Cost of Living in Da Nang, Vietnam (2026): Real Monthly Budget for Expats
Average Monthly Cost of Living in Da Nang
How much does it cost to live in Da Nang? I’ll come right out and say it— $1,000 USD.
You may not be living on the beach, but it will be only a few short blocks away.
Hate cooking? Not to worry, that dollar amount more than accounts for eating each and every meal out.
Hyped about the cafes in Da Nang? Most people on that budget easily fit in at least 1 (and often 2) sit-down coffee outing per day.
Hoping to master a new hobby such yoga, or surfing, or pickleball? Not to worry, that grand has you covered.
From affordable housing to inexpensive restaurants to cheap recreational activities, the costs of living in Da Nang are one of the tentpoles of this expat paradise.
Rent Prices in Da Nang (Apartments & Condos)
How much is rent in Da Nang? If I had a dollar for every time we googled that before we moved here, we probably would have had an extra month’s rent.
We paid $400 USD for a 1 bedroom our first few months, before moving to a 2 bedroom in the same building for only $500 USD.
We live 5 minutes from the beach, have an indoor and outdoor pool, and a rooftop terrace with views to the sea.
Free maid service is included once per week, and the front desk staff treat us more like hotel guests than tenants.
The deposit was an extra $400, with another $100 added when we moved rooms.
All-in-all, it’s been the perfect home.
What Do Most People Pay for Rent in Da Nang?
As for our friends, we have a wide array of budget travelers and established expats who pay anywhere from $225 for a studio to $700 for a 3-story townhome.
When we first moved here, I saw a decent-looking hotel room that would’ve cost $190 USD total for 20 nights.
We also toured a spacious, modern home that was just under $1000 USD for the month.
So how much does an apartment in Da Nang cost? For a studio just a few blocks from the beach, a budget of at least $350 USD should secure you a nice one.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Deals on apartments in Da Nang can be found during the rainy season beginning in October, while the prices tend to rise again during the Tet New Year in February. The tourist season ramps up from there.
STARTING RENTS
in Da Nang, Vietnam
Basic Studio - $200
2 Bedroom - $400
1 Bedroom - $300
Luxury Units - $500
Food Costs in Da Nang (Local vs Western)
Among the many luxuries we enjoy here is our ability to eat out for every single meal.
The cost of food in Da Nang is affordable for all cuisines, from local dishes to all types of international faire.
Noodles dishes often range from $1 to $2 USD, or about 25k to 60k VND (Vietnamese Dollar).
Classic staples such as Pho, Bo Ne (beef and eggs), or a Banh Mi all fall into this super frugal, yet flavorful, price range.
Delicious cheese pizzas and cheeseburgers begin at $5 USD, while places offering everything from sushi to steak to BBQ have prices for meals starting around $7 or $8 USD.
Of course, each city will have high-end establishments that far exceeds these ranges.
We have found that cheap food in Da Nang does not equate to cheap ingredients. Even a basic dish has fresh cooked meats, vegetables, and unprocessed grains.
Our Grocery Spending in Da Nang
While most people do eat out for 3 square meals each day, we usually do not.
Fans of home-cooking, we buy more groceries than most, on average spending about $15 USD on groceries per day.
For us this is well worth it, as we enjoy easy breakfasts and homestyle dinners in our cozy apartment.
Most apartments will have a hotplate and a microwave, but we sprung for a miniature oven we found on facebook marketplace here.
Packs of chicken and pork start at $2 USD.
Steaks are $6 USD at our favorite butcher.
Fruit and vegetables are well under a dollar at the local markets.
Imported products such as whiskey, wine, Kraft mac, and American snacks are still cheaper than in the States.
AVERAGE FOOD PRICES
Groceries/Toiletries - $5 USD/day Western Meal - $4-10 USD
Local Meal out - $1-2 USD Beer/Wine - $1-4 per Drink
Grocery Stores
MegaMart and Lotte are the 2 giant supermarkets across the river on the city side, however I enjoy the corner stores of WinMart, Full Market, and MoonMilk for the majority of our grocery shopping.
Bread can be bought everywhere for $0.20 USD. Literally everywhere.
If you’re someone who loves the idea of strolling down the streets of an international country with a baguette under your arm, welcome home.
Costs of Recreational Activities
As with everything else, the cost to do anything and everything in Da Nang was far cheaper than we expected.
We are beach bums at heart, and were beyond stoked to finally be able to afford to live by the ocean in order to hone our surfing skills.
