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: $758 in Hanoi versus $486 in Hue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,241 in Hanoi versus $845 in Hue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,724 in Hanoi versus $1,204 in Hue.

Living in Hanoi is roughly 56% more expensive than in Hue, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hanoi 43% lower, Hue 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.91 ₫50.1K

$1.18 ₫31.0K

61.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.24 ₫716.1K

$10.80 ₫284.1K

152.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.62 ₫121.4K

$4.44 ₫116.6K

4.05%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₫47.2K

$1.05 ₫27.5K

70.48%

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

$0.49 ₫12.8K

$0.50 ₫13.2K

-2.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₫7,105

$0.31 ₫8,189

-12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 ₫24.4K

$0.76 ₫19.9K

22.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₫51.1K

$1.12 ₫29.5K

73.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 ₫37.4K

$1.35 ₫35.4K

5.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 ₫25.9K

$0.95 ₫24.9K

3.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₫24.0K

$0.61 ₫16.1K

49.18%

Eggs

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$1.12 ₫29.5K

33.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.94 ₫235.2K

$12.53 ₫329.5K

-28.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ₫99.4K

$3.67 ₫96.4K

3.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.49 ₫249.4K

$9.97 ₫262.0K

-4.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ₫85.7K

$2.20 ₫57.7K

48.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.9K

$0.62 ₫16.3K

70.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ₫42.0K

$1.07 ₫28.1K

49.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 ₫28.5K

$0.53 ₫14.0K

103.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.2K

$0.65 ₫17.2K

64.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 ₫27.7K

$0.71 ₫18.8K

47.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₫14.5K

$0.65 ₫17.2K

-15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₫14.9K

$0.36 ₫9,341

58.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 ₫36.2K

$1.32 ₫34.6K

4.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.54 ₫355.9K

$7.82 ₫205.7K

73.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₫23.6K

$0.79 ₫20.9K

13.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 ₫46.2K

$1.32 ₫34.7K

33.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 ₫8,777

$0.33 ₫8,697

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.56 ₫198.8K

$7.45 ₫195.8K

1.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₫21.2K

$0.46 ₫12.1K

76.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₫16.0K

$0.61 ₫16.1K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 ₫42.0K

$2.43 ₫63.8K

-34.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₫22.1K

$0.75 ₫19.6K

12.00%

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

$38.6K ₫1.0B

$32.1K ₫842.8M

20.29%

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

$32.3K ₫848.0M

$28.7K ₫754.9M

12.33%

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

$78.8 ₫2.1M

$37.49 ₫985.6K

110.27%

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

$5.14 ₫135.2K

$5.90 ₫155.1K

-12.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.79 ₫231.1K

$7.72 ₫203.0K

13.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.49 ₫749.1K

$50.9 ₫1.3M

-43.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.02 ₫289.7K

$7.54 ₫198.3K

46.15%

Cinema Ticket

$3.74 ₫98.5K

$3.14 ₫82.4K

19.11%

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

$269 ₫7.1M

$156 ₫4.1M

72.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K ₫300.7M

$8,917 ₫234.4M

28.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.01 ₫1.2M

$30.77 ₫809.0K

46.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.24 ₫611.1K

$18.67 ₫491.0K

24.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 ₫2.3M

$38.65 ₫1.0M

127.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.5 ₫1.9M

$37.60 ₫988.6K

95.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$329 ₫8.6M

$132 ₫3.5M

148.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₫6.5M

$97.0 ₫2.6M

155.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$771 ₫20.3M

$522 ₫13.7M

47.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$608 ₫16.0M

$352 ₫9.3M

72.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,891 ₫128.6M

$1,464 ₫38.5M

234.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,709 ₫71.2M

$1,122 ₫29.5M

141.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$516 ₫13.6M

$283 ₫7.5M

82.04%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Hue: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Hanoi and $132 in Hue. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hanoi pays 82% 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 $192 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 56% in total monthly costs ($758 vs $486 including rent). Hue is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 82% 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 $132 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 1% less than in Hanoi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $269 in Hanoi versus $156 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 56% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.