Cost of Living Comparison Between Thimphu and Da Nang Cost of Living Comparison Between Thimphu and Da Nang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $455 per month in Thimphu vs $720 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $757 per month in Thimphu vs $1,104 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,059 per month in Thimphu vs $1,488 in Da Nang, rent included.

Thimphu is about 37% cheaper than Da Nang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Thimphu and Da Nang are more affordable than the global median – Thimphu 66% lower, Da Nang 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.93 BTN 248

$1.97 ₫51.8K

48.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.63 BTN 1,488

$18.92 ₫497.2K

-6.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.47 BTN 293

$4.60 ₫120.8K

-24.57%

Cappuccino

$1.48 BTN 125

$1.63 ₫42.9K

-9.20%

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

$0.48 BTN 40.91

$0.50 ₫13.1K

-4.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 BTN 14.15

$0.29 ₫7,495

-41.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 BTN 252

$1.02 ₫26.9K

192.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.30 BTN 194

$1.60 ₫42.0K

43.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 BTN 73.1

$1.43 ₫37.5K

-39.16%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 BTN 79.8

$1.02 ₫26.9K

-6.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 BTN 62.5

$1.15 ₫30.3K

-35.65%

Eggs

$2.00 BTN 169

$1.42 ₫37.4K

40.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.24 BTN 273

$12.25 ₫321.8K

-73.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 BTN 319

$3.63 ₫95.5K

3.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.25 BTN 359

$10.13 ₫266.3K

-58.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 BTN 215

$2.75 ₫72.2K

-7.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 BTN 128

$1.00 ₫26.2K

52.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 BTN 157

$1.09 ₫28.6K

70.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 BTN 61.7

$1.07 ₫28.1K

-31.78%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 BTN 45.20

$1.13 ₫29.8K

-52.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 BTN 52.0

$1.15 ₫30.2K

-46.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 BTN 38.43

$1.04 ₫27.4K

-55.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 BTN 28.88

$0.48 ₫12.6K

-29.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.76 BTN 317

$1.36 ₫35.7K

176.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.19 BTN 270

$7.71 ₫202.5K

-58.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 BTN 53.8

$0.86 ₫22.7K

-25.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.04 BTN 87.4

$1.66 ₫43.7K

-37.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.71 BTN 144

$0.32 ₫8,325

434.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.10 BTN 346

$3.92 ₫103.0K

4.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.85 BTN 71.6

$0.90 ₫23.6K

-5.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 BTN 188

$0.69 ₫18.0K

223.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.19 BTN 15.82

$11.67 ₫306.7K

-98.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.97 BTN 82.2

$0.89 ₫23.4K

8.99%

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

$26.8K ₫705.1M

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

$28.1K ₫738.4M

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

$23.29 BTN 1,966

$74.3 ₫2.0M

-68.66%

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

$38.02 BTN 3,209

$5.71 ₫150.1K

565.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.34 BTN 2,308

$8.07 ₫212.1K

238.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.52 BTN 4,096

$20.37 ₫535.3K

138.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.60 BTN 642

$7.65 ₫201.0K

-0.65%

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 BTN 290

$3.11 ₫81.6K

10.29%

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

$242 BTN 20.4K

$156 ₫4.1M

55.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$681 BTN 57.4K

$12.7K ₫333.9M

-94.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.13 BTN 771

$38.62 ₫1.0M

-76.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.81 BTN 997

$26.00 ₫683.1K

-54.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.80 BTN 2,685

$52.7 ₫1.4M

-39.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.61 BTN 2,668

$75.8 ₫2.0M

-58.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 BTN 9,925

$360 ₫9.5M

-67.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$63.5 BTN 5,363

$249 ₫6.5M

-74.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 BTN 17.1K

$727 ₫19.1M

-72.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 BTN 11.7K

$459 ₫12.0M

-69.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,698 BTN 565.4K

$3,870 ₫101.7M

73.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$390 BTN 33.0K

$1,283 ₫33.7M

-69.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$349 BTN 29.4K

$353 ₫9.3M

-1.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.75

10.67

0.75%

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

Last update for Thimphu: May 30, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Thimphu 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 1% higher in Da Nang, 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 $18.00 in Thimphu versus $19.00 in Da Nang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $124 vs $188 – making Thimphu 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

Thimphu vs Da Nang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $455 in Thimphu, $720 in Da Nang – roughly 58% apart. Da Nang costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $682 per month in Thimphu and $1,080 in Da Nang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Thimphu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 52% more in Da Nang, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Thimphu and $19.00 in Da Nang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $455 in Thimphu and $720 in Da Nang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Da Nang has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $455 in Thimphu to $720 in Da Nang. 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 Thimphu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Da Nang makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.