Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Dong Hoi Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Dong Hoi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $759 in Hanoi versus $698 in Dong Hoi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,237 in Hanoi versus $1,043 in Dong Hoi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,715 in Hanoi versus $1,387 in Dong Hoi.

Living in Hanoi is roughly 9% more expensive than Dong Hoi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hanoi 43% lower, Dong Hoi 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ₫51.8K

$1.14 ₫29.9K

72.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.89 ₫706.5K

$11.67 ₫306.7K

130.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 ₫119.7K

$4.74 ₫124.4K

-3.80%

Cappuccino

$1.80 ₫47.2K

$1.42 ₫37.2K

26.76%

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

$0.49 ₫12.7K

$0.54 ₫14.2K

-9.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₫7,104

$0.31 ₫8,260

-12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ₫24.7K

$0.76 ₫20.1K

23.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₫51.4K

$1.18 ₫31.1K

66.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 ₫36.0K

$1.38 ₫36.3K

-0.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ₫25.9K

$0.92 ₫24.1K

7.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₫24.0K

$1.17 ₫30.8K

-22.22%

Eggs

$1.55 ₫40.8K

$1.45 ₫38.2K

6.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.19 ₫241.5K

$12.32 ₫323.7K

-25.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.86 ₫101.5K

$3.36 ₫88.3K

14.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.81 ₫257.7K

$9.62 ₫252.8K

1.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 ₫86.5K

$2.75 ₫72.3K

19.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.8K

$0.92 ₫24.1K

15.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 ₫41.1K

$1.13 ₫29.6K

38.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.4K

$1.09 ₫28.7K

2.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$1.10 ₫28.9K

-7.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 ₫26.4K

$1.20 ₫31.6K

-15.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₫14.8K

$1.00 ₫26.4K

-44.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₫14.2K

$0.52 ₫13.6K

3.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.7K

$1.37 ₫36.0K

-0.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.09 ₫343.8K

$7.51 ₫197.3K

74.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₫25.6K

$0.80 ₫21.1K

22.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ₫46.0K

$1.65 ₫43.4K

6.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₫9,517

$0.31 ₫8,245

16.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.73 ₫203.0K

$6.38 ₫167.6K

21.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₫21.2K

$0.88 ₫23.3K

-7.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₫15.1K

$0.69 ₫18.2K

-15.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 ₫41.9K

$2.83 ₫74.3K

-43.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 ₫22.5K

$0.85 ₫22.4K

1.18%

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

$37.8K ₫994.4M

$26.7K ₫702.0M

41.64%

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

$31.8K ₫834.9M

$28.8K ₫756.7M

10.34%

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

$78.9 ₫2.1M

$65.6 ₫1.7M

20.25%

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

$5.13 ₫134.8K

$5.79 ₫152.0K

-11.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.93 ₫234.5K

$8.46 ₫222.2K

5.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.05 ₫737.0K

$20.97 ₫551.0K

33.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.35 ₫298.1K

$7.44 ₫195.5K

52.55%

Cinema Ticket

$3.77 ₫99.0K

$3.04 ₫79.8K

24.01%

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

$264 ₫6.9M

$154 ₫4.0M

71.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₫303.3M

$12.8K ₫337.5M

-10.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.92 ₫1.2M

$39.70 ₫1.0M

13.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.90 ₫601.6K

$25.65 ₫673.8K

-10.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 ₫2.3M

$52.5 ₫1.4M

69.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 ₫1.9M

$77.3 ₫2.0M

-7.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 ₫8.7M

$353 ₫9.3M

-6.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₫6.6M

$249 ₫6.5M

0.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₫20.3M

$678 ₫17.8M

13.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 ₫15.6M

$474 ₫12.5M

25.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,919 ₫129.3M

$4,224 ₫111.0M

16.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,835 ₫74.5M

$1,652 ₫43.4M

71.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ₫13.2M

$394 ₫10.4M

27.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

30.00%

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

Last update for Hanoi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Dong Hoi: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $331 in Hanoi and $353 in Dong Hoi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hanoi pays 27% 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 Dong Hoi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $184 per month, with Dong Hoi 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 Dong Hoi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hanoi and Dong Hoi differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($759 vs $698 including rent). Dong Hoi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Hanoi pays 27% more on average, 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: $331 in Hanoi versus $353 in Dong Hoi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $759 per month in Hanoi versus $698 in Dong Hoi – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Dong Hoi runs roughly 21% less than in Hanoi. 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 Dong Hoi 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, Hanoi and Dong Hoi 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 Dong Hoi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.