Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Vietnam Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Vietnam

😐 Solo nomad: China is 17.9% more expensive than Vietnam without rent, and 9.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: China is 17.8% more expensive than Vietnam without rent, and 13.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Vietnam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$1.86 ₫48.5K
53.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$21.18 ₫551K
13.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$4.52 ₫117.6K
9.73%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$1.71 ₫44.4K
83.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$0.47 ₫12.1K
-6.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.29 ₫7,617
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$0.93 ₫24.1K
2.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$1.57 ₫40.7K
36.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Vietnam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$1.44 ₫37.4K
28.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$0.91 ₫23.6K
84.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$0.88 ₫22.9K
7.95%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$1.53 ₫39.9K
1.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$11.53 ₫299.9K
14.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$3.58 ₫93.1K
-8.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$10.14 ₫263.8K
7.00%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$2.8 ₫72.9K
-36.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$1.09 ₫28.4K
15.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$1.32 ₫34.2K
13.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$1.08 ₫28K
10.19%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$1.1 ₫28.5K
-31.82%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$1.13 ₫29.4K
-23.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$0.73 ₫19K
-16.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$0.52 ₫13.6K
11.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$1.33 ₫34.6K
159.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$10.14 ₫263.9K
11.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$0.79 ₫20.7K
6.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$1.46 ₫37.9K
15.07%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Vietnam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$0.32 ₫8,386
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$7.68 ₫199.9K
171.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$0.7 ₫18.3K
94.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$0.62 ₫16.1K
-43.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$3.72 ₫96.7K
82.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$0.85 ₫22.1K
31.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$36.4K ₫946.7M
-47.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$33.6K ₫873.1M
-50.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Vietnam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$71.7 ₫1.9M
-28.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$5.61 ₫146K
74.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$8.78 ₫228.5K
29.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Vietnam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$21.98 ₫571.9K
79.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$8.16 ₫212.4K
82.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$3.82 ₫99.4K
63.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Vietnam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$237 ₫6.2M
75.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$12.3K ₫320.5M
43.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Vietnam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$36.77 ₫956.8K
24.15%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$24.23 ₫630.4K
38.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$87 ₫2.3M
-17.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$79.7 ₫2.1M
-8.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Vietnam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$377 ₫9.8M
18.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$245 ₫6.4M
3.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$799 ₫20.8M
14.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$530 ₫13.8M
2.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$3,031 ₫78.9M
102.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$1,670 ₫43.5M
71.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Vietnam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$443 ₫11.5M
112.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
9.37
-56.67%

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

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for Vietnam: October 29, 2025

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