😐A single person spends $958 per month in Shah Alam vs $874 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,436 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,402 in Da Nang, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,913 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,930 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐Shah Alam costs about 10% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Shah Alam and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Shah Alam30% lower, Da Nang36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.82MYR 15.42
$2.33₫60.8K
63.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.79MYR 79.8
$19.42₫506.3K
1.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.15MYR 16.74
$4.46₫116.3K
-6.95%
Cappuccino
$2.94MYR 11.87
$1.72₫44.9K
70.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77MYR 3.10
$0.68₫17.8K
13.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38MYR 1.53
$0.34₫8,932
11.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43MYR 13.84
$1.30₫33.9K
163.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59MYR 18.51
$2.36₫61.6K
94.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87MYR 7.56
$1.54₫40.1K
21.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07MYR 4.32
$1.22₫31.9K
-12.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.44MYR 5.80
$1.06₫27.5K
35.85%
Eggs
$2.13MYR 8.59
$1.52₫39.7K
40.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.27MYR 53.5
$12.97₫338.0K
2.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.33MYR 17.48
$4.05₫105.7K
6.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.79MYR 39.51
$9.27₫241.7K
5.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.44MYR 13.88
$2.69₫70.2K
27.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70MYR 6.87
$1.11₫28.9K
53.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.76MYR 11.15
$1.33₫34.6K
107.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.83MYR 7.38
$1.38₫35.9K
32.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25MYR 5.05
$1.09₫28.5K
14.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07MYR 8.36
$1.21₫31.6K
71.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47MYR 5.92
$1.03₫26.9K
42.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MYR 2.31
$0.52₫13.6K
9.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MYR 16.96
$1.55₫40.5K
170.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.08MYR 77.0
$7.71₫201.1K
147.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79MYR 11.24
$0.90₫23.6K
210.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47MYR 18.04
$2.14₫55.8K
108.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.77MYR 3.09
$0.32₫8,222
140.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.34MYR 65.9
$5.07₫132.1K
222.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28MYR 5.15
$1.03₫26.9K
24.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39MYR 1.57
$0.65₫17.0K
-40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.56MYR 30.50
$19.08₫497.3K
-60.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75MYR 3.02
$0.85₫22.2K
-11.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$42.1KMYR 170.0K
$30.7K₫801.2M
37.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KMYR 143.3K
$27.6K₫718.2M
28.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.25MYR 154
$88.0₫2.3M
-56.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.86MYR 39.79
$6.28₫163.7K
57.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MYR 121
$7.91₫206.2K
278.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.58MYR 160
$22.18₫578.3K
78.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.02MYR 20.25
$5.30₫138.2K
-5.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.68MYR 26.94
$3.02₫78.7K
121.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202MYR 814
$161₫4.2M
25.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,569MYR 18.4K
$15.1K₫394.3M
-69.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4MYR 236
$46.10₫1.2M
26.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.95MYR 161
$27.21₫709.2K
46.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.5MYR 276
$103₫2.7M
-33.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8MYR 286
$81.7₫2.1M
-13.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$350MYR 1,412
$529₫13.8M
-33.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$311MYR 1,255
$346₫9.0M
-9.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$567MYR 2,288
$1,037₫27.0M
-45.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$555MYR 2,241
$809₫21.1M
-31.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,489MYR 6,007
$3,809₫99.3M
-60.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,181MYR 4,764
$1,312₫34.2M
-10.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,238MYR 4,994
$350₫9.1M
254.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.24
10.72
-60.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shah Alam: August 29, 2026
Last update for Da Nang: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $350 in Shah Alam 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.
💰Salaries run about 254% higher in Shah Alam, 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 $20.00 in Shah Alam versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $264 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
Shah Alam vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Shah Alam and in Da Nang compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $958 in Shah Alam, $874 in Da Nang – roughly 10% apart. Shah Alam costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Shah Alam compared to Da Nang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,437 per month in Shah Alam 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 Shah Alam 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 34% more in Shah Alam, 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 $20.00 in Shah Alam and $19.00 in Da Nang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Shah Alam compared to Da Nang?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $958 in Shah Alam and $874 in Da Nang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Shah Alam 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 $958 in Shah Alam. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Shah Alam 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 Shah Alam and Da Nang?
If budget matters most, go with Da Nang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Shah Alam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.