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: $660 in Batam versus $758 in Hanoi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,103 in Batam versus $1,241 in Hanoi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,546 in Batam versus $1,724 in Hanoi.

Living in Batam costs roughly 13% less than in Hanoi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Batam 51% lower, Hanoi 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.79 Rp 50.1K
$1.91 ₫50.1K
46.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.30 Rp 166.9K
$27.24 ₫716.1K
-65.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.54 Rp 63.4K
$4.62 ₫121.4K
-23.38%
Cappuccino
$2.21 Rp 39.6K
$1.79 ₫47.2K
23.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 Rp 23.9K
$0.49 ₫12.8K
171.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,343
$0.27 ₫7,105
51.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.80 Rp 50.3K
$0.93 ₫24.4K
201.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02 Rp 72.1K
$1.94 ₫51.1K
107.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 Rp 21.7K
$1.42 ₫37.4K
-14.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.21 Rp 21.8K
$0.98 ₫25.9K
23.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$0.91 ₫24.0K
-6.59%
Eggs
$1.36 Rp 24.4K
$1.49 ₫39.1K
-8.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
$8.94 ₫235.2K
-9.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.66 Rp 47.6K
$3.78 ₫99.4K
-29.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.82 Rp 86.5K
$9.49 ₫249.4K
-49.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 Rp 42.6K
$3.26 ₫85.7K
-26.99%
Banana (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 40.5K
$1.06 ₫27.9K
113.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 Rp 39.2K
$1.60 ₫42.0K
36.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.10 Rp 19.8K
$1.08 ₫28.5K
1.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$1.07 ₫28.2K
-5.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 Rp 38.7K
$1.05 ₫27.7K
105.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 Rp 26.3K
$0.55 ₫14.5K
165.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,087
$0.57 ₫14.9K
-29.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65 Rp 47.6K
$1.38 ₫36.2K
92.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 Rp 245.3K
$13.54 ₫355.9K
1.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97 Rp 35.4K
$0.90 ₫23.6K
118.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 Rp 47.3K
$1.76 ₫46.2K
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 Rp 8,402
$0.33 ₫8,777
42.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.91 Rp 303.3K
$7.56 ₫198.8K
123.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.26 Rp 22.5K
$0.81 ₫21.2K
55.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 Rp 11.7K
$0.61 ₫16.0K
6.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
$1.60 ₫42.0K
132.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.8K
$0.84 ₫22.1K
-1.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K Rp 532.2M
$38.6K ₫1.0B
-23.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.2K Rp 343.6M
$32.3K ₫848.0M
-40.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.8 Rp 1.4M
$78.8 ₫2.1M
-1.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.96 Rp 71.1K
$5.14 ₫135.2K
-22.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.92 Rp 464.9K
$8.79 ₫231.1K
194.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.33 Rp 544.1K
$28.49 ₫749.1K
6.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.04 Rp 144.3K
$11.02 ₫289.7K
-27.04%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08 Rp 55.3K
$3.74 ₫98.5K
-17.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.3 Rp 1.7M
$269 ₫7.1M
-65.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,643 Rp 65.4M
$11.4K ₫300.7M
-68.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.31 Rp 633.5K
$45.01 ₫1.2M
-21.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.55 Rp 368.6K
$23.24 ₫611.1K
-11.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.4 Rp 1.3M
$87.9 ₫2.3M
-17.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$26.40 Rp 473.5K
$73.5 ₫1.9M
-64.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$294 Rp 5.3M
$329 ₫8.6M
-10.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$248 ₫6.5M
-32.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$890 Rp 16.0M
$771 ₫20.3M
15.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$560 Rp 10.0M
$608 ₫16.0M
-7.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$550 Rp 9.9M
$4,891 ₫128.6M
-88.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,709 ₫71.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Batam
Hanoi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$334 Rp 6.0M
$516 ₫13.6M
-35.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.88
9.1
52.53%

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

Last update for Batam: July 13, 2026

Last update for Hanoi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $294 in Batam and $329 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: $9.00 in Batam vs $27.00 in Hanoi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $192 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. The 15% 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: $294 in Batam versus $329 in Hanoi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Batam runs roughly 124% less than in Hanoi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $93.3 in Batam versus $269 in Hanoi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
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 15% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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