Cost of Living

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Live cost-of-living data for Ho Chi Minh City — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
12/ 10088% cheaper than New York
$520/mo
Median Income
60/100
Safety
5%
Income Tax
tropical monsoon
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
25/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$530/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$310/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,200/month
Food & Groceries
18/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.8/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$0.8/kg
Transportation
20/100
Monthly Transit Pass$11/month
One-Way Ticket$0.27/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.8/km
Utilities
22/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$85/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$12/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$8/month
Healthcare
55/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$45/visit
Dentist Visit$60/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$8/course
Education
50/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$400/month
International Primary School (yearly)$10,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$280/course
Entertainment
30/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$5/ticket
Theater Ticket$25/ticket
Museum Entry$3/ticket
Clothing
35/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$40/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$25/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$65/pair
Personal Care
20/100
Haircut (Men)$6/cut
Haircut (Women)$15/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$2/bottle
Dining Out
20/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$2/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$20/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$5/meal
Childcare
40/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$500/month
Babysitter (per hour)$3/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$10/pack
Fitness & Sports
25/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$30/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$10/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$3/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

156 Mbps
Internet Speed
$150
Coworking/Month
excellent
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
large
Nomad Community
45/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Thao Dien (District 2), District 1, District 3

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ho Chi Minh City cheap to live in?

Ho Chi Minh City has a cost of living index of 12/100, where New York = 100. It is 88% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $440–$616 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 $530/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $310/month.

Is Ho Chi Minh City good for digital nomads?

Ho Chi Minh City has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 156 Mbps, café wifi reliability is excellent, 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 $520 USD. The income tax rate is around 5%.

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

Ho Chi Minh City (cost index 12) is 88% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,200/month by moving from New York to Ho Chi Minh City.

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