For one person, living is cheaper in Batam: $593 a month against $794 in Hanoi, rent and utilities included – about $2,400 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 Batam and in Hanoi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $593 in Batam versus $794 in Hanoi.
Batam $593
Hanoi $794
Estimated couple costs with rent: $998 in Batam versus $1,229 in Hanoi.
Batam $998
Hanoi $1,229
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,403 in Batam versus $1,664 in Hanoi.
Batam $1,403
Hanoi $1,664
🌍
Living in Batam costs roughly 25% less than in Hanoi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both cities sit below the global median: Batam56% lower, Hanoi41% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.92Rp 34.6K
$2.11₫54.6K
-9.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.49Rp 152.9K
$23.20₫600.7K
-63.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.84Rp 69.0K
$4.47₫115.6K
-14.09%
Cappuccino
$2.15Rp 38.6K
$1.83₫47.4K
17.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60Rp 10.9K
$0.51₫13.3K
17.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31Rp 5,621
$0.30₫7,638
3.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.56Rp 46.1K
$1.10₫28.6K
132.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56Rp 64.1K
$1.95₫50.4K
82.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Rp 20.3K
$1.53₫39.6K
-26.14%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$1.07₫27.6K
-0.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78Rp 14.1K
$0.82₫21.1K
-4.88%
Eggs
$1.23Rp 22.2K
$1.48₫38.4K
-16.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.30Rp 131.4K
$10.36₫268.2K
-29.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.41Rp 43.3K
$3.64₫94.2K
-33.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.38Rp 78.8K
$9.85₫255.1K
-55.53%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26Rp 40.7K
$3.27₫84.6K
-30.89%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05Rp 36.9K
$1.07₫27.8K
91.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09Rp 37.7K
$1.38₫35.8K
51.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.99Rp 17.9K
$1.10₫28.5K
-10.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.90Rp 16.2K
$0.98₫25.3K
-8.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.5K
$1.08₫27.9K
76.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29Rp 23.1K
$0.53₫13.8K
143.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,020
$0.52₫13.5K
-13.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.72Rp 49.0K
$1.36₫35.2K
100.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.21Rp 255.8K
$12.60₫326.2K
12.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 31.8K
$0.90₫23.3K
96.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48Rp 44.7K
$1.65₫42.8K
50.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.41Rp 7,325
$0.41₫10.6K
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.45₫244.5K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.13Rp 20.4K
$0.74₫19.1K
52.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60Rp 10.8K
$0.56₫14.6K
7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.43Rp 61.7K
$2.27₫58.7K
51.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.3K
$0.95₫24.7K
-10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4KRp 493.8M
$30.4K₫786.1M
-9.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.0KRp 450.0M
$29.8K₫770.4M
-15.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.9Rp 1.3M
$86.5₫2.2M
-19.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.17Rp 75.0K
$5.16₫133.6K
-19.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.06Rp 415.0K
$9.13₫236.3K
152.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.54Rp 477.7K
$24.26₫628.2K
9.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.55Rp 99.8K
$9.21₫238.4K
-39.74%
Cinema Ticket
$2.58Rp 46.5K
$4.22₫109.2K
-38.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$83.7Rp 1.5M
$779₫20.2M
-89.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,298Rp 59.4M
$27.5K₫712.4M
-88.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.64Rp 569.6K
$48.25₫1.2M
-34.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.69Rp 336.4K
$26.18₫677.7K
-28.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.8Rp 1.2M
$82.7₫2.1M
-21.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.98Rp 431.6K
$78.5₫2.0M
-69.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$270Rp 4.9M
$403₫10.4M
-32.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$146Rp 2.6M
$280₫7.3M
-47.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811Rp 14.6M
$852₫22.1M
-4.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$510Rp 9.2M
$530₫13.7M
-3.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$563Rp 10.1M
$5,117₫132.5M
-89.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,859₫74.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$341Rp 6.1M
$528₫13.7M
-35.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.17
8.28
59.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Batam: October 12, 2026
Last update for Hanoi: October 12, 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.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Batam
$173 29.2%
Hanoi
$194 24.5% ↑ 12.2%$21
🏠Accommodation & Living
Batam
$146 24.6%
Hanoi
$280 35.3% ↑ 91.9%$134
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
$97 16.4%
Hanoi
$101 12.7% ↑ 3.7%$3.6
🍽Eating Out
Batam
$76 12.9%
Hanoi
$65 8.2% ↓ 14.9%$11
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Batam
$63 10.6%
Hanoi
$106 13.4% ↑ 69.4%$43
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Batam
$32 5.4%
Hanoi
$33 4.1% ↑ 3.1%$1
🚌Getting Around
Batam
$5.8 * 1%
Hanoi
$15 1.9% ↑ 154%$8.9
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Batam
$383 27.3%
Hanoi
$446 26.8% ↑ 16.4%$63
🏠Accommodation & Living
Batam
$510 36.3%
Hanoi
$530 31.8% ↑ 3.8%$20
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
$101 7.2%
Hanoi
$106 6.4% ↑ 4.5%$4.6
🍽Eating Out
Batam
$188 13.4%
Hanoi
$242 14.5% ↑ 28.6%$54
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Batam
$139 9.9%
Hanoi
$236 14.2% ↑ 69.4%$97
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Batam
$69 4.9%
Hanoi
$75 4.5% ↑ 8.2%$5.7
🚌Getting Around
Batam
$12 * 0.9%
Hanoi
$30 1.8% ↑ 144%$18
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Batam and $403 in Hanoi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hanoi pays 55% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $8.00 in Batam vs $23.00 in Hanoi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $194 per month, with Batam cheaper across the board.
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
Batam vs Hanoi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hanoi cheaper than Batam?
Batam is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Batam or Hanoi?
On paper, salaries run 55% lower in Hanoi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Batam and Hanoi?
Rent for a central apartment: $270 in Batam versus $403 in Hanoi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Batam and in Hanoi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Hanoi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Batam and in Hanoi?
All in, you'll spend $593 per month in Batam versus $794 in Hanoi – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 enough for either Batam or Hanoi?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Batam gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Batam or Hanoi more family-friendly?
For families, Batam is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hanoi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Batam or Hanoi?
Safety-wise, Batam and Hanoi 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Batam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.