Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Bien Hoa Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Bien Hoa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $758 in Hanoi versus $634 in Bien Hoa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,241 in Hanoi versus $909 in Bien Hoa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,724 in Hanoi versus $1,184 in Bien Hoa.

Living in Hanoi is roughly 20% more expensive than in Bien Hoa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hanoi 43% lower, Bien Hoa 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.91 ₫50.1K

$1.88 ₫49.4K

1.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.24 ₫716.1K

$11.67 ₫306.9K

133.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 ₫121.4K

$4.49 ₫118.1K

2.90%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₫47.2K

$1.12 ₫29.5K

59.82%

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

$0.49 ₫12.8K

$0.44 ₫11.6K

11.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₫7,105

$0.23 ₫6,062

17.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 ₫24.4K

$0.51 ₫13.5K

82.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₫51.1K

$0.75 ₫19.7K

158.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 ₫37.4K

$1.27 ₫33.3K

11.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ₫25.9K

$0.75 ₫19.8K

30.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₫24.0K

$0.86 ₫22.7K

5.81%

Eggs

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$1.40 ₫36.9K

6.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.94 ₫235.2K

$11.71 ₫307.8K

-23.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ₫99.4K

$1.95 ₫51.4K

93.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ₫249.4K

$9.42 ₫247.8K

0.74%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ₫85.7K

$2.14 ₫56.3K

52.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.9K

$1.15 ₫30.3K

-7.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ₫42.0K

$1.16 ₫30.6K

37.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 ₫28.5K

$0.99 ₫26.1K

9.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.2K

$1.16 ₫30.4K

-7.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 ₫27.7K

$1.23 ₫32.4K

-14.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₫14.5K

$0.41 ₫10.7K

34.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₫14.9K

$0.50 ₫13.1K

14.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 ₫36.2K

$1.24 ₫32.5K

11.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.54 ₫355.9K

$7.67 ₫201.6K

76.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

$0.43 ₫11.3K

109.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₫46.2K

$0.79 ₫20.8K

122.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 ₫8,777

$0.35 ₫9,102

-5.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.56 ₫198.8K

$7.25 ₫190.7K

4.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₫21.2K

$0.43 ₫11.4K

88.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₫16.0K

$0.68 ₫17.8K

-10.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 ₫42.0K

$1.13 ₫29.6K

41.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₫22.1K

$0.83 ₫21.7K

1.20%

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

$38.6K ₫1.0B

$37.6K ₫988.0M

2.61%

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

$32.3K ₫848.0M

$28.0K ₫735.3M

15.32%

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

$78.8 ₫2.1M

$50.3 ₫1.3M

56.69%

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

$5.14 ₫135.2K

$4.29 ₫112.8K

19.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.79 ₫231.1K

$6.90 ₫181.4K

27.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.49 ₫749.1K

$10.82 ₫284.5K

163.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.02 ₫289.7K

$7.76 ₫204.0K

42.01%

Cinema Ticket

$3.74 ₫98.5K

$3.49 ₫91.9K

7.16%

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

$269 ₫7.1M

$67.3 ₫1.8M

298.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₫300.7M

$14.2K ₫372.2M

-19.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.01 ₫1.2M

$17.01 ₫447.2K

164.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.24 ₫611.1K

$15.55 ₫408.9K

49.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 ₫2.3M

$69.8 ₫1.8M

25.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ₫1.9M

$87.7 ₫2.3M

-16.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 ₫8.6M

$353 ₫9.3M

-6.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₫6.5M

$244 ₫6.4M

1.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$771 ₫20.3M

$420 ₫11.0M

83.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$608 ₫16.0M

$303 ₫8.0M

100.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,891 ₫128.6M

$1,549 ₫40.7M

215.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,709 ₫71.2M

$608 ₫16.0M

345.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$516 ₫13.6M

$344 ₫9.1M

49.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

7.8

16.67%

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

Last update for Hanoi: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bien Hoa: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Hanoi and $353 in Bien Hoa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hanoi pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $27.00 in Hanoi vs $12.00 in Bien Hoa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $162 per month, with Bien Hoa 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 Bien Hoa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bien Hoa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 50% higher in Hanoi, 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: $329 in Hanoi versus $353 in Bien Hoa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Hanoi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Bien Hoa – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $27.00 in Hanoi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

For families, Bien Hoa 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 Bien Hoa 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 Bien Hoa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.