Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Purwokerto Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Purwokerto

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $767 in Hanoi versus $614 in Purwokerto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,256 in Hanoi versus $973 in Purwokerto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,744 in Hanoi versus $1,333 in Purwokerto.

Living in Hanoi is roughly 25% more expensive than Purwokerto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hanoi 43% lower, Purwokerto 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ₫50.9K

$1.26 Rp 21.9K

53.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.16 ₫712.7K

$9.35 Rp 162.0K

190.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.48 ₫117.4K

$3.42 Rp 59.3K

30.99%

Cappuccino

$1.86 ₫48.8K

$1.43 Rp 24.8K

30.07%

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

$0.48 ₫12.6K

$0.36 Rp 6,179

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₫6,487

$0.17 Rp 2,978

47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.92 ₫24.1K

$1.75 Rp 30.3K

-47.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₫49.8K

$3.46 Rp 59.9K

-45.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 ₫35.6K

$1.17 Rp 20.2K

16.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₫25.3K

$1.07 Rp 18.5K

-10.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$0.86 Rp 14.8K

-1.16%

Eggs

$1.55 ₫40.7K

$1.53 Rp 26.5K

1.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 ₫245.8K

$9.04 Rp 156.8K

3.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ₫100.9K

$3.02 Rp 52.4K

27.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.41 ₫246.9K

$7.98 Rp 138.3K

17.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ₫85.6K

$2.27 Rp 39.4K

43.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.0K

$1.35 Rp 23.4K

-20.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 ₫41.5K

$1.66 Rp 28.7K

-4.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.5K

$1.59 Rp 27.6K

-29.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.8K

$1.45 Rp 25.1K

-26.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 ₫26.6K

$2.71 Rp 47.0K

-62.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 ₫13.8K

$0.95 Rp 16.4K

-44.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₫14.7K

$0.32 Rp 5,551

75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.31 ₫34.4K

$2.52 Rp 43.8K

-48.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.32 ₫375.7K

$22.60 Rp 391.8K

-36.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₫25.0K

$2.05 Rp 35.5K

-53.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ₫48.3K

$3.48 Rp 60.2K

-47.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₫9,447

$0.24 Rp 4,142

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.82 ₫205.1K

$9.77 Rp 169.4K

-19.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₫19.6K

$0.73 Rp 12.6K

2.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₫14.7K

$0.75 Rp 13.1K

-25.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 ₫43.9K

$2.50 Rp 43.4K

-33.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₫21.7K

$0.59 Rp 10.2K

40.68%

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

$38.0K ₫998.1M

$24.2K Rp 419.0M

57.36%

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

$32.0K ₫839.7M

$26.0K Rp 449.9M

23.30%

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

$79.6 ₫2.1M

$43.42 Rp 752.6K

83.35%

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

$5.10 ₫133.8K

$4.68 Rp 81.1K

8.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.58 ₫225.1K

$22.93 Rp 397.4K

-62.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.06 ₫736.2K

$18.06 Rp 313.1K

55.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.16 ₫292.7K

$6.24 Rp 108.2K

78.85%

Cinema Ticket

$3.74 ₫98.1K

$2.68 Rp 46.5K

39.55%

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

$261 ₫6.8M

$92.5 Rp 1.6M

182.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₫306.0M

$7,505 Rp 130.1M

55.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.11 ₫1.2M

$41.97 Rp 727.5K

5.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.54 ₫617.6K

$30.55 Rp 529.5K

-22.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 ₫2.3M

$59.1 Rp 1.0M

48.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.3 ₫1.9M

$65.1 Rp 1.1M

11.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 ₫8.7M

$259 Rp 4.5M

27.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₫6.5M

$160 Rp 2.8M

54.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₫20.7M

$586 Rp 10.2M

34.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 ₫15.6M

$329 Rp 5.7M

80.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,285 ₫112.4M

$1,453 Rp 25.2M

194.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₫63.2M

$291 Rp 5.0M

727.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$488 ₫12.8M

$122 Rp 2.1M

301.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

9.15

-0.55%

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

Last update for Hanoi: April 27, 2026

Last update for Purwokerto: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $331 in Hanoi and $259 in Purwokerto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hanoi pays 301% 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 $9.00 in Purwokerto. Groceries flip the comparison at $194 vs $212, 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 Purwokerto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hanoi and Purwokerto differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($767 vs $614 including rent). Purwokerto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Hanoi pays 301% 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 $259 in Purwokerto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Purwokerto runs roughly 25% less than in Hanoi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $261 in Hanoi versus $92.5 in Purwokerto. 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 Purwokerto 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 Purwokerto 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 Purwokerto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.