Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Kandy Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Kandy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $738 in Hanoi versus $535 in Kandy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Hanoi versus $854 in Kandy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,707 in Hanoi versus $1,173 in Kandy.

Living in Hanoi is roughly 38% more expensive than in Kandy, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hanoi 45% lower, Kandy 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ₫51.3K

$2.75 LKR 924

-29.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.50 ₫697.7K

$11.88 LKR 3,992

123.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.71 ₫123.9K

$6.36 LKR 2,138

-25.94%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₫46.8K

$2.63 LKR 885

-32.32%

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

$0.45 ₫11.8K

$0.60 LKR 201

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₫6,541

$0.32 LKR 109

-21.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 ₫26.2K

$2.13 LKR 716

-53.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 ₫49.8K

$3.37 LKR 1,134

-43.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 ₫35.8K

$1.41 LKR 473

-3.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₫25.6K

$0.52 LKR 173

86.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₫23.9K

$0.86 LKR 289

5.81%

Eggs

$1.56 ₫41.0K

$2.17 LKR 729

-28.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.98 ₫236.4K

$8.61 LKR 2,894

4.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.81 ₫100.4K

$4.53 LKR 1,524

-15.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.73 ₫256.2K

$7.97 LKR 2,680

22.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ₫88.1K

$4.48 LKR 1,507

-25.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.8K

$0.97 LKR 327

5.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ₫42.0K

$3.77 LKR 1,266

-57.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.2K

$1.21 LKR 405

-11.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.0K

$1.16 LKR 391

-7.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 ₫26.7K

$1.25 LKR 420

-19.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₫14.6K

$0.78 LKR 262

-28.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ₫15.0K

$0.56 LKR 188

1.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 ₫36.3K

$9.28 LKR 3,119

-85.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.18 ₫347.0K

$11.47 LKR 3,854

14.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₫24.9K

$2.10 LKR 705

-54.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 ₫45.8K

$2.74 LKR 921

-36.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫8,911

$0.18 LKR 59.6

88.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.86 ₫206.9K

$15.28 LKR 5,136

-48.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 ₫21.2K

$0.39 LKR 130

105.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₫15.8K

$0.33 LKR 110

81.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 ₫42.3K

$0.43 LKR 146

274.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 ₫23.9K

$1.25 LKR 421

-27.20%

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

$38.5K ₫1.0B

$17.8K LKR 6.0M

116.95%

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

$31.2K ₫822.2M

$21.7K LKR 7.3M

44.19%

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

$78.4 ₫2.1M

$40.58 LKR 13.6K

93.25%

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

$5.27 ₫138.6K

$4.37 LKR 1,470

20.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.75 ₫230.3K

$15.38 LKR 5,170

-43.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.24 ₫743.4K

$14.79 LKR 4,970

90.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.27 ₫296.8K

$5.71 LKR 1,919

97.37%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 ₫103.5K

$3.42 LKR 1,150

14.91%

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

$263 ₫6.9M

$36.45 LKR 12.3K

620.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₫307.0M

$324 LKR 108.9K

3499.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.70 ₫1.2M

$27.66 LKR 9,298

57.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.41 ₫616.3K

$14.38 LKR 4,833

62.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.2 ₫2.4M

$56.1 LKR 18.8K

60.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ₫1.9M

$30.16 LKR 10.1K

138.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 ₫8.8M

$136 LKR 45.9K

143.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$254 ₫6.7M

$83.4 LKR 28.0K

204.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₫20.3M

$219 LKR 73.6K

252.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 ₫15.5M

$161 LKR 54.2K

265.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,862 ₫128.0M

$392 LKR 131.9K

1139.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,773 ₫73.0M

$399 LKR 134.2K

594.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$519 ₫13.7M

$261 LKR 87.6K

99.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

-39.33%

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

Last update for Hanoi: July 20, 2026

Last update for Kandy: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $333 in Hanoi and $136 in Kandy. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hanoi pays 99% 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 Kandy. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $208, with Hanoi cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kandy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hanoi and Kandy differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($738 vs $535 including rent). Kandy is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 99% 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: $333 in Hanoi versus $136 in Kandy. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Kandy runs roughly 94% less than in Hanoi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $263 in Hanoi versus $36.45 in Kandy. 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 Kandy 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 Kandy 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 Kandy gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.