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Compare cities › Da Nang vs Kota Kinabalu
Da Nang vs Kota Kinabalu cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇻🇳 Da Nang
🇲🇾 Kota KinabaluDa Nang is 28% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu
Living on $1,284 a month in Da Nang feels like about $1,526 in Kota Kinabalu — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$58.5 vs $80.5
Per month
$1,284 vs $1,526
Local meal
â‚« 45,000 vs RM 12
$1.71 vs $2.79
Taxi 5 km
â‚« 85,000 vs RM 15
$3.23 vs $3.49
At a glance
FoodDa Nang 34% cheaper
Cafés & drinksDa Nang 67% cheaper
TransportDa Nang 43% cheaper
StayDa Nang 21% cheaper
FunDa Nang 32% cheaper
- Where Da Nang is clearly cheaper: Cocktail & wine (73%↓), Beer (73%↓), Transit (61%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Da Nang | Kota Kinabalu | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | RM 12$2.79 | Da Nang −39% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | RM 5.4$1.26 | Da Nang −39% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 220,000$8.37 | RM 45$10.5 | Da Nang −20% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | RM 10$2.33 | Da Nang −43% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | RM 15$3.49 | Da Nang −73% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 65,000$2.47 | RM 39$9.07 | Da Nang −73% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | RM 1.5$0.35 | Da Nang −24% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 18,000$0.68 | RM 3.8$0.88 | Da Nang −23% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 85,000$3.23 | RM 15$3.49 | Da Nang −7% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 44,000$1.67 | RM 12$2.79 | Da Nang −40% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 6,000$0.23 | RM 2.5$0.58 | Da Nang −61% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 180,000$6.84 | RM 50$11.6 | Da Nang −41% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 850,000$32.3 | RM 200$46.5 | Da Nang −31% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 9,000,000$342 | RM 1,600$372 | Da Nang −8% |
| Laundry | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | RM 8$1.86 | Da Nang −28% |
| SIM card1 week data | â‚« 180,000$6.84 | RM 30$6.98 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 100,000$3.8 | RM 28$6.51 | Da Nang −42% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 290,000$11 | RM 80$18.6 | Da Nang −41% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 740,000$28.1 | RM 180$41.9 | Da Nang −33% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 150,000$5.7 | RM 30$6.98 | Da Nang −18% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Da Nang or Kota Kinabalu?
Da Nang is 28% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu. Daily budget $58.5 vs $80.5; a month $1,284 vs $1,526.
How do monthly costs compare between Da Nang and Kota Kinabalu?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Da Nang is about $1,284 and Kota Kinabalu about $1,526 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.