Da Nang electricity bill explained: EVN tariff vs the landlord's 3,500 to 4,000 VND per kWh

A Da Nang electricity bill on the official EVN residential tariff costs between 1,984 and 3,460 VND per kWh before VAT, rising in six steps as you use more, while many landlords bill tenants a flat 3,500 to 4,000 VND per kWh instead. That gap is the whole story of this post. We set out the official ladder, build a model bill for a one bedroom flat with air conditioning, and list the questions to ask before you sign a lease.

What is the electricity price per kWh in Vietnam?

The residential price in Vietnam is a six tier ladder from 1,984 to 3,460 VND per kWh, excluding VAT. It comes from Decision 1279/QD-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, dated 9 May 2025, published by Vietnam Electricity (EVN) (source). Each tier applies only to the kilowatt hours that fall inside it.

The same decision sets a flat 2,909 VND per kWh for prepaid meters. EVN announced on 9 May 2025 that the average retail price rose 4.8 percent, to 2,204.064 VND per kWh excluding VAT, from 10 May 2025 (source). When we checked on 26 September 2026, this was still the residential schedule EVN publishes.

VAT goes on top. A residential price guide published on 5 June 2026 confirms that the tariff excludes VAT and applies 8 percent in its worked example (source). The reduced 8 percent rate runs until 31 December 2026 under Resolution 204/2025/QH15 and Decree 174/2025/ND-CP (source). With 8 percent VAT, the top tier works out to about 3,737 VND per kWh.

What do Da Nang landlords charge for electricity?

Da Nang landlords commonly charge a flat 3,500 to 4,000 VND per kWh. A 2026 Da Nang cost of living breakdown gives that range and puts the monthly result at roughly 800,000 to 1,500,000 VND (USD 32 to 60), higher from May to August when the air conditioning runs (source). A 2026 rental guide for Vietnam describes the two practices: some landlords pass through the local utility rate, others apply a higher fixed rate (source).

The flat rate exists because the landlord is usually EVN's customer. One meter serves the building, one bill arrives, and the landlord splits it by room. A single rate is simpler for them than tracking which kilowatt hour fell in which tier. The margin also covers shared load such as the water pump and stairwell lights.

The problem for the tenant is that the flat rate applies from the first kilowatt hour. On the official ladder, the first 50 kWh cost 1,984 VND. At a flat 4,000, they cost twice that.

Does EVN have a rule for tenants?

Yes: EVN's tariff contains a rule for students and workers in rented housing. If the lease is under 12 months and the owner does not declare the number of occupants, the whole meter reading is billed at the tier 3 price of 2,380 VND per kWh. If the owner declares the occupants, backed by temporary residence records, every four people count as one household for the tier ladder (source).

This rule governs what EVN charges the owner. It does not by itself set what the owner charges you. It is still a useful reference point: the official price for a short let with undeclared tenants is 2,380 VND per kWh before VAT, about 2,570 with VAT.

How much is a monthly electricity bill for a one bedroom in Da Nang?

On our model, a one bedroom flat with air conditioning costs about 980,000 VND in a hot month on the EVN tariff, and 1,225,000 to 1,400,000 VND at a landlord's flat rate. This is a model, not a real bill. We assume 350 kWh in a hot month with the AC running most nights, and 150 kWh in a cool month. Your use will differ.

The tariff figures stack the tiers from the table above, then add 8 percent VAT. We assume the landlord's flat rate already includes everything, which is how it is usually quoted.

Here is the arithmetic for the hot month. 50 kWh at 1,984 is 99,200. 50 at 2,050 is 102,500. 100 at 2,380 is 238,000. 100 at 2,998 is 299,800. 50 at 3,350 is 167,500. The total is 907,000 VND before VAT, or 979,560 with VAT.

The landlord rate costs 25 to 43 percent more than the tariff in the hot month. In the cool month the gap widens to 52 to 73 percent, because the flat rate hurts most when you use little and would otherwise stay in the cheap tiers. To turn these figures into your own currency at today's rate, use our Currency Check tool.

Other trackers land lower. A separate Da Nang rental guide, last verified on 3 July 2026, puts electricity at around USD 30 a month for a typical flat (source).

How do you negotiate the electricity rate with a landlord?

You negotiate before signing, and you get the rate written into the lease. These are the questions to ask, in order.

1. Is electricity billed at the EVN tariff or at a flat rate per kWh? If it is flat, ask for the lower end of the range.
2. Does the flat have its own sub meter, and can we photograph the reading together on move in day? Keep the photo with the date visible.
3. Are the water pump and stairwell lights on the flat's meter or on a shared one? Shared load is the usual reason given for the margin.
4. On a 6 or 12 month lease, will you bill at the EVN tariff? The Da Nang rental guide above notes that a six to twelve month lease is usually USD 50 to 100 a month cheaper than a three month one, so longer leases give you room to ask (source).
5. Can the electricity rate appear in the contract? A verbal rate is hard to hold anyone to.

Refuse an arrangement where the landlord sends a monthly figure with no meter you can read yourself. Without a reading, you cannot check the bill.

Where does electricity fit in a Da Nang budget?

Electricity is the main variable utility in Da Nang, but it is still a small share of a monthly budget. Rent, coworking and food matter more. Our look at whether Da Nang is still worth it in 2026 puts the cost of living side by side from several trackers. If you are weighing Da Nang against another base, the Destination Comparison tool sets them next to each other, and Visa Check tells you how long you can stay.

Updated on 26 September 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm with the official source linked above before you act.