Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Vietnam Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Vietnam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,184 per month in Australia vs $696 in Vietnam, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,217 per month in Australia vs $1,098 in Vietnam, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,249 per month in Australia vs $1,499 in Vietnam, rent included.

Australia costs about 214% more than Vietnam on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Australia sits 63% above the global median, while Vietnam is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Australia has a wider regional cost range ($1,584$2,827) than Vietnam ($489$839), so location matters more when choosing where to live in Australia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.24 A$22.73
$1.87 ₫49.1K
768.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.1 A$108
$20.99 ₫550.7K
267.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.81 A$13.74
$4.47 ₫117.3K
119.46%
Cappuccino
$3.58 A$5.01
$1.63 ₫42.7K
119.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 A$3.60
$0.50 ₫13.1K
414.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18 A$3.05
$0.27 ₫7,075
707.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.63 A$9.28
$0.94 ₫24.7K
605.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.12 A$9.97
$1.49 ₫39.0K
377.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 A$2.10
$1.38 ₫36.1K
8.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 A$3.54
$0.88 ₫23.1K
187.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 A$2.90
$0.91 ₫23.8K
127.47%
Eggs
$4.29 A$6.01
$1.45 ₫38.0K
195.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.65 A$12.11
$11.50 ₫301.7K
-24.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.34 A$11.68
$3.57 ₫93.7K
133.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.90 A$19.47
$9.95 ₫260.9K
39.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 A$4.61
$2.77 ₫72.7K
19.13%
Banana (1kg)
$2.77 A$3.88
$1.05 ₫27.5K
163.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 A$4.13
$1.32 ₫34.5K
123.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 A$5.87
$1.12 ₫29.3K
274.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.42 A$3.39
$1.13 ₫29.8K
114.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.10 A$2.94
$1.18 ₫30.9K
77.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 A$3.16
$0.68 ₫17.8K
232.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 A$2.10
$0.48 ₫12.6K
212.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.58 A$44.22
$1.35 ₫35.4K
2239.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.29 A$20.00
$10.55 ₫276.8K
35.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.59 A$6.42
$0.80 ₫20.9K
473.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82 A$6.75
$1.41 ₫36.9K
241.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.02 A$4.22
$0.30 ₫7,870
906.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$98.3 A$138
$7.68 ₫201.6K
1179.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.48 A$4.88
$0.74 ₫19.4K
370.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 A$2.45
$0.62 ₫16.2K
182.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.97 A$53.2
$3.79 ₫99.5K
901.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 A$1.69
$0.86 ₫22.7K
40.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K A$40.6K
$36.1K ₫946.5M
-19.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K A$31.6K
$33.4K ₫875.0M
-32.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 A$248
$69.7 ₫1.8M
154.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.85 A$37.59
$5.55 ₫145.5K
383.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4 A$73.4
$8.89 ₫233.1K
489.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.57 A$66.6
$21.69 ₫569.1K
119.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.46 A$23.04
$8.04 ₫211.0K
104.73%
Cinema Ticket
$13.73 A$19.23
$3.94 ₫103.3K
248.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,593 A$2,231
$244 ₫6.4M
553.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K A$17.8K
$12.4K ₫324.6M
2.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.0 A$101
$36.27 ₫951.6K
98.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 A$71.8
$24.69 ₫647.8K
107.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 A$144
$87.6 ₫2.3M
17.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 A$152
$79.5 ₫2.1M
36.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,401 A$1,961
$366 ₫9.6M
282.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,080 A$1,512
$247 ₫6.5M
337.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,340 A$3,276
$795 ₫20.9M
194.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,756 A$2,459
$520 ₫13.6M
237.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,733 A$10.8K
$3,563 ₫93.5M
117.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,563 A$7,788
$1,827 ₫47.9M
204.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Vietnam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,000 A$5,600
$415 ₫10.9M
864.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.35
9.37
-32.23%

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

Last update for Australia: April 27, 2026

Last update for Vietnam: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $1,232 in Australia vs $336 in Vietnam. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,529 in Canberra and $331 in Hanoi.

Average salary: $3,878 in Australia vs $340 in Vietnam. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 267% higher in Australia.

Dining out costs 285% more in Australia.

Public transport is 857% more expensive in Australia.

Salaries are 1041% higher in Australia, giving Australia stronger purchasing power.

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 232% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Australia consistently has higher rents.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Vietnam, contributing to the overall 232% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Australia or 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 Vietnam?
Vietnam is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.

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