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 $457 per month in Thimphu vs $704 in Da Nang, rent included.

A couple spends around $749 per month in Thimphu vs $1,081 in Da Nang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,041 per month in Thimphu vs $1,458 in Da Nang, rent included.

Thimphu is about 35% 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 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.96 BTN 250

$1.93 ₫50.8K

53.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.68 BTN 1,492

$19.46 ₫511.5K

-9.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.43 BTN 290

$4.65 ₫122.2K

-26.24%

Cappuccino

$1.42 BTN 120

$1.61 ₫42.3K

-11.80%

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

$0.49 BTN 41.27

$0.51 ₫13.4K

-3.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 BTN 12.46

$0.29 ₫7,592

-48.28%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.85 BTN 241

$1.07 ₫28.2K

166.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 BTN 192

$1.59 ₫41.7K

42.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.80 BTN 67.4

$1.38 ₫36.3K

-42.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 BTN 80.3

$0.95 ₫24.9K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.68 BTN 57.8

$1.17 ₫30.7K

-41.88%

Eggs

$2.05 BTN 173

$1.43 ₫37.5K

43.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.34 BTN 282

$12.59 ₫331.0K

-73.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 BTN 322

$3.64 ₫95.8K

4.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.41 BTN 372

$9.79 ₫257.3K

-54.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 BTN 211

$2.76 ₫72.4K

-9.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 BTN 123

$0.94 ₫24.8K

55.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 BTN 160

$1.12 ₫29.4K

68.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.77 BTN 65.0

$1.05 ₫27.6K

-26.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.50 BTN 42.01

$1.10 ₫28.9K

-54.55%

Onion (1kg)

$0.58 BTN 48.64

$1.19 ₫31.4K

-51.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 BTN 38.59

$1.00 ₫26.3K

-54.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.34 BTN 28.92

$0.48 ₫12.7K

-29.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.71 BTN 313

$1.38 ₫36.3K

168.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.23 BTN 273

$7.52 ₫197.7K

-57.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 BTN 53.0

$0.81 ₫21.4K

-22.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 BTN 91.0

$1.60 ₫42.1K

-32.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.78 BTN 150

$0.32 ₫8,321

456.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.07 BTN 343

$3.73 ₫98.2K

9.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 BTN 74.5

$0.82 ₫21.5K

7.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.34 BTN 198

$0.69 ₫18.3K

239.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.17 BTN 14.64

$12.03 ₫316.4K

-98.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 BTN 77.1

$0.91 ₫24.0K

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)

$28.1K ₫739.2M

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

$23.57 BTN 1,989

$74.1 ₫1.9M

-68.17%

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

$38.26 BTN 3,229

$5.97 ₫157.0K

540.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.70 BTN 2,254

$8.07 ₫212.3K

230.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.96 BTN 4,133

$20.06 ₫527.5K

144.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.69 BTN 649

$7.52 ₫197.6K

2.26%

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 BTN 302

$3.00 ₫78.9K

19.33%

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

$241 BTN 20.3K

$153 ₫4.0M

57.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$660 BTN 55.7K

$12.8K ₫336.9M

-94.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.14 BTN 772

$39.61 ₫1.0M

-76.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.54 BTN 974

$25.60 ₫673.1K

-54.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.39 BTN 2,734

$52.7 ₫1.4M

-38.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.64 BTN 2,671

$76.9 ₫2.0M

-58.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$114 BTN 9,634

$365 ₫9.6M

-68.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.9 BTN 5,224

$244 ₫6.4M

-74.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 BTN 16.7K

$732 ₫19.2M

-72.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$139 BTN 11.7K

$458 ₫12.0M

-69.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,611 BTN 558.1K

$3,767 ₫99.0M

75.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$391 BTN 33.0K

$1,304 ₫34.3M

-70.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 BTN 29.7K

$359 ₫9.4M

-1.91%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Da Nang: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $114 in Thimphu 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 2% 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 $186 – 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: $457 in Thimphu, $704 in Da Nang – roughly 54% apart. Da Nang costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $685 per month in Thimphu 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 Thimphu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% 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 $457 in Thimphu and $704 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 $457 in Thimphu to $704 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.