For one person, living is cheaper in Vietnam: $771 a month against $2,589 in Australia, rent and utilities included – about $21,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Australia and in Vietnam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $2,589 per month in Australia vs $771 in Vietnam, rent included.
Australia $2,589
Vietnam $771
A couple spends around $3,789 per month in Australia vs $1,212 in Vietnam, rent included.
Australia $3,789
Vietnam $1,212
A family of three spends $4,990 per month in Australia vs $1,653 in Vietnam, rent included.
Australia $4,990
Vietnam $1,653
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,068–$3,299) than in Vietnam ($459–$895), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Australia is about 236% higher than in Vietnam on average.
📊
Australia sits 91% above the global median, while Vietnam is 43% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.24A$25.07
$1.96₫50.4K
779.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.1A$124
$19.50₫500.7K
336.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.18A$16.26
$4.59₫117.8K
143.57%
Cappuccino
$4.01A$5.83
$1.65₫42.3K
143.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90A$4.22
$0.50₫12.7K
480.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30A$3.35
$0.32₫8,247
618.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.74A$11.26
$0.99₫25.3K
681.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.16A$11.87
$1.57₫40.4K
419.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73A$2.51
$1.48₫38.0K
16.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.69A$3.91
$1.02₫26.1K
163.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24A$3.25
$0.96₫24.7K
133.33%
Eggs
$4.95A$7.19
$1.55₫39.9K
219.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.42A$13.70
$11.49₫295.0K
-18.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.40A$13.67
$3.86₫99.2K
143.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.30A$22.25
$9.75₫250.3K
56.92%
Apples(1kg)
$3.65A$5.32
$2.85₫73.2K
28.07%
Banana(1kg)
$3.08A$4.48
$1.08₫27.7K
185.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.27A$4.75
$1.30₫33.4K
151.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.59A$6.67
$1.19₫30.7K
285.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.83A$4.11
$1.14₫29.4K
148.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26A$3.29
$1.21₫31.2K
86.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.37A$3.45
$0.73₫18.8K
224.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.66A$2.41
$0.49₫12.7K
238.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$38.43A$55.9
$1.44₫37.0K
2568.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.21A$20.67
$9.90₫254.1K
43.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.95A$7.21
$0.85₫21.7K
482.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13A$7.47
$1.44₫37.0K
256.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.46A$3.59
$0.32₫8,282
668.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$93.0A$135
$10.75₫275.9K
765.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.66A$5.33
$0.85₫21.8K
330.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82A$2.64
$0.59₫15.2K
208.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.83A$63.8
$2.32₫59.5K
1789.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35A$1.96
$0.97₫24.9K
39.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KA$43.4K
$30.5K₫783.7M
-2.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KA$38.0K
$29.5K₫757.9M
-11.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$208A$303
$76.2₫2.0M
173.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.05A$42.24
$5.63₫144.7K
415.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.7A$85.4
$8.95₫229.8K
555.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.4A$82.0
$20.75₫532.9K
171.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.40A$28.22
$9.24₫237.4K
109.96%
Cinema Ticket
$15.11A$21.97
$3.79₫97.4K
298.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,113A$3,073
$491₫12.6M
330.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.1KA$33.6K
$25.7K₫661.2M
-10.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.0A$116
$39.52₫1.0M
102.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2A$78.9
$26.09₫669.9K
107.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112A$162
$86.1₫2.2M
29.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125A$181
$77.8₫2.0M
60.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,620A$2,356
$421₫10.8M
284.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256A$1,827
$281₫7.2M
347.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,616A$3,805
$888₫22.8M
194.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,007A$2,919
$571₫14.7M
251.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,539A$12.4K
$3,763₫96.6M
126.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,404A$9,314
$2,051₫52.7M
212.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,931A$5,717
$422₫10.8M
832.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.96
8.8
-32.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Australia: November 3, 2026
Last update for Vietnam: November 1, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Australia
$1.3K 48.5%
Vietnam
$281 36.4% ↓ 77.6%$975
🛒Groceries & Markets
Australia
$373 14.4%
Vietnam
$192 24.8% ↓ 48.6%$181
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
$296 11.4%
Vietnam
$91 11.8% ↓ 69.3%$205
🍽Eating Out
Australia
$295 11.4%
Vietnam
$61 7.9% ↓ 79.5%$235
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Australia
$167 6.4%
Vietnam
$103 13.4% ↓ 38.1%$63
🚌Getting Around
Australia
$116 4.5%
Vietnam
$16 2.1% ↓ 86.3%$100
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Australia
$87 3.4%
Vietnam
$28 3.7% ↓ 67.3%$58
🏠Accommodation & Living
Australia
$2K 40.2%
Vietnam
$571 34.5% ↓ 71.6%$1.4K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Australia
$845 16.9%
Vietnam
$444 26.9% ↓ 47.4%$400
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
$325 6.5%
Vietnam
$96 5.8% ↓ 70.3%$229
🍽Eating Out
Australia
$1K 20.3%
Vietnam
$214 13% ↓ 78.9%$799
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Australia
$370 7.4%
Vietnam
$229 13.9% ↓ 38.1%$141
🚌Getting Around
Australia
$236 4.7%
Vietnam
$32 2% ↓ 86.3%$204
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Australia
$193 3.9%
Vietnam
$66 4% ↓ 65.8%$127
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,381 in Australia vs $387 in Vietnam. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,761 in Canberra and $435 in Hanoi.
💰Average salary: $3,863 in Australia vs $365 in Vietnam. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 257% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 315% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 1114% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are about 11 times higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.
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
Australia vs Vietnam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Vietnam?
Vietnam is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 70% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia: a central one-bedroom averages $1,381 versus $387 in Vietnam.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Vietnam – part of why living there is about 70% cheaper overall.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Australia or in Vietnam?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Vietnam, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Vietnam?
Vietnam is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.