British woman leaves pricey UK for Da Nang, the ‘Miami of Asia,’ where meals cost under $3

The 29-year-old, who lives with her Irish boyfriend Dan, 32, says the couple spend only about £20 a week on groceries for two, and local vendors in Da Nang sometimes even give them extra items for free, according the The Sun.

According to the 2024 Expat Insider survey by global expatriate network InterNations, Vietnam was ranked the most affordable country for the fourth consecutive year. About 86% of expatriates said the cost of living is reasonable, Forbes reported.

The couple spent four months backpacking across Asia before deciding last October to remain in Vietnam.

Before moving overseas, Smith worked as a teaching assistant for children with special needs in the U.K. She said her salary was not enough to cover longer-term rental contracts and described life the U.K. as “very expensive” and “hard.”

“We didn’t know what we wanted to do but we didn’t want to stay in the U.K.,” she said. She now works remotely as a TEFL teacher and tutors children online, putting in around 26 hours a week.

Food is especially cheap, with local markets offering excellent value. Because she shops there regularly, some vendors have started giving her complimentary extras.

She also noted that eating local food can cost less than cooking at home, which is why she and her boyfriend go out for meals two or three times a week. “In a traditional Vietnamese place, you can get a meal and a drink for £2.”

Beauty and personal care are also much cheaper than in Britain. Smith said she pays about £7 for a manicure and around £60 for hair highlights, compared with more than £100 back home.

A view of Da Nang City, Aug. 2025. Photo by Read/Nguyen Dong

She added that she often treats herself to hair washes because they are so inexpensive, with a local wash and blow-dry costing about £4. Teeth whitening, she said, cost her £110 in Vietnam, far less than the £340 price in the U.K.

For transport, Smith rents a motorbike for around £4 per day and spends about £3 to fill the tank. She also occasionally uses ride-hailing apps, with a 15-minute trip costing about £1.

She previously tried living in Hanoi but moved away after just 10 days, citing severe air pollution and heavy traffic. “So we moved to Da Nang,” she said. “I’m so glad we moved here, it’s unbelievable. They say it’s ‘the Miami of Asia.’

The main drawback, she said, is the widespread construction in Da Nang, with work often starting as early as 7:30 a.m. and disturbing her sleep.

Being far from family remains the hardest part of living abroad, Smith said, though she believes the benefits of the lifestyle outweigh the sacrifices.

Her current priority is to save money before eventually returning to the U.K., where she says renting is costly and buying a home feels unrealistic.

“Saving is hard because everything is cheap so you spend without realising. But in Vietnam if you budget properly, you could save around £800 to £900 a month.”