🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $752 in Cam Pha versus $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Cam Pha versus $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,553 in Cam Pha versus $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Living in Cam Pha costs roughly 9% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cam Pha44% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cam Pha
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95₫51.2K
$2.03₫53.2K
-3.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.41₫693.8K
$22.91₫601.9K
15.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.19₫110.0K
$4.69₫123.3K
-10.66%
Cappuccino
$1.80₫47.4K
$1.69₫44.5K
6.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₫12.8K
$0.50₫13.2K
-2.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27₫7,162
$0.28₫7,263
-3.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.01₫26.5K
$0.99₫26.0K
2.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96₫51.6K
$1.50₫39.3K
30.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cam Pha
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38₫36.4K
$1.48₫38.9K
-6.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91₫24.0K
$1.03₫26.9K
-11.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84₫22.1K
$0.98₫25.9K
-14.29%
Eggs
$1.54₫40.5K
$1.41₫36.9K
9.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.29₫244.2K
$11.88₫312.1K
-21.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.90₫102.4K
$3.60₫94.6K
8.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.36₫245.8K
$10.55₫277.3K
-11.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28₫86.3K
$2.76₫72.5K
18.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.03₫26.9K
$1.10₫28.9K
-6.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63₫42.9K
$1.30₫34.1K
25.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.11₫29.2K
$1.16₫30.6K
-4.31%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07₫28.0K
$1.17₫30.7K
-8.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05₫27.7K
$1.17₫30.9K
-10.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56₫14.8K
$0.70₫18.4K
-20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57₫15.0K
$0.51₫13.4K
11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.36₫35.8K
$1.27₫33.2K
7.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.50₫354.8K
$12.32₫323.6K
9.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96₫25.2K
$0.85₫22.3K
12.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76₫46.2K
$1.49₫39.1K
18.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Cam Pha
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34₫8,970
$0.28₫7,433
21.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.65₫174.7K
$10.75₫282.5K
-38.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79₫20.7K
$0.67₫17.7K
17.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56₫14.8K
$0.69₫18.2K
-18.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.61₫42.2K
$2.99₫78.7K
-46.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86₫22.5K
$0.82₫21.7K
4.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K₫1.0B
$37.5K₫985.9M
3.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K₫839.3M
$33.6K₫881.9M
-4.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cam Pha
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.6₫2.1M
$84.8₫2.2M
-6.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.13₫134.8K
$6.06₫159.3K
-15.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.81₫231.5K
$9.14₫240.2K
-3.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cam Pha
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.24₫558.1K
$20.73₫544.6K
2.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.64₫200.6K
$9.37₫246.3K
-18.46%
Cinema Ticket
$3.74₫98.2K
$4.26₫111.8K
-12.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cam Pha
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₫6.9M
$273₫7.2M
-3.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K₫306.1M
$13.8K₫362.2M
-15.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cam Pha
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.90₫1.2M
$42.85₫1.1M
4.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.57₫619.2K
$27.36₫718.8K
-13.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2₫2.3M
$97.6₫2.6M
-8.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.6₫1.9M
$87.1₫2.3M
-16.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cam Pha
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$353₫9.3M
$526₫13.8M
-32.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$245₫6.4M
$307₫8.1M
-20.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$691₫18.2M
$1,090₫28.6M
-36.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470₫12.3M
$668₫17.6M
-29.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,870₫101.7M
$4,497₫118.2M
-13.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,756₫46.1M
$1,791₫47.1M
-1.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cam Pha
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$509₫13.4M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.1
9.14
-0.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cam Pha: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $353 in Cam Pha and $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Cam Pha vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $198, with Cam Pha cheaper for home cooking.
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
Cam Pha vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cam Pha or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Cam Pha wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cam Pha the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cam Pha vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
You'd need roughly $1,128 in Cam Pha and $1,240 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cam Pha vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Rent for a central apartment: $353 in Cam Pha versus $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Cam Pha vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
A monthly transit pass in Cam Pha runs roughly 62% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Cam Pha and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Childcare runs $264 in Cam Pha versus $273 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $800/month in Cam Pha or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Cam Pha gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cam Pha or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cam Pha delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $752 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cam Pha hard to pass up.
How safe is Cam Pha compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Safety-wise, Cam Pha 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cam Pha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.