Hanoi vs Da Nang for Expats
City-level comparison within Vietnam across 7 dimensions — cost of living, safety, healthcare, education, career, climate, and transport — using granular city data.
Last updated: February 2026
Quick Verdict
- •Hanoi is more affordable (8 points lower cost index)
- •Da Nang scores 7 points higher on safety
- •Hanoi has stronger healthcare (+8 points)
- •Hanoi leads in transport & infrastructure (+7 points)
- •Da Nang has a more favorable climate (+16 points)
Overall, Hanoi edges ahead on aggregate scoring, but the best choice depends on your personal priorities.
Score Comparison
Affordability index -- lower cost of living scores higher
Crime rates, safety perceptions, and neighborhood security
Hospital access, quality of care, and insurance options
School quality, university access, and language programs
Job market, co-working spaces, and remote work infrastructure
Temperature, sunshine hours, and air quality
Public transit, walkability, and ride-hailing availability
Key Metrics
| Metric | 🇻🇳 Hanoi | 🇻🇳 Da Nang |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Index | 80 | 88 |
| Safety Index | 65 | 72 |
| Healthcare Index | 58 | 50 |
| Education Index | 55 | 48 |
| Career Index | 48 | 35 |
| Climate Index | 52 | 68 |
| Transport Index | 52 | 45 |
| Air Quality Index | 32 | 65 |
| Family Index | 52 | 52 |
Price Comparison (USD)
| Item | 🇻🇳 Hanoi | 🇻🇳 Da Nang |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent (City Centre) | $500/mo | $350/mo |
| 1-Bed Rent (Outside Centre) | $300/mo | $220/mo |
| Inexpensive Meal | $2 | $2 |
| Cappuccino | $2 | $2 |
| Monthly Transport Pass | $10 | $10 |
| Coworking (Monthly) | $90 | $80 |
| Internet Speed | 85 Mbps | 75 Mbps |
The Expat Vibe
🇻🇳 Hanoi
Vietnam's ancient, chaotic, culturally rich capital — tree-lined French colonial boulevards, 1,000 years of history, and a grittier, more authentically Vietnamese experience than Saigon.
🇻🇳 Da Nang
Vietnam's most liveable city — a clean, modern coastal city with an incredible beach, growing tech scene, and a more relaxed pace than Saigon or Hanoi.
Housing & Rentals
🇻🇳 Hanoi
Tay Ho (West Lake) is the primary expat area — spacious apartments with lake views from $500-1,000/mo. The Old Quarter is atmospheric but noisy and cramped. Most landlords are flexible on lease terms. Deposits are 1-2 months.
Top neighborhoods: Tay Ho (West Lake), Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem (Old Quarter), Hai Ba Trung, Dong Da
🇻🇳 Da Nang
Very affordable. Modern beachfront apartments from $300-600/mo. Many condos are new construction (post-2018). Monthly leases are common. The An Thuong area (near the beach) is the main expat hub with a walkable cluster of restaurants and cafes.
Top neighborhoods: My An/My Khe Beach, Son Tra, Hai Chau (city centre), An Thuong
Getting Around
🇻🇳 Hanoi
Similar motorcycle chaos to Saigon. The metro (Cat Linh-Ha Dong line) opened in 2021 with more lines coming. Grab is essential. The Old Quarter is best explored on foot. Electric buses are a new addition.
🇻🇳 Da Nang
Compact and easy. Grab is the standard. Scooter rental is $40-60/mo. The city is flat and bikeable. The new Golden Bridge and Sun World are accessible by car. Hoi An is just 30 minutes south by taxi/Grab.
Cost of Living Details
🇻🇳 Hanoi
Very affordable. A couple can live on $1,500-2,500/mo. Bun cha costs $1.50-2, egg coffee $1-2. Tay Ho restaurants are slightly pricier but still excellent value. Bia hoi (fresh beer) is famously $0.25/glass.
🇻🇳 Da Nang
Among the cheapest cities in this guide. A couple can live very well on $1,200-2,000/mo. A banh mi costs $0.50-1, a full meal at a local restaurant $2-4. Beachside dining is still remarkably affordable.
Climate & Weather
🇻🇳 Hanoi
Four seasons (unlike southern Vietnam). Hot, humid summers (June-August, 33-38°C). Cold, damp winters (December-February, 10-18°C — feels colder than the numbers due to humidity). No central heating in most buildings. Spring (March-April) and autumn (October-November) are ideal.
🇻🇳 Da Nang
Two seasons: dry and hot (March-August, 30-38°C, beach weather) and wet and cool (September-February, 20-28°C with occasional typhoons in October-November). The wet season can bring heavy flooding.
Food & Dining
🇻🇳 Hanoi
Bun cha at Dac Kim or Bun Cha Huong Lien (where Obama ate). Pho at Pho Thin or Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su. Egg coffee (ca phe trung) at Giang Cafe — the original. Bun thang (Hanoi's own noodle soup) at Bun Thang Ba Duc. Street food in the Old Quarter is legendary. Bia hoi corner (junction of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen) for $0.25 draft beer and people-watching.
🇻🇳 Da Nang
Mi quang (turmeric noodle soup) is the signature dish — try it at Mi Quang Ba Vi. Bun cha ca (fish cake noodle soup) at Bun Cha Ca 109. Banh trang cuon (fresh spring rolls) are a Da Nang specialty. The Han Market and Con Market are excellent for local food. An Thuong's restaurant strip has good international options.
Insider Tips
🇻🇳 Hanoi
Hanoi's winters are genuinely cold and damp — most buildings have zero insulation or heating. Buy a dehumidifier and a space heater immediately. Also, the train street (where a train runs through a narrow alley of houses) is being increasingly restricted for tourists — visit early morning on weekdays. Ha Long Bay is a 3-hour drive but overnight cruises (from $80) are the best way to experience it.
🇻🇳 Da Nang
Hoi An (30 min south) is where you go for custom tailoring — suits from $100-200, shirts $15-30, shoes $50-80. Bring photos of what you want. Do a fitting, come back the next day for adjustments. Also, the Hai Van Pass (between Da Nang and Hue) is one of the world's most spectacular motorcycle rides — featured on Top Gear.
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