Cost of Living Comparison Between Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Cost of Living Comparison Between Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $565 in Binh Duong versus $808 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $929 in Binh Duong versus $1,306 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,293 in Binh Duong versus $1,803 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Living in Binh Duong costs roughly 30% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Binh Duong 58% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.91 ₫50.2K

$2.07 ₫54.3K

-7.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.54 ₫303.5K

$22.64 ₫595.2K

-49.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.64 ₫122.0K

$4.72 ₫124.2K

-1.69%

Cappuccino

$1.71 ₫45.0K

$1.79 ₫46.9K

-4.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₫12.3K

$0.47 ₫12.5K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,250

$0.28 ₫7,257

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.88 ₫23.2K

$1.00 ₫26.4K

-12.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₫28.4K

$1.58 ₫41.6K

-31.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 ₫38.6K

$1.53 ₫40.2K

-3.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 ₫21.2K

$0.99 ₫26.0K

-18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.61 ₫16.1K

$1.02 ₫26.7K

-40.20%

Eggs

$1.43 ₫37.6K

$1.43 ₫37.5K

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.60 ₫305.0K

$11.46 ₫301.4K

1.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 ₫87.9K

$3.62 ₫95.1K

-7.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.82 ₫258.2K

$10.56 ₫277.6K

-7.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 ₫54.5K

$2.72 ₫71.6K

-23.90%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 ₫14.9K

$1.10 ₫28.9K

-48.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 ₫18.6K

$1.30 ₫34.2K

-45.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 ₫28.4K

$1.14 ₫29.8K

-5.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 ₫24.5K

$1.12 ₫29.6K

-16.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 ₫27.5K

$1.18 ₫31.1K

-11.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ₫18.5K

$0.70 ₫18.4K

1.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₫12.1K

$0.47 ₫12.4K

-2.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.75 ₫19.7K

$1.28 ₫33.6K

-41.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.51 ₫250.0K

$11.30 ₫297.1K

-15.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₫14.9K

$0.91 ₫23.9K

-37.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₫24.4K

$1.42 ₫37.5K

-34.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫9,040

$0.28 ₫7,399

21.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.61 ₫173.7K

$10.74 ₫282.5K

-38.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 ₫10.3K

$0.68 ₫17.8K

-42.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₫16.0K

$0.63 ₫16.5K

-3.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.16 ₫83.0K

$3.02 ₫79.4K

4.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₫22.2K

$0.82 ₫21.6K

2.44%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.9K ₫995.7M

$37.7K ₫990.5M

0.53%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.9K ₫891.9M

$33.5K ₫881.9M

1.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$37.69 ₫990.9K

$83.2 ₫2.2M

-54.69%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.85 ₫153.8K

$5.76 ₫151.6K

1.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.43 ₫169.0K

$9.26 ₫243.6K

-30.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.78 ₫572.6K

$21.01 ₫552.3K

3.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.65 ₫201.1K

$9.72 ₫255.4K

-21.30%

Cinema Ticket

$2.89 ₫75.9K

$4.28 ₫112.4K

-32.48%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$271 ₫7.1M

$280 ₫7.4M

-3.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.0K ₫367.7M

$14.1K ₫369.7M

-0.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.38 ₫825.1K

$42.71 ₫1.1M

-26.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.27 ₫401.5K

$26.93 ₫708.0K

-43.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 ₫2.0M

$97.1 ₫2.6M

-19.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.3 ₫1.8M

$84.8 ₫2.2M

-19.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$260 ₫6.8M

$539 ₫14.2M

-51.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$163 ₫4.3M

$306 ₫8.0M

-46.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 ₫16.2M

$1,110 ₫29.2M

-44.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 ₫10.2M

$645 ₫17.0M

-39.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,538 ₫40.4M

$4,555 ₫119.8M

-66.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$954 ₫25.1M

$1,818 ₫47.8M

-47.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$342 ₫9.0M

$495 ₫13.0M

-30.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

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

Last update for Binh Duong: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Binh Duong and $539 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 45% 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: $12.00 in Binh Duong vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $194 per month, with Binh Duong 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

Binh Duong vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($565 vs $808 including rent). Binh Duong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 45% lower in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $260 in Binh Duong versus $539 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Binh Duong – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $565 per month in Binh Duong versus $808 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Binh Duong gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Binh Duong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.