Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Hue Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Hue

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $759 in Hanoi versus $499 in Hue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,237 in Hanoi versus $857 in Hue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,715 in Hanoi versus $1,216 in Hue.

Living in Hanoi is roughly 52% more expensive than Hue, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hanoi 43% lower, Hue 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ₫51.8K

$1.14 ₫29.9K

72.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.89 ₫706.9K

$10.89 ₫286.4K

146.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 ₫119.8K

$4.48 ₫117.8K

1.79%

Cappuccino

$1.80 ₫47.2K

$1.04 ₫27.4K

73.08%

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

$0.49 ₫12.8K

$0.50 ₫13.1K

-2.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₫7,108

$0.29 ₫7,577

-6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ₫24.7K

$0.80 ₫21.1K

17.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₫51.5K

$1.14 ₫29.9K

71.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 ₫36.0K

$1.35 ₫35.5K

1.48%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ₫25.9K

$1.01 ₫26.6K

-1.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₫24.0K

$0.62 ₫16.3K

46.77%

Eggs

$1.55 ₫40.8K

$1.12 ₫29.5K

38.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.19 ₫241.6K

$12.35 ₫324.6K

-25.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.86 ₫101.6K

$3.75 ₫98.6K

2.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.81 ₫257.8K

$9.79 ₫257.3K

0.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 ₫86.6K

$2.20 ₫57.9K

49.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.8K

$0.68 ₫17.9K

55.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 ₫41.1K

$1.11 ₫29.2K

40.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.4K

$0.53 ₫13.9K

111.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$0.64 ₫16.9K

59.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 ₫26.4K

$0.74 ₫19.4K

36.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₫14.8K

$0.68 ₫17.9K

-17.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₫14.2K

$0.33 ₫8,619

63.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.7K

$1.38 ₫36.3K

-1.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.09 ₫344.0K

$7.79 ₫204.9K

68.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₫25.7K

$0.75 ₫19.7K

30.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ₫46.0K

$1.31 ₫34.5K

33.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₫9,522

$0.34 ₫8,831

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.73 ₫203.1K

$7.08 ₫186.3K

9.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₫21.2K

$0.45 ₫11.9K

80.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₫15.1K

$0.62 ₫16.3K

-6.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 ₫41.9K

$2.53 ₫66.6K

-36.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 ₫22.5K

$0.75 ₫19.8K

14.67%

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

$37.8K ₫994.9M

$32.5K ₫855.5M

16.30%

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

$31.8K ₫835.4M

$28.0K ₫737.0M

13.36%

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

$78.9 ₫2.1M

$37.04 ₫973.8K

113.09%

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

$5.13 ₫134.8K

$5.83 ₫153.2K

-12.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.93 ₫234.7K

$7.72 ₫203.1K

15.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.05 ₫737.4K

$51.2 ₫1.3M

-45.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.35 ₫298.3K

$7.69 ₫202.2K

47.59%

Cinema Ticket

$3.77 ₫99.1K

$3.08 ₫81.0K

22.40%

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

$264 ₫6.9M

$151 ₫4.0M

74.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₫303.4M

$8,981 ₫236.1M

28.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.92 ₫1.2M

$30.43 ₫800.1K

47.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.90 ₫602.0K

$18.67 ₫490.9K

22.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 ₫2.3M

$37.89 ₫996.1K

135.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 ₫1.9M

$38.06 ₫1.0M

88.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 ₫8.7M

$129 ₫3.4M

156.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₫6.6M

$97.9 ₫2.6M

154.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₫20.3M

$510 ₫13.4M

51.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 ₫15.6M

$349 ₫9.2M

70.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,919 ₫129.3M

$1,473 ₫38.7M

233.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,835 ₫74.5M

$1,100 ₫28.9M

157.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ₫13.2M

$286 ₫7.5M

75.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

6.87

32.46%

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

Last update for Hanoi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Hue: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $331 in Hanoi and $129 in Hue. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hanoi pays 76% 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 $11.00 in Hue for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $170 per month, with Hue 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 Hue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hanoi and Hue differ by about 52% in total monthly costs ($759 vs $499 including rent). Hue is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Hanoi pays 76% 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 $129 in Hue. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Hue runs roughly 9% less than in Hanoi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $264 in Hanoi versus $151 in Hue. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Hue 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 Hue 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 Hue gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.