Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): $859 a month against $2,318 in Derby, rent and utilities included – about $17,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Derby
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,318
/mo nomad
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$859
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Derby and in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Derby and in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,318 in Derby versus $859 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Derby $2,318
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $859

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,507 in Derby versus $1,395 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Derby $3,507
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,395

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,696 in Derby versus $1,931 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Derby $4,696
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,931

Living in Derby is roughly 170% more expensive than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Derby is 72% above, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 36% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Derby
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.32 A$26.25
$1.91 ₫49.7K
859.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.8 A$111
$22.84 ₫592.3K
240.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.79 A$15.45
$4.54 ₫117.8K
137.67%
Cappuccino
$3.96 A$5.67
$1.85 ₫48.1K
114.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 A$4.35
$0.56 ₫14.6K
441.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 A$2.74
$0.32 ₫8,199
496.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.31 A$10.47
$1.06 ₫27.5K
589.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.47 A$10.71
$1.72 ₫44.6K
334.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Derby
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 A$2.50
$1.66 ₫42.9K
5.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 A$4.10
$1.11 ₫28.7K
157.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.08 A$2.98
$1.00 ₫26.0K
108.00%
Eggs
$4.62 A$6.62
$1.67 ₫43.2K
176.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.77 A$13.99
$12.08 ₫313.3K
-19.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.94 A$12.80
$3.68 ₫95.4K
142.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.60 A$19.48
$10.24 ₫265.6K
32.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.48 A$4.98
$2.96 ₫76.7K
17.57%
Banana (1kg)
$2.98 A$4.28
$1.24 ₫32.2K
140.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.36 A$4.81
$1.56 ₫40.4K
115.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.69 A$6.72
$1.30 ₫33.6K
260.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 A$3.56
$1.23 ₫31.9K
101.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.46 A$3.53
$1.15 ₫29.9K
113.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.35 A$3.37
$0.74 ₫19.1K
217.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 A$2.48
$0.56 ₫14.4K
208.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$40.51 A$58.0
$1.24 ₫32.2K
3166.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.55 A$22.27
$12.60 ₫326.7K
23.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.83 A$6.93
$0.96 ₫24.9K
403.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.65 A$8.09
$1.53 ₫39.6K
269.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Derby
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.54 A$3.64
$0.26 ₫6,706
876.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$87.6 A$125
$11.51 ₫298.4K
660.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 A$4.35
$0.75 ₫19.5K
304.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 A$2.22
$0.67 ₫17.4K
131.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$37.67 A$54.0
$3.03 ₫78.7K
1143.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 A$1.67
$0.96 ₫24.8K
20.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K A$34.4K
$31.1K ₫805.7M
-22.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8K A$44.1K
$30.4K ₫787.3M
1.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derby
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$177 A$253
$102 ₫2.6M
73.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.66 A$35.32
$5.89 ₫152.8K
318.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.9 A$85.9
$10.49 ₫272.1K
471.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Derby
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.44 A$69.4
$25.54 ₫662.3K
89.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.35 A$21.98
$11.92 ₫309.1K
28.78%
Cinema Ticket
$13.46 A$19.27
$3.53 ₫91.5K
281.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Derby
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,070 A$2,965
$436 ₫11.3M
374.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.4K A$26.4K
$23.3K ₫603.9M
-20.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Derby
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0 A$96.0
$52.8 ₫1.4M
27.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.2 A$89.1
$34.15 ₫885.7K
82.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.0 A$130
$90.3 ₫2.3M
0.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 A$188
$95.0 ₫2.5M
38.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Derby
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,518 A$2,174
$589 ₫15.3M
157.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 A$1,501
$298 ₫7.7M
251.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,154 A$3,086
$1,292 ₫33.5M
66.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,853 A$2,654
$711 ₫18.4M
160.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,285 A$7,571
$4,676 ₫121.3M
13.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,699 A$6,731
$1,904 ₫49.4M
146.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Derby
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$490 ₫12.7M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
8.64
-32.41%

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

Last update for Derby: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Derby
$1K
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$298 71.6% $750
Groceries & Markets
Derby
$369
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$207 43.8% $162
Eating Out
Derby
$298
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$63 78.7% $234
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derby
$261
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$118 54.7% $143
Clothing & Footwear
Derby
$158
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$122 22.6% $36
Getting Around
Derby
$109
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$17 84.7% $92
Sport & Entertainment
Derby
$75
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$33 56.7% $43

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,518 in Derby and $589 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $78.0 in Derby vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $369 vs $207 per month, with Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Derby
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🕒 Local time
03:10 3:10 AM
02:10 2:10 AM
1 h behind Derby
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,300
9,456,700
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.698 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 25,934 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 28,951 VND (100,000 VND = 3.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Derby Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 3,630 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Derby
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Derby vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Derby and in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Derby and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) differ by about 170% in total monthly costs ($2,318 vs $859 including rent). Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Derby compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
You'd need roughly $3,477 in Derby and $1,288 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 do apartment prices compare in Derby and in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,518 in Derby versus $589 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 78% higher in Derby. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $78.0 in Derby. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $859 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $2,318 in Derby, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) but tight or insufficient in Derby. The gap between the two cities makes Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Derby and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
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.
Is Derby or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Derby 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.
Where should expats move: Derby or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Expats usually find Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 170% less than in Derby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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