How much it costs to live in Da Nang each month depends heavily on where you live, how you eat and how you get around. Instead of giving one number for everyone, this post gives you a budget framework so you can work it out for your own situation. A table of real figures from tracked spending will be added once we have enough verified data.
Seven categories to count
- Housing: rent and the initial deposit; see rent prices by area.
- Electricity, water, rubbish collection: see setting up electricity, water and internet.
- Food: cooking at home, eating at cheap local places, or eating out often.
- Transport: fuel if you have a motorbike, or buses and ride-hailing apps; see getting around without a motorbike.
- Internet and phone.
- Leisure and social life: coffee, the beach, cinema, meeting friends.
- Other: healthcare, clothes, repairs, an emergency fund.
Three spending levels
- Budget: a rented room away from the centre, mostly cooking at home, taking the bus or sharing rides.
- Mid-range: a studio or a fully equipped private room, eating at local places every day, with a motorbike.
- Comfortable: an apartment in the centre or near the beach, eating out often, using ride-hailing apps, with a leisure budget.
How to track your own spending
- Write down every expense for at least one month, including the small ones.
- Sort them into the seven categories above in a simple spreadsheet.
- Compare the first month with the second, because one-off setup costs (deposit, household items) only appear once.
- Keep receipts and photos of price boards so you can compare when prices change.
Ways to save
- Choose a room where electricity and water are charged at the official state rate.
- Cook your own breakfast or dinner, and shop at the market instead of large supermarkets.
- Use the bus or shared rides for regular trips.
- Rent long-term to negotiate a better price.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a student need per month?
It depends mainly on housing and how you eat. Build a budget using the seven categories above and start from the budget level.
Can you live in Da Nang on an income of 10 million VND a month?
It is possible, if you choose a reasonably priced room and keep food and transport under control. Draw up your own budget to check it against your situation.
See also: where to live.