Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Tome and Da Nang Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Tome and Da Nang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,081 per month in Sao Tome vs $704 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,841 per month in Sao Tome vs $1,081 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,601 per month in Sao Tome vs $1,458 in Da Nang, rent included.

Sao Tome costs about 54% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Sao Tome and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Sao Tome 19% lower, Da Nang 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.99 STN 430

$1.93 ₫50.8K

935.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.96 STN 988

$19.46 ₫511.5K

136.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 STN 214

$4.65 ₫122.2K

113.98%

Cappuccino

$1.72 STN 37.06

$1.61 ₫42.3K

6.83%

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

$1.94 STN 41.77

$0.51 ₫13.4K

280.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 STN 24.72

$0.29 ₫7,592

296.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 STN 35.15

$1.07 ₫28.2K

52.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 STN 40.46

$1.59 ₫41.7K

18.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 STN 28.61

$1.38 ₫36.3K

-3.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 STN 22.43

$0.95 ₫24.9K

9.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 STN 48.61

$1.17 ₫30.7K

93.16%

Eggs

$4.94 STN 106

$1.43 ₫37.5K

245.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.05 STN 431

$12.59 ₫331.0K

59.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$19.87 STN 427

$3.64 ₫95.8K

445.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.69 STN 531

$9.79 ₫257.3K

152.20%

Apples (1kg)

$4.50 STN 96.7

$2.76 ₫72.4K

63.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 STN 25.43

$0.94 ₫24.8K

25.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.98 STN 85.5

$1.12 ₫29.4K

255.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.52 STN 75.6

$1.05 ₫27.6K

235.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 STN 55.6

$1.10 ₫28.9K

134.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 STN 42.83

$1.19 ₫31.4K

67.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 STN 14.27

$1.00 ₫26.3K

-34.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.90 STN 40.82

$0.48 ₫12.7K

295.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 STN 49.94

$1.38 ₫36.3K

68.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.94 STN 171

$7.52 ₫197.7K

5.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 STN 27.27

$0.81 ₫21.4K

56.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 STN 28.81

$1.60 ₫42.1K

-16.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 STN 27.11

$0.32 ₫8,321

293.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.73 ₫98.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.82 ₫21.5K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.3K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.14 STN 304

$12.03 ₫316.4K

17.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.65 STN 35.39

$0.91 ₫24.0K

81.32%

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

$27.2K ₫715.1M

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

$22.8K STN 490.0K

$28.1K ₫739.2M

-18.94%

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

$74.1 ₫1.9M

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

$34.83 STN 749

$5.97 ₫157.0K

483.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.6 STN 1,560

$8.07 ₫212.3K

799.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.62 STN 787

$20.06 ₫527.5K

82.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.39 STN 632

$7.52 ₫197.6K

290.82%

Cinema Ticket

$21.14 STN 455

$3.00 ₫78.9K

604.67%

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

$153 ₫4.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₫336.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.61 ₫1.0M

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.60 ₫673.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$52.7 ₫1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$19.10 STN 411

$76.9 ₫2.0M

-75.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$353 STN 7,595

$365 ₫9.6M

-3.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 STN 5,044

$244 ₫6.4M

-3.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$664 STN 14.3K

$732 ₫19.2M

-9.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 STN 11.1K

$458 ₫12.0M

12.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,840 STN 39.6K

$3,767 ₫99.0M

-51.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,149 STN 24.7K

$1,304 ₫34.3M

-11.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$265 STN 5,702

$359 ₫9.4M

-26.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.38

10.67

-30.83%

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

Last update for Sao Tome: July 11, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $353 in Sao Tome versus $365 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 35% higher in Da Nang, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Sao Tome versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $411 vs $186 – 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

Sao Tome vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,081 in Sao Tome, $704 in Da Nang – roughly 54% apart. Sao Tome costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,622 per month in Sao Tome and $1,056 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Sao Tome 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 $1,081 in Sao Tome and $704 in Da Nang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Da Nang, where all-in costs run around $704, than in Sao Tome at $1,081. In Da Nang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sao Tome 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 $704 in Da Nang to $1,081 in Sao Tome. 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, Sao Tome makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.