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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $665 in Hai Phong versus $808 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,274 in Hai Phong versus $1,306 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,883 in Hai Phong versus $1,803 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Living in Hai Phong costs roughly 18% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hai Phong 50% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.51 ₫39.6K

$2.07 ₫54.3K

-27.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.94 ₫524.3K

$22.64 ₫595.2K

-11.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.25 ₫111.6K

$4.72 ₫124.2K

-9.96%

Cappuccino

$1.86 ₫48.9K

$1.79 ₫46.9K

3.91%

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

$0.49 ₫12.9K

$0.47 ₫12.5K

4.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₫6,494

$0.28 ₫7,257

-10.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.75 ₫19.8K

$1.00 ₫26.4K

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₫39.4K

$1.58 ₫41.6K

-5.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 ₫36.4K

$1.53 ₫40.2K

-9.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 ₫14.8K

$0.99 ₫26.0K

-43.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 ₫22.0K

$1.02 ₫26.7K

-17.65%

Eggs

$1.50 ₫39.5K

$1.43 ₫37.5K

4.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₫240.4K

$11.46 ₫301.4K

-20.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.91 ₫102.8K

$3.62 ₫95.1K

8.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.14 ₫214.0K

$10.56 ₫277.6K

-22.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.25 ₫85.4K

$2.72 ₫71.6K

19.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$1.10 ₫28.9K

-7.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ₫42.9K

$1.30 ₫34.2K

25.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.4K

$1.14 ₫29.8K

-1.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 ₫27.3K

$1.12 ₫29.6K

-7.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 ₫27.4K

$1.18 ₫31.1K

-11.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₫14.7K

$0.70 ₫18.4K

-20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.7K

$0.47 ₫12.4K

2.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.16 ₫30.5K

$1.28 ₫33.6K

-9.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.20 ₫320.7K

$11.30 ₫297.1K

7.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₫19.9K

$0.91 ₫23.9K

-16.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 ₫46.4K

$1.42 ₫37.5K

24.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ₫10.8K

$0.28 ₫7,399

46.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.77 ₫151.8K

$10.74 ₫282.5K

-46.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₫19.4K

$0.68 ₫17.8K

8.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 ₫14.9K

$0.63 ₫16.5K

-9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 ₫42.0K

$3.02 ₫79.4K

-47.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 ₫21.4K

$0.82 ₫21.6K

-1.22%

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

$38.4K ₫1.0B

$37.7K ₫990.5M

1.95%

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

$31.8K ₫835.1M

$33.5K ₫881.9M

-5.30%

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

$37.73 ₫992.1K

$83.2 ₫2.2M

-54.65%

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

$5.33 ₫140.1K

$5.76 ₫151.6K

-7.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.90 ₫234.0K

$9.26 ₫243.6K

-3.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.36 ₫614.1K

$21.01 ₫552.3K

11.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.81 ₫205.4K

$9.72 ₫255.4K

-19.65%

Cinema Ticket

$3.77 ₫99.1K

$4.28 ₫112.4K

-11.92%

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

$263 ₫6.9M

$280 ₫7.4M

-5.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K ₫309.6M

$14.1K ₫369.7M

-16.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.68 ₫1.1M

$42.71 ₫1.1M

2.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.46 ₫616.9K

$26.93 ₫708.0K

-12.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 ₫2.3M

$97.1 ₫2.6M

-9.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.8 ₫1.9M

$84.8 ₫2.2M

-12.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$413 ₫10.9M

$539 ₫14.2M

-23.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$244 ₫6.4M

$306 ₫8.0M

-20.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$692 ₫18.2M

$1,110 ₫29.2M

-37.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$873 ₫22.9M

$645 ₫17.0M

35.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,326 ₫34.9M

$4,555 ₫119.8M

-70.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$966 ₫25.4M

$1,818 ₫47.8M

-46.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$504 ₫13.2M

$495 ₫13.0M

1.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.99

9.14

-34.46%

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

Last update for Hai Phong: July 12, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $413 in Hai Phong and $539 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hai Phong pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $20.00 in Hai Phong vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $194 per month, with Hai Phong 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

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

Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($665 vs $808 including rent). Hai Phong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 2% higher in Hai Phong, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $413 in Hai Phong versus $539 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $665 per month in Hai Phong versus $808 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Hai Phong runs roughly 86% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Hai Phong 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, Hai Phong 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 Hai Phong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.