Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Ha Long Bay

For one person, living is cheaper in Ha Long Bay: $765 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $22,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Ha Long Bay
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$765
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Ha Long Bay

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Ha Long Bay actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,663 in Austin, TX versus $765 in Ha Long Bay.

  • Austin, TX $2,663
  • Ha Long Bay $765

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,234 in Ha Long Bay.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Ha Long Bay $1,234

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,603 in Austin, TX versus $1,702 in Ha Long Bay.

  • Austin, TX $5,603
  • Ha Long Bay $1,702

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 248% more expensive than in Ha Long Bay, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 97% above, Ha Long Bay is 43% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Ha Long Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.77 $20.77
$2.07 ₫53.6K
903.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6 $84.6
$19.11 ₫494.8K
342.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.32 $12.32
$4.26 ₫110.2K
189.20%
Cappuccino
$5.63 $5.63
$1.61 ₫41.6K
249.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$0.38 ₫9,754
878.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.30 ₫7,887
733.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.05 $8.05
$0.87 ₫22.6K
825.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.01 $9.01
$1.41 ₫36.6K
539.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Ha Long Bay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.53 ₫39.7K
-26.80%
White Bread (500g)
$3.75 $3.75
$1.05 ₫27.3K
257.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.26 $3.26
$1.02 ₫26.3K
219.61%
Eggs
$4.17 $4.17
$1.11 ₫28.8K
275.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.90 $12.90
$11.26 ₫291.5K
14.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$3.68 ₫95.3K
284.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.22 $16.22
$9.98 ₫258.2K
62.53%
Apples (1kg)
$4.33 $4.33
$3.07 ₫79.5K
41.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.11 ₫28.9K
31.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$1.34 ₫34.7K
236.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 $4.34
$1.25 ₫32.4K
247.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.58 $2.58
$1.02 ₫26.4K
152.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.35 $2.35
$1.16 ₫30.0K
102.59%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.78 $1.78
$0.66 ₫17.0K
169.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$0.55 ₫14.1K
303.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.88 $9.88
$1.43 ₫37.0K
590.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.08 $15.08
$12.02 ₫311.1K
25.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$0.82 ₫21.2K
256.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 $3.46
$1.70 ₫43.9K
103.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Ha Long Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.32 ₫8,218
365.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.72 $41.72
$6.42 ₫166.2K
549.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 $2.73
$0.77 ₫20.0K
254.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.57 ₫14.7K
191.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.30 $35.30
$2.35 ₫61.0K
1402.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.95 ₫24.5K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0K $36.0K
$30.6K ₫791.8M
17.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K $27.1K
$29.9K ₫775.2M
-9.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Ha Long Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$78.1 ₫2.0M
193.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$5.86 ₫151.8K
913.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.9 $69.9
$8.47 ₫219.2K
725.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Ha Long Bay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.2 $57.2
$21.84 ₫565.5K
162.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.33 $16.33
$7.64 ₫197.7K
113.74%
Cinema Ticket
$14.28 $14.28
$3.15 ₫81.5K
353.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Ha Long Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 $1,506
$159 ₫4.1M
848.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$12.3K ₫317.6M
74.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Ha Long Bay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 $52.8
$44.55 ₫1.2M
18.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 $43.82
$26.45 ₫684.9K
65.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.8 $84.8
$83.8 ₫2.2M
1.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$77.0 ₫2.0M
33.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Ha Long Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,907 $1,907
$405 ₫10.5M
371.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,274 $1,274
$274 ₫7.1M
364.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,664 $3,664
$741 ₫19.2M
394.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,538 $2,538
$625 ₫16.2M
306.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,614 $7,614
$2,841 ₫73.5M
168.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,157 $3,157
$1,279 ₫33.1M
146.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Ha Long Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,121 $5,121
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
8.46
-19.74%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Last update for Ha Long Bay: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Ha Long Bay
$274 78.5% $1,000
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$405
Ha Long Bay
$196 51.5% $208
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$358
Ha Long Bay
$92 74.2% $266
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$354
Ha Long Bay
$59 83.5% $295
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Ha Long Bay
$104 18.5% $24
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Ha Long Bay
$28 67.2% $58
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$59
Ha Long Bay
$11 80.7% $47

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,907 in Austin, TX and $405 in Ha Long Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $19.00 in Ha Long Bay for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $196 per month, with Ha Long Bay cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇻🇳 Ha Long Bay
🕒 Local time
14:09 2:09 PM
02:09 2:09 AM
12 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
270,054
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,108 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Ha Long Bay 13,730 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Ha Long Bay

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Austin, TX vs Ha Long Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Ha Long Bay?
Ha Long Bay wins on cost – living expenses run 248% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ha Long Bay the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Ha Long Bay?
You'd need roughly $3,995 in Austin, TX and $1,148 in Ha Long Bay to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Ha Long Bay?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,907 in Austin, TX versus $405 in Ha Long Bay. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Ha Long Bay?
All in, you'll spend $2,663 per month in Austin, TX versus $765 in Ha Long Bay – a 248% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Ha Long Bay?
A monthly transit pass in Ha Long Bay runs roughly 550% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Austin, TX or in Ha Long Bay?
At $765 in Ha Long Bay versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ha Long Bay but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Ha Long Bay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Ha Long Bay?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Austin, TX compared to Ha Long Bay?
Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Ha Long Bay are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ha Long Bay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 248% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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