By Jérémie Chiari · Last updated: March 2026
The cost of living is the number one reason French people choose Vietnam. And the numbers are real: a couple can live very comfortably in Da Nang on 1,200 to 1,500 EUR a month, all in. That is 2 to 3 times less than in France, often for a better quality of life.
But beware of shortcuts. The cost of living varies enormously depending on the city, the neighborhood and your habits. Here is a realistic budget, item by item, based on our day-to-day life in Da Nang.
Detailed monthly budget in Da Nang
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (furnished apartment) | 250-350 EUR | 400-600 EUR | 800-1,500 EUR |
| Food | 150-200 EUR | 250-350 EUR | 400-600 EUR |
| Transportation (scooter/Grab) | 30-50 EUR | 50-80 EUR | 100-200 EUR |
| Healthcare (insurance + care) | 50-80 EUR | 100-150 EUR | 200-300 EUR |
| Phone and internet | 10-15 EUR | 15-25 EUR | 25-40 EUR |
| Leisure and going out | 50-100 EUR | 100-200 EUR | 300-500 EUR |
| Coworking / cafes | 0-30 EUR | 40-60 EUR | 80-120 EUR |
| Monthly TOTAL | 540-825 EUR | 955-1,465 EUR | 1,905-3,260 EUR |
Budget for a single person. For a couple, housing stays the same, food goes up by 40-60%, and the other items by 20-30%.
Housing: your biggest saving
This is where the gap with France is most striking. For 400-500 EUR a month, you get a modern 50-70 m2 apartment in Da Nang, fully furnished, often with a rooftop pool, a gym, and sometimes a sea view. In France, the same budget gets you a 20 m2 studio on the outskirts of Lyon or Bordeaux.
The neighborhoods most popular with expats in Da Nang:
- An Thuong (My Khe Beach): the expat neighborhood par excellence. Restaurants, cafes, 2 minutes from the beach. Rents: 350-600 EUR.
- Son Tra: quieter, mountain views, ideal for families. Rents: 300-500 EUR.
- Hai Chau (downtown): convenient, lively, good value for money. Rents: 250-450 EUR.
- Hoi An (30 min from Da Nang): historic charm, a unique atmosphere. Rents: 200-400 EUR.
Food: eating for almost nothing
Vietnamese food is among the best in the world, and it is incredibly affordable. A pho bo (beef soup) in a local restaurant costs 1.50 to 2 EUR. A banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich): 0.80 EUR. A com tam (broken rice with grilled pork): 2 EUR.
If you alternate between local food and international restaurants, allow 250-350 EUR a month, eating out twice a day. Cooking at home brings the bill down even further: local markets sell fresh fruit, vegetables and meat at ridiculously low prices.
| Item | Da Nang | France |
|---|---|---|
| Meal at a local restaurant | 1.50-3 EUR | 12-18 EUR |
| Meal at an international restaurant | 6-12 EUR | 15-30 EUR |
| Coffee (cappuccino) | 1-2 EUR | 3-5 EUR |
| Local beer (33 cl) | 0.50-1 EUR | 5-7 EUR |
| 1 kg of rice | 0.80 EUR | 2-3 EUR |
| 1 kg of chicken | 3-4 EUR | 8-12 EUR |
City comparison: Da Nang vs HCMC vs Hanoi
Vietnam is not a monolithic block. The cost of living varies by city, and Da Nang offers the best value for money for expats.
| Item | Da Nang | Ho Chi Minh City | Hanoi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bedroom apartment) | 350-500 EUR | 500-800 EUR | 400-650 EUR |
| Local meal | 1.50-2.50 EUR | 2-4 EUR | 1.50-3 EUR |
| Grab (5 km) | 1-2 EUR | 2-3 EUR | 1.50-2.50 EUR |
| Coworking | 40-60 EUR | 80-150 EUR | 60-100 EUR |
| Air quality | Good | Average | Poor |
| Beach | 5 min | 2 hours by road | No |
| Comfortable monthly budget | 900-1,200 EUR | 1,300-1,800 EUR | 1,100-1,500 EUR |
Vietnam vs France: the numbers speak
Here is a direct comparison for a single person with a comfortable lifestyle (not backpacker mode, but not luxury mode either).
| Item | Da Nang | Paris | Lyon | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (furnished 1-bedroom) | 450 EUR | 1,400 EUR | 850 EUR | -68 to -47% |
| Food | 300 EUR | 500 EUR | 400 EUR | -40 to -25% |
| Transportation | 60 EUR | 85 EUR | 70 EUR | -29 to -14% |
| Healthcare | 120 EUR | 80 EUR* | 80 EUR* | +50%** |
| Leisure | 150 EUR | 300 EUR | 200 EUR | -50 to -25% |
| Monthly TOTAL | 1,080 EUR | 2,365 EUR | 1,600 EUR | -54 to -32% |
* Social security contributions are included in payroll deductions in France. ** Private health insurance in Vietnam costs more than a French top-up health plan (mutuelle), but care remains 3 to 5x cheaper.
Our tips to make your budget go further
Negotiate your rent
6-month or 1-year leases get you a 10-20% discount. Pay in advance (3-6 months) to get an even better price. Never sign without having visited at least 5 apartments.
Eat local
Street food and local restaurants are excellent and cost 3 to 5 times less than international restaurants. An 80% local / 20% international diet is the key to a budget under control.
Use Grab, not taxis
Grab (the local equivalent of Uber) is 2 to 3 times cheaper than regular taxis and keeps you clear of scams. For daily trips, a rental scooter costs 50-70 EUR a month.
Open a local account
Exchange fees and bank charges can eat up 3-5% of your budget if you pay for everything with a French card. Open an account with Vietcombank or TPBank and use Wise for transfers.
Sources
- Numbeo - Cost of Living: comparative cost-of-living data for Vietnam
- World Bank - Vietnam Economic Update: economic indicators and inflation
- Expatistan: cost-of-living comparison between cities