Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Bac Kan Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Bac Kan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $805 in Hanoi versus $774 in Bac Kan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Hanoi versus $1,242 in Bac Kan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,641 in Hanoi versus $1,710 in Bac Kan.

Living in Hanoi is roughly 4% more expensive than in Bac Kan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hanoi 41% lower, Bac Kan 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 ₫53.3K

$2.07 ₫53.9K

-0.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.43 ₫557.6K

$21.41 ₫556.9K

0.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.45 ₫115.8K

$4.42 ₫115.1K

0.68%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ₫47.5K

$1.84 ₫47.8K

-0.54%

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

$0.49 ₫12.6K

$0.49 ₫12.8K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₫8,090

$0.30 ₫7,847

3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 ₫30.8K

$1.18 ₫30.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₫49.4K

$1.97 ₫51.2K

-3.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ₫40.1K

$1.50 ₫39.0K

2.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 ₫26.4K

$1.00 ₫26.1K

1.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 ₫21.0K

$0.76 ₫19.8K

6.58%

Eggs

$1.52 ₫39.5K

$1.42 ₫37.1K

7.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.52 ₫273.8K

$10.58 ₫275.4K

-0.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ₫98.4K

$3.87 ₫100.8K

-2.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.66 ₫251.4K

$10.08 ₫262.2K

-4.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 ₫80.8K

$3.10 ₫80.6K

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 ₫27.4K

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 ₫34.7K

$1.33 ₫34.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.4K

$1.09 ₫28.3K

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 ₫24.3K

$0.92 ₫23.9K

2.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.5K

$1.13 ₫29.3K

-3.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₫14.2K

$0.59 ₫15.3K

-6.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₫13.5K

$0.55 ₫14.3K

-5.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.4K

$1.43 ₫37.2K

-4.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.30 ₫320.1K

$12.54 ₫326.2K

-1.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₫22.5K

$0.95 ₫24.8K

-8.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₫42.9K

$1.61 ₫41.9K

2.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₫10.2K

$0.34 ₫8,876

14.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.34 ₫242.9K

$6.69 ₫174.1K

39.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 ₫20.9K

$0.81 ₫21.0K

-1.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₫14.5K

$0.60 ₫15.5K

-6.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 ₫60.5K

$2.38 ₫61.9K

-2.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₫21.8K

$0.84 ₫22.0K

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

$30.9K ₫803.1M

$31.2K ₫811.3M

-1.02%

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

$30.6K ₫795.3M

$30.3K ₫787.6M

0.98%

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

$84.6 ₫2.2M

$82.5 ₫2.1M

2.50%

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

$4.86 ₫126.6K

$5.14 ₫133.7K

-5.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.59 ₫223.4K

$9.10 ₫236.8K

-5.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.25 ₫630.9K

$22.38 ₫582.3K

8.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.66 ₫251.2K

$7.81 ₫203.3K

23.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.24 ₫110.4K

$4.15 ₫108.0K

2.17%

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

$727 ₫18.9M

$164 ₫4.3M

343.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.1K ₫705.6M

$27.2K ₫706.9M

-0.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.38 ₫1.2M

$48.59 ₫1.3M

-4.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.86 ₫672.8K

$27.02 ₫703.1K

-4.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 ₫2.2M

$84.4 ₫2.2M

0.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.2 ₫2.1M

$85.1 ₫2.2M

-3.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 ₫10.7M

$407 ₫10.6M

0.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 ₫7.2M

$281 ₫7.3M

-1.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$882 ₫22.9M

$739 ₫19.2M

19.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₫14.0M

$614 ₫16.0M

-12.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,583 ₫119.2M

$2,822 ₫73.4M

62.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,750 ₫71.6M

$1,307 ₫34.0M

110.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$490 ₫12.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.45

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

Last update for Hanoi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bac Kan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $410 in Hanoi and $407 in Bac Kan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Hanoi vs $21.00 in Bac Kan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $195 per month, with Hanoi 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

Hanoi vs Bac Kan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bac Kan is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,207 in Hanoi and $1,161 in Bac Kan 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $410 in Hanoi versus $407 in Bac Kan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Bac Kan – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $21.00 in Hanoi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $805 per month in Hanoi versus $774 in Bac Kan – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Bac Kan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Bac Kan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hanoi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Hanoi and Bac Kan 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 Bac Kan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.