Housing and Transportation
So today, I want to show you around Da Nang, Vietnam. I want to break down exactly what it costs to live here for a month. I think it's going to be a lot cheaper than you would even expect. The first thing I want to do is show you how we live here in Da Nang. Let's go check out my house.
Renting a house or apartment is by far going to be your biggest expense. You're looking at a range of about $300 a month on the low end to maybe $800 a month on the high end. For most people, $400 to $500 a month is going to be more than enough for what you need.
So, let's start with a quick little house tour. We'll see what we're working with here. For this place, I pay $600 a month, but it's a three-bedroom house close to the beach—maybe a 10-minute walk. Simple kitchen, simple little living room, a place to hang out. One of these bedrooms is my working room where I can play some music and work on the computer. Then there are two more bedrooms upstairs. A lot of natural light comes in, and there's a nice balcony in the bedroom where the sunshine comes in early in the morning. Overall, I'm really happy with this. It's definitely more than I need, so I think I'm getting a really good value for $600 a month. Most people can spend $400 or $500 a month for a one- or even two-bedroom apartment right next to the beach. On top of that, you'll pay another $50 or so for all of your bills, including electricity and water. The living situation here in Da Nang is pretty reasonable.
Now, let me show you how we get around town. When you first arrive, you're going to have to find a bike. Most people end up renting a bike for about $30 or $40 a month. That's fine while you're getting settled in, but if you rent a bike for about a year, you've already paid the price of a bike. So, I recommend buying a bike once you're comfortable. After a few months, with about $400 or $500, you can get a decent bike and not have to worry about rental costs.
Food and Daily Expenses
Now, let's take a trip to the local market. The market is by far the cheapest way to get groceries, and you can see it's always super busy. The market has everything you need—fruits, vegetables, meats. It can be a little bit intimidating at first, but it's always fun to come to the market, talk to the vendors, and you'll get the hang of it really quickly. It helps if you can speak a little bit of Vietnamese.
If the market seems a little too intense for you, don't worry. There are big grocery stores just like anywhere else in the world. But I recommend coming to the market to get some basic fruits and vegetables just for the experience. I'll usually come once every few days, and I can spend about $10 and get a bunch of fruits and vegetables that I'll use for meals for the next few days. For reference, I got all this from the market for less than $5 total.
If you're living in Vietnam, you're going to be eating out a lot, and there are plenty of options. I guarantee you're going to find something you love. One of my favorites is cơm tấm sườn ốp la, which is broken rice with a pork chop and an egg on top. I always order a little bit of extra crispy pork on the side. It comes with some salad, and there's always free tea and water, so you don't even have to pay for an extra drink.
A meal like this costs about 50,000 to 60,000 VND, which is a little over $2. Vietnamese meals usually range from $1 to $3. You could never cook at home, eat out for every meal, and still not spend very much money. If you want to know more about Vietnamese food, I've got a lot of videos about different meals in Vietnam. Definitely subscribe to the channel—it's super small, trying to grow, so I appreciate your support!
It's a brand-new morning here, and we're going to start the day the way we start every day—with coffee. A coffee costs about $0.50, and a mango costs about $1. A smoothie is around $1 as well. I prefer getting it from the little corner sidewalk vendors. We're going to get some of this rocket fuel in us and then head back down to the beach.
If you're going to be living in a beach town, you're going to want to stay fit, right? The Vietnamese are super active. You can't go very far in Vietnam without finding some dip bars or pull-up bars for free on the sidewalk or in a park. You've also got a giant free pool—the ocean—right there. If you're looking for a more serious gym, there are plenty of good options. I go to a gym that costs about $30 a month. It's probably the nicest gym in Da Nang. It has everything you can imagine—machines, free weights, a functional training area, a running track, yoga classes, a pool, a sauna, and even an ice bath. This thing is seriously cold, but it's so nice.
Another way I like to treat myself is with gội đầu. Gội đầu in Vietnamese means “shampoo the head,” but it's really more like a 30-minute head and neck massage. It only costs about $2, and it's a great way to relax. Your hair will never be as clean in your entire life. It's the best $2 you'll ever spend.
Nightlife and Total Cost of Living
One of the last things you might be worried about is going out for drinks and nightlife. Of course, you're going to want to have a few drinks on the weekend. Like everything else, drinking is cheaper in Vietnam than in Western countries. At local Vietnamese places, you can pay less than $1 for a beer. If you're more comfortable in Western-style bars and pubs, you’ll be looking at $2 to $3 for a beer. Right now, I'm having a big pint of beer for $2, right on the beach—you can't really beat that. Of course, there are more expensive clubs and fancy places on the beach where drinks will be closer to Western prices, but in general, you should be doing all right.
So, I think we've covered most of the basics. On average, let's say about $500 a month is going to get you a good place to live. Add another $50 for your bills and utilities. Let’s say another $50 is going toward renting a motorbike and gas. The thing that might vary the most for people is food. Depending on where you're getting your food—whether from the market or the grocery store—and how often you're eating out, I'd say $200 a month is safe for groceries and dining out a few times a week.
Western food is always going to be three to four times the price of Vietnamese food, so if you're eating a lot of Western food, you're going to spend a lot more money. That brings us to about $800 a month. Another $200 a month might cover going out for drinks on the weekends, a gym membership for $20 to $30 a month, and some entertainment.
That brings the total to about $1,000 a month. For comparison, Hanoi is going to be a little more expensive than Da Nang—maybe $1,200 a month will cover all the basics. Saigon is the most expensive, so you're looking at around $1,500 a month. For me personally, I'm spending less than $1,000 a month to cover all my basics. Of course, traveling on the weekends or going to other cities in Asia is extra, but $1,000 a month is enough to cover rent, food, a gym membership, a motorbike, and basic entertainment.
Tell me where else in the world you can live in a place like this for less than $1,000 a month—I don't think it exists. I think Vietnam has the best quality of life relative to price in the entire world. If you've got any questions about living or traveling in Vietnam, leave a comment, hit me up, and I'll catch you in the next video. Peace!
Source: Travis Travels Vietnam. (2024, March 27). Cost of living in Da Nang, Vietnam (World’s cheapest Country) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LISju6qRmMI