😐A single person spends $857 per month in Shah Alam vs $720 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,310 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,104 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,763 per month in Shah Alam vs $1,488 in Da Nang, rent included.
😐Shah Alam costs about 19% more than Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Shah Alam and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Shah Alam36% lower, Da Nang46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.02MYR 12.05
$1.97₫51.8K
53.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.93MYR 75.5
$18.92₫497.5K
0.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.13MYR 16.47
$4.60₫120.9K
-10.22%
Cappuccino
$2.73MYR 10.88
$1.63₫42.9K
67.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72MYR 2.89
$0.50₫13.1K
44.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MYR 1.47
$0.29₫7,500
27.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.44MYR 13.72
$1.02₫26.9K
237.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.43MYR 17.68
$1.60₫42.0K
176.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MYR 7.50
$1.43₫37.5K
31.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94MYR 3.76
$1.02₫26.9K
-7.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50MYR 5.99
$1.15₫30.4K
30.43%
Eggs
$2.06MYR 8.21
$1.42₫37.5K
45.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.26MYR 56.9
$12.25₫322.0K
16.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.94MYR 19.72
$3.63₫95.6K
36.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.09MYR 32.26
$10.13₫266.4K
-20.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.83MYR 11.27
$2.75₫72.2K
2.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46MYR 5.81
$1.00₫26.2K
46.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.58MYR 10.28
$1.09₫28.6K
136.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21MYR 4.85
$1.07₫28.1K
13.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18MYR 4.70
$1.13₫29.8K
4.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40MYR 5.59
$1.15₫30.2K
21.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89MYR 3.55
$1.04₫27.4K
-14.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MYR 2.26
$0.48₫12.6K
18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17MYR 16.62
$1.36₫35.7K
206.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.18MYR 76.5
$7.71₫202.7K
148.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.65MYR 10.57
$0.86₫22.7K
208.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81MYR 15.21
$1.66₫43.8K
129.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69MYR 2.76
$0.32₫8,330
115.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$15.28MYR 61.0
$3.92₫103.0K
289.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.96MYR 3.81
$0.90₫23.6K
6.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54MYR 2.17
$0.69₫18.1K
-21.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.13MYR 28.45
$11.67₫306.9K
-38.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.46MYR 1.85
$0.89₫23.5K
-48.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5KMYR 133.7K
$26.8K₫705.5M
24.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KMYR 110.5K
$28.1K₫738.8M
-1.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.35MYR 165
$74.3₫2.0M
-44.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.16MYR 40.52
$5.71₫150.2K
77.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.62MYR 122
$8.07₫212.3K
279.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.96MYR 155
$20.37₫535.7K
91.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.98MYR 23.87
$7.65₫201.1K
-21.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.36MYR 25.39
$3.11₫81.7K
104.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$213MYR 849
$156₫4.1M
36.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,253MYR 25.0K
$12.7K₫334.1M
-50.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.63MYR 198
$38.62₫1.0M
28.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.84MYR 139
$26.00₫683.5K
34.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.3MYR 245
$52.7₫1.4M
16.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.83MYR 195
$75.8₫2.0M
-35.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$372MYR 1,485
$360₫9.5M
3.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$266MYR 1,061
$249₫6.5M
6.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576MYR 2,299
$727₫19.1M
-20.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$481MYR 1,919
$459₫12.1M
4.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,553MYR 6,195
$3,870₫101.7M
-59.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223MYR 4,880
$1,283₫33.7M
-4.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shah Alam
Da Nang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,263MYR 5,040
$353₫9.3M
257.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
10.67
-61.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Shah Alam: May 31, 2026
Last update for Da Nang: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Shah Alam versus $360 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 258% 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 $19.00 in Shah Alam versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Shah Alam vs $188 in Da Nang – so Da Nang 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
Shah Alam vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Shah Alam and Da Nang compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $857 in Shah Alam, $720 in Da Nang – roughly 19% 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 $1,286 per month in Shah Alam and $1,080 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 32% 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 $19.00 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 vs Da Nang?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $857 in Shah Alam and $720 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 $720 in Da Nang to $857 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.