Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Hanoi Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Hanoi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $605 in Batam versus $803 in Hanoi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $996 in Batam versus $1,246 in Hanoi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,387 in Batam versus $1,688 in Hanoi.

Living in Batam costs roughly 25% less than in Hanoi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Batam 56% lower, Hanoi 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.93 Rp 34.4K
$2.03 ₫52.8K
-4.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.23 Rp 146.3K
$20.81 ₫542.5K
-60.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.94 Rp 70.1K
$4.40 ₫114.8K
-10.45%
Cappuccino
$2.11 Rp 37.4K
$1.89 ₫49.1K
11.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 Rp 10.6K
$0.45 ₫11.9K
33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 Rp 5,538
$0.28 ₫7,223
10.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 Rp 44.0K
$1.13 ₫29.5K
119.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 Rp 63.3K
$1.90 ₫49.5K
87.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 Rp 21.1K
$1.47 ₫38.2K
-19.05%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 Rp 19.2K
$1.01 ₫26.4K
6.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$0.80 ₫20.9K
-
Eggs
$1.23 Rp 21.9K
$1.44 ₫37.6K
-14.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.60 Rp 135.1K
$10.48 ₫273.3K
-27.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.46 Rp 43.6K
$3.76 ₫97.9K
-34.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.50 Rp 80.0K
$9.79 ₫255.3K
-54.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 39.2K
$3.07 ₫80.0K
-28.01%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 Rp 35.8K
$1.07 ₫27.8K
87.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 Rp 37.2K
$1.33 ₫34.6K
57.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
$1.09 ₫28.4K
-5.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.97 Rp 17.3K
$0.98 ₫25.6K
-1.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 Rp 35.7K
$1.11 ₫29.0K
81.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.34 Rp 23.9K
$0.59 ₫15.5K
127.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,585
$0.55 ₫14.4K
-21.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89 Rp 51.4K
$1.37 ₫35.6K
110.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.22 Rp 252.6K
$12.27 ₫319.9K
15.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 Rp 32.2K
$0.95 ₫24.7K
90.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 Rp 42.8K
$1.67 ₫43.5K
44.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.41 Rp 7,328
$0.37 ₫9,641
10.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.26 ₫241.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 Rp 20.4K
$0.79 ₫20.7K
45.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 Rp 10.8K
$0.57 ₫14.8K
7.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 Rp 64.6K
$2.27 ₫59.1K
59.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 Rp 12.9K
$0.83 ₫21.6K
-12.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K Rp 504.0M
$30.1K ₫785.7M
-5.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.3K Rp 449.6M
$30.3K ₫789.3M
-16.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 Rp 1.3M
$83.9 ₫2.2M
-15.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.22 Rp 74.9K
$5.12 ₫133.4K
-17.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.48 Rp 417.2K
$8.70 ₫226.8K
169.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.14 Rp 482.2K
$24.54 ₫639.7K
10.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.52 Rp 98.1K
$9.30 ₫242.4K
-40.65%
Cinema Ticket
$2.61 Rp 46.4K
$4.29 ₫111.9K
-39.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$85.7 Rp 1.5M
$790 ₫20.6M
-89.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,343 Rp 59.4M
$27.9K ₫728.4M
-88.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.61 Rp 561.5K
$50.4 ₫1.3M
-37.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.64 Rp 331.2K
$26.16 ₫681.9K
-28.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.6 Rp 1.1M
$83.9 ₫2.2M
-23.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$24.88 Rp 441.9K
$82.2 ₫2.1M
-69.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$277 Rp 4.9M
$410 ₫10.7M
-32.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$152 Rp 2.7M
$286 ₫7.5M
-46.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$826 Rp 14.7M
$820 ₫21.4M
0.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$506 Rp 9.0M
$531 ₫13.8M
-4.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$557 Rp 9.9M
$4,714 ₫122.9M
-88.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,785 ₫72.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$341 Rp 6.1M
$504 ₫13.1M
-32.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.17
8.45
55.86%

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

Last update for Batam: August 30, 2026

Last update for Hanoi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $277 in Batam and $410 in Hanoi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hanoi pays 48% 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 $21.00 in Hanoi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $193 per month, with Batam cheaper across the board.

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 & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Batam or Hanoi?
On paper, salaries run 48% 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: $277 in Batam versus $410 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 10% 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 $605 per month in Batam versus $803 in Hanoi – a 33% 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 33% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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