The cost to rent a surfboard is just under $6 USD for 1 hour, with plenty of stalls lining the solid mile stretch of beach, each offering all sorts of water sports equipment to rent.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY COSTS
Surfboard Rental - $6 USD/hour Scooter Rental - $5 USD/per day
Pickleball - $2 USD/hour Massage - $8/hour
For landlubbers, the Pickleball scene is huge, where $1.50 per person will get you a court for an hour.
Spas are prolific on every street in town, with $8 USD the average rate for a 1 hour massage.
My girl gets manicures and pedicures for far less, while I enjoy hot shaves and fresh haircuts for under $4 USD each.
Many expats offer classes in yogas, pilates, and self-defense, among others, with those rates a little higher at around $10 USD.
Overall, anything and everything you would wanna do will most likely have a dollar amount in the single digits.
Transportation Costs in Da Nang
Ready to scoot? Nobody is. Until you get here.
And if you never feel comfortable hopping on the iron pony, that’s okay.
The cost of taxis in Da Nang are cheaper than any place we have ever been.
Our longest ride, from the airport all the way across town to our apartment near the beach, was just $6 USD. During rush hour.
GRAB is the Uber of Vietnam, offering rides via car and scooter, as well as food delivery from all stores, at all hours of the day.
We have grown to love hopping on the back of GRAB scooters (also called motorbikes in Asia).
It is both an exhilarating, as well as relaxing, way to get from point A to B in Da Nang.
Prices start at $0.55 USD (yes, fifty five cents) and seldom are above $2 USD, even for a 15 minute ride.
If someone says they’re gonna “grab food” or “grab there”, they are referring to the green-clad fleet of delivery drivers.
TRANSPORTATION COSTS
Scooter Rental - $70 USD/month CAR TAXI - $2-4 USD
Gas - $4 USD/tank Scooter Taxi - $0.50-2 USD
Renting a Scooter in Da Nang
For those wanting to rent a scooter, $70 USD per month is a good average depending on how new and how big the bike is.
We really don’t need one full time, as the aforementioned GRAB scooters are easy and reliable, though we will often rent one for a day or week at a time for recreational purposes.
There are a few small, local shops that will give us one for $5 USD for the day, no deposit required.
Gasoline is so cheap, I actually have no idea what it costs. For $2 USD gets you about half a tank and lasts almost a week, even with long scenic drives. Phenomenal machines,
Some may require a deposit of $40 to $80 USD, or may just ask that you leave your passport.
I always do the latter and have never had an issue.
Cost of Utilities & Internet in Da Nang
The one price shock we did have after our first full month in our apartment was our electric bill.
We had heard that $65 USD was a good range for what to expect. Our bill was more than double that, at about $140 USD.
Upon reflecting on our energy habits for that month, we did have our AC unit cranking out cool air for the majority of each day.
It being one of the hottest months of the year in the tropics of Southeast Asia, we rationalized that the extra $1 a day each was well worth the ice cold comfort we enjoyed all day, every day.
Even after moving to our 2-bedroom apartment that was twice the size, our bill went down to about $80 during the cooler months (though we still used the AC every night).
As for the internet, it was included for free by our complex, as is common.
I have never had, and never heard, of lack of internet being an issue here in Da Nang.
Lastly, it is recommended not to drink the tap water, so once a week we pay $1.50 for one of those giant hugs of water, delivered to our door by our apartment's staff.
Is Da Nang Cheap? (Compared to Other Cities)
Is Vietnam cheap to live in? Yes.
Without a doubt, almost every single cost we have encountered has been lower than I budgeted for.
Unlike in America, I never ever have to forego groceries that are too expensive.
Whatever we need from the markets, we buy, with only a passing glance at the price (out of habit).
Our apartment’s price is exactly what we budgeted, but the amenities and proximity to the ocean far exceeded our expectations.
We can eat out at restaurants, or have food delivered, for each and every meal, something so expensive in the States that we only would do it once or twice a week.
Having only experienced Thailand, South Korea, and the Philippines, Vietnam by far is the cheapest locale while still being increasingly modern, and very foreigner friendly.
Total Cost of Living in Da Nang (Real Budgets)
Is Da Nang cheap? Let’s look at a good average cost across the board for monthly expenses.
Apartment - $300 - for at least a nice studio no more than a 10 minute walk from the beach.
Food - $450 - budgeting $15/day, you won’t starve or have to eat local for every meal. Pizza/cheeseburger budget accounted for.
Utilities - $100 - This is a good average over the course of the past year - internet, electric (unlimited AC), and bottled water.
Recreation - $100 - Set aside $3 a day for fun. You’ll be surprised what that will cover.
Transportation $100 - A solid estimate, whether you rent a scooter or GRAB everywhere.
TOTAL COST - $1000
Can I live in Da Nang for $1,000 a Month?
Yes, you can