $259
$78.0 ₫2.0M
232.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$84.3 $84.3
$6.34 ₫164.0K
1229.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$8.23 ₫213.0K
650.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Rafael, CA
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$124 $124
$22.58 ₫584.2K
449.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.76 $29.76
$5.43 ₫140.5K
448.07%
Cinema Ticket
$12.97 $12.97
$3.13 ₫81.0K
314.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Rafael, CA
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,128 $2,128
$161 ₫4.2M
1225.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.6K $24.6K
$14.7K ₫380.7M
67.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Rafael, CA
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2 $59.2
$45.61 ₫1.2M
29.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.66 $42.66
$27.84 ₫720.5K
53.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.0 $94.0
$102 ₫2.6M
-7.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 $128
$81.1 ₫2.1M
57.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Rafael, CA
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,079 $3,079
$516 ₫13.4M
496.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,143 $3,143
$341 ₫8.8M
822.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,230 $4,230
$1,047 ₫27.1M
304.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,789 $3,789
$783 ₫20.3M
384.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,545 $7,545
$3,790 ₫98.1M
99.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,372 $5,372
$1,306 ₫33.8M
311.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Rafael, CA
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,047 $7,047
$350 ₫9.1M
1911.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
10.72
-38.25%

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

Last update for San Rafael, CA: October 3, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
San Rafael, CA
$3.1K
Da Nang
$341 89.2% $2.8K
Groceries & Markets
San Rafael, CA
$572
Da Nang
$200 65% $372
Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Rafael, CA
$405
Da Nang
$93 77.2% $313
Eating Out
San Rafael, CA
$357
Da Nang
$68 81% $289
Sport & Entertainment
San Rafael, CA
$150
Da Nang
$29 80.8% $121
Clothing & Footwear
San Rafael, CA
$146
Da Nang
$115 20.8% $30
Getting Around
San Rafael, CA
$98
Da Nang
$10 89.6% $88

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,079 in San Rafael, CA 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 1912% higher in San Rafael, CA, 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 $120 in San Rafael, CA versus $20.00 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $572 vs $200 – making Da Nang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 San Rafael, CA
🇻🇳 Da Nang
🕒 Local time
18:06 6:06 PM
08:06 8:06 AM
14 h ahead of San Rafael, CA
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
58,704
1,245,200
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 12, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 12, 2026: 1 USD = 25,879 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 28,999 VND (100,000 VND = 3.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • San Rafael, CA Da Nang 12,010 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • San Rafael, CA
  • Da Nang

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
San Rafael, CA vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in San Rafael, CA and in Da Nang compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $4,955 in San Rafael, CA, $844 in Da Nang – roughly 487% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in San Rafael, CA compared to Da Nang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,432 per month in San Rafael, CA 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 San Rafael, CA 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 has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 186% more in San Rafael, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $120 in San Rafael, CA and $20.00 in Da Nang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap 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 $844, than in San Rafael, CA at $4,955. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Rafael, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between San Rafael, CA and Da Nang?
It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $844 in Da Nang to $4,955 in San Rafael, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is San Rafael, CA 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 San Rafael, CA and Da Nang?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Rafael, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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