Cost of living in Da Nang: Is it affordable for expats & tourists?

The average cost of living in Da Nang is generally budget-friendly. A single person can live well on 800 – 1,200 USD monthly, while couples typically spend from 1,600 to 1,800 USD.

1. Breakdown of the cost of living in Da Nang for expats

The cost of living in Da Nang covers key categories like housing, dining, commuting, medical care, entertainment, and daily necessities.

1.1. Housing

Rental costs account for a significant portion of Da Nang’s living costs, with a wide range of rental options and price ranges available:

• A studio apartment in the city center: 3,900,000 – 7,800,000 VND (150 – 300 USD) per month
• A one-bedroom apartment: 7,800,000 – 13,100,000 VND (300 – 500 USD)
• A two-bedroom apartment: 9,100,000 – 18,200,000 VND (350 – 700 USD)
• A luxury apartment with sea views: 18,200,000 to 39,200,000 VND (700 – 1,500 USD)

Monthly utilities include electricity, water, garbage collection, and internet:

• Electricity, water, and garbage collection for a standard apartment: 1,300,000 – 2,100,000 VND (50 – 80 USD)
• High-speed internet: 250,000 – 500,000 VND (10 – 20 USD) per month. It is very affordable

Da Nang offers a wide range of housing options to suit different budgets (Source: Collected)

1.2. Food & groceries

Another significant factor in the cost of living in Da Nang, Vietnam is food and groceries. Overall, this category remains quite budget-friendly.

Monthly grocery expenses average around 5,000,000 VND (200 USD). You can explore sample prices for some common items below:

• 500g of bread: 25,500 VND (~1 USD)
• 1 liter of milk: 40,000 VND (~1.5 USD)
• 12 eggs: 40,000 VND (~1.5 USD)
• 1 kg of chicken breast: 100,000 VND (~4 USD)
• 1 kg of local fruits (bananas, mangoes, etc.): 25,000 – 50,000 VND (~1 – 2 USD)
• 1 kg of local cheese: 325,000 VND (~12.5 USD)
• A 1.5-liter bottle of water: 13,000 VND (~0.5 USD)
• A bottle of beer: 20,000 – 45,000 VND (~0.8 – 1.8 USD)

For dining out, the average cost per person is generally higher:

• Street food: 25,000 – 75,000 VND (~1 – 3 USD)
• Mid-range restaurant meal: 125,000 – 250,000 VND (~5 – 10 USD)
• Upscale restaurant meal: 250,000 – 500,000 VND (~10 – 20 USD)

1.3. Transportation

Is Da Nang expensive? Getting around Da Nang is cost-effective with several transportation options available:

• Motorbike rental: 1,000,000 – 1,500,000 VND (~40 – 60 USD) per month
• Gasoline: 25,000 VND per liter (~1 USD)
• Bus fare: 
  • 8,000 VND per ride (~0.3 USD)
  • 160,000 – 170,000 VND per monthly pass (~6.1 – 6.6 USD)
• Taxi fare: 12,500 – 25,000 VND per kilometer (~0.5 – 1 USD)

1.4. Healthcare

Healthcare is another essential aspect to consider when looking at the cost of living in Da Nang, Vietnam. Fortunately, healthcare costs in Vietnam are generally very reasonable.

• Health insurance: 1,250,000 – 3,750,000 VND (~50 – 150 USD) per month
• Doctor’s visit (general practitioner): 250,000 – 500,000 VND (~10 – 20 USD)

1.5. Entertainment & leisure

Looking at the list of Da Nang’s cost of living, entertainment and leisure costs vary based on personal lifestyle. The costs for various activities in Da Nang include:

• Movie tickets: 100,000 – 150,000 VND each (~4 – 6 USD)
• Gym membership: 500,000 – 1,000,000 VND per month (~20 – 40 USD)
• Yoga classes: 125,000 – 250,000 VND per session (~5 – 10 USD)
• Tickets to attraction:
  • Marble Mountains: 40,000 VND (~1.5 USD)
  • Museum of Cham Sculpture: 60,000 VND (~2.4 USD)
  • Dong Dinh Art Museum: 30,000 VND (~1.2 USD)
  • Da Nang Museum and Da Nang Fine Arts Museum: 20,000 VND (~0.8 USD)
  • Han River cruises: 150,000 – 500,000 VND per pax (~6 – 20 USD)

Many attractions in Da Nang have budget-friendly entrance fees (Source: Collected)

1.6. Other essentials

The cost of living in Da Nang also includes small but necessary daily expenses, such as:

• SIM card & data: Vietnam SIM card costs are affordable, with mobile plans (calls + 10GB+ of data) costing around 150,000 VND (~6 USD)
• Laundry: 20,000 VND (~0.8 USD) per kilogram
• Childcare:
  • Full-day private preschool or kindergarten: 4,000,000 VND (~160 USD) per month
  • International primary school: 336,000,000 VND (~13,400 USD) per year
• Other expenses: Including clothing, toiletries, personal care, and more. These expenses are estimated at 2,500,000 VND (~100 USD) per month.