Cost of Living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City has a cost of living index of 28/100 (New York = 100). It is 72% cheaper than New York. Data sourced live via AI — updated regularly.

28/100
Cost Index
$1,500/mo
Median Income
50/100
Safety Index
tropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

HousingScore: 35/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$650/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$380/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,400/month
Food & GroceriesScore: 20/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.8/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$0.8/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.2/kg
Dining OutScore: 20/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$3/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$20/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$4.5/meal
TransportationScore: 15/100
Monthly Transit Pass$15/month
One-Way Ticket$0.35/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.5/km
UtilitiesScore: 25/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$35/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$8/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$5/month
HealthcareScore: 40/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$25/visit
Dentist Visit$30/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$5/course
EntertainmentScore: 30/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$3.5/ticket
Theater Ticket$15/ticket
Museum Entry$2.5/ticket
FitnessScore: 25/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$15/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$8/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$2.5/entry
Personal CareScore: 25/100
Haircut (Men)$4/cut
Haircut (Women)$8/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$2/bottle
ClothingScore: 35/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$35/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$25/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$55/pair

Digital Nomad Profile

75 Mbps
Internet Speed
$150
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
large
Nomad Community
72/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: District 1 - Ben Thanh, District 3 - Nguyen Hue, Binh Thanh - Thao Dien

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ho Chi Minh City cheap to live in?

Ho Chi Minh City has a cost of living index of 28/100, where New York = 100. It is 72% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $560–$784 per month.

How much does rent cost in Ho Chi Minh City?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Ho Chi Minh City costs approximately $650/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $380/month.

Is Ho Chi Minh City good for digital nomads?

Ho Chi Minh City has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 75 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $150/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Ho Chi Minh City?

The median net monthly salary in Ho Chi Minh City is approximately $1,500 USD. The income tax rate is around 15%.

How does Ho Chi Minh City compare to New York for cost of living?

Ho Chi Minh City (cost index 28) is 72% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,800/month by moving from New York to Ho Chi Minh City.

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