For one person, living is cheaper in Vietnam: $761 a month against $2,065 in Germany, rent and utilities included – about $15,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Germany and in Vietnam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,065 in Germany versus $761 in Vietnam.
Germany $2,065
Vietnam $761
Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,136 in Germany versus $1,197 in Vietnam.
Germany $3,136
Vietnam $1,197
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,208 in Germany versus $1,633 in Vietnam.
Germany $4,208
Vietnam $1,633
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Germany: monthly costs span $1,345 to $2,663, compared to $440–$876 in Vietnam. City choice carries more weight in Germany.
🌍
Living in Germany is roughly 171% more expensive than in Vietnam on average.
📊
Germany (52% above) and Vietnam (44% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Germany
Vietnam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.61€14.77
$1.95₫50.6K
751.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4€64.4
$19.14₫495.5K
278.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.15€10.81
$4.72₫122.2K
157.42%
Cappuccino
$3.96€3.52
$1.70₫44.1K
132.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45€3.07
$0.49₫12.6K
604.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06€2.72
$0.30₫7,687
920.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.19€4.62
$1.00₫26.0K
419.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€4.08
$1.56₫40.3K
194.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Germany
Vietnam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27€1.13
$1.47₫38.1K
-13.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13€1.90
$0.95₫24.7K
124.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.56€3.17
$0.92₫23.8K
286.96%
Eggs
$3.79€3.37
$1.49₫38.5K
154.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.65€13.03
$11.78₫305.0K
24.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.78€10.48
$3.81₫98.7K
209.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.78€18.48
$9.67₫250.4K
114.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.82
$2.81₫72.8K
12.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98€1.76
$1.11₫28.6K
78.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21€1.96
$1.40₫36.3K
57.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.28€3.81
$1.26₫32.6K
239.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45€1.29
$1.10₫28.4K
31.82%
Onion(1kg)
$1.49€1.33
$1.21₫31.2K
23.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67€1.49
$0.72₫18.7K
131.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07€0.95
$0.48₫12.4K
122.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.90€8.81
$1.42₫36.8K
597.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.56€5.83
$9.92₫256.9K
-33.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09€0.97
$0.87₫22.6K
25.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60€1.43
$1.47₫38.1K
8.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Germany
Vietnam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.84€3.42
$0.32₫8,167
1100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.9€63.1
$8.50₫220.1K
734.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.52€4.91
$0.74₫19.1K
645.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.74€2.44
$0.60₫15.6K
356.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.54€34.28
$2.28₫59.0K
1590.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11€1.87
$0.95₫24.6K
122.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K€29.3K
$31.0K₫801.9M
6.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K€34.4K
$29.3K₫759.3M
32.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Germany
Vietnam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$338€301
$72.8₫1.9M
364.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.76€22.02
$5.76₫149.2K
329.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.37€42.13
$9.52₫246.3K
397.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Germany
Vietnam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.14€36.59
$21.61₫559.4K
90.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.41€24.38
$8.95₫231.8K
206.26%
Cinema Ticket
$14.31€12.73
$3.90₫101.0K
266.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Germany
Vietnam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$573€510
$375₫9.7M
52.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.6K€15.6K
$19.9K₫514.4M
-11.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Germany
Vietnam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.1€79.3
$42.55₫1.1M
109.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.77€38.04
$26.11₫676.0K
63.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5€88.5
$87.4₫2.3M
13.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132€117
$77.9₫2.0M
69.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Germany
Vietnam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$896€797
$407₫10.5M
120.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$703€625
$272₫7.0M
158.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,675€1,490
$831₫21.5M
101.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,314€1,169
$551₫14.3M
138.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,163€5,482
$3,676₫95.2M
67.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,027€3,582
$1,896₫49.1M
112.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Germany
Vietnam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,219€2,864
$410₫10.6M
685.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.96
8.75
-54.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Germany: October 19, 2026
Last update for Vietnam: October 18, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Germany
$703 34%
Vietnam
$272 35.7% ↓ 61.4%$431
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Germany
$410 19.9%
Vietnam
$88 11.6% ↓ 78.5%$322
🛒Groceries & Markets
Germany
$335 16.2%
Vietnam
$191 25.2% ↓ 42.9%$144
🍽Eating Out
Germany
$278 13.5%
Vietnam
$61 8.1% ↓ 77.9%$217
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Germany
$163 7.9%
Vietnam
$105 13.8% ↓ 35.6%$58
🚌Getting Around
Germany
$105 5.1%
Vietnam
$14 1.8% ↓ 87.2%$92
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Germany
$70 3.4%
Vietnam
$29 3.9% ↓ 57.8%$40
🏠Accommodation & Living
Germany
$1.3K 31.2%
Vietnam
$551 33.8% ↓ 58.1%$763
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Germany
$435 10.3%
Vietnam
$94 5.8% ↓ 78.4%$341
🛒Groceries & Markets
Germany
$794 18.9%
Vietnam
$444 27.2% ↓ 44.1%$350
🍽Eating Out
Germany
$916 21.8%
Vietnam
$214 13.1% ↓ 76.6%$702
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Germany
$363 8.6%
Vietnam
$234 14.3% ↓ 35.6%$129
🚌Getting Around
Germany
$219 5.2%
Vietnam
$28 1.7% ↓ 87.4%$191
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Germany
$167 4%
Vietnam
$68 4.2% ↓ 59.4%$99
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $800 in Germany, $376 in Vietnam. Capital cities: $1,398 in Berlin vs $414 in Hanoi.
💰National salary averages: $3,119 in Germany, $343 in Vietnam. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 113% higher in Germany.
⭐Dining out costs 255% more in Germany.
⭐Public transport is 1000% more expensive in Germany.
⭐Salaries are 809% higher in Germany, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Germany.
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
Germany vs Vietnam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Germany or Vietnam?
At $2,065 per month in Germany and $761 in Vietnam, there's a 171% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Germany or Vietnam?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Vietnam: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between Germany and Vietnam?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $800 in Germany and $376 in Vietnam. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $1,200 go in Germany compared to Vietnam?
In Vietnam, $1,200 covers most cities easily; in Germany it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Germany and in Vietnam?
It depends on what you're after: Vietnam wins on affordability; Germany may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.