Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Tarlac City Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Tarlac City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $767 in Hanoi versus $632 in Tarlac City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,256 in Hanoi versus $949 in Tarlac City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,744 in Hanoi versus $1,266 in Tarlac City.

Living in Hanoi is roughly 21% more expensive than Tarlac City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hanoi 43% lower, Tarlac City 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ₫50.9K

$2.73 ₱168

-28.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.16 ₫712.7K

$14.93 ₱921

81.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.48 ₫117.4K

$3.58 ₱221

25.14%

Cappuccino

$1.86 ₫48.8K

$1.58 ₱97.5

17.72%

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

$0.48 ₫12.6K

$0.80 ₱49.51

-40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₫6,487

$0.26 ₱15.88

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.92 ₫24.1K

$0.93 ₱57.1

-1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₫49.8K

$1.81 ₱111

4.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 ₫35.6K

$1.59 ₱98.0

-14.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 ₫25.3K

$1.53 ₱94.3

-37.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$1.00 ₱61.5

-15.00%

Eggs

$1.55 ₫40.7K

$2.05 ₱126

-24.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.37 ₫245.8K

$9.07 ₱559

3.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ₫100.9K

$3.09 ₱190

24.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.41 ₫246.9K

$5.92 ₱365

58.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 ₫85.6K

$2.87 ₱177

13.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 ₫28.0K

$1.58 ₱97.3

-32.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 ₫41.5K

$2.08 ₱128

-24.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.5K

$1.47 ₱90.5

-23.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.8K

$1.39 ₱85.8

-23.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 ₫26.6K

$1.18 ₱72.7

-14.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 ₫13.8K

$0.93 ₱57.2

-43.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₫14.7K

$0.89 ₱54.9

-37.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.31 ₫34.4K

$2.92 ₱180

-55.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.32 ₫375.7K

$3.92 ₱242

265.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₫25.0K

$0.82 ₱50.8

15.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 ₫48.3K

$1.50 ₱92.8

22.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₫9,447

$0.26 ₱15.86

38.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.82 ₫205.1K

$7.78 ₱480

0.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₫19.6K

$0.82 ₱50.5

-8.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₫14.7K

$0.22 ₱13.53

154.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 ₫43.9K

$2.15 ₱133

-22.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₫21.7K

$1.11 ₱68.7

-25.23%

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

$38.0K ₫998.1M

$28.6K ₱1.8M

33.16%

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

$32.0K ₫839.7M

$19.2K ₱1.2M

66.33%

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

$79.6 ₫2.1M

$97.9 ₱6,036

-18.65%

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

$5.10 ₫133.8K

$15.90 ₱981

-67.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.58 ₫225.1K

$26.56 ₱1,638

-67.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.06 ₫736.2K

$44.37 ₱2,736

-36.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.16 ₫292.7K

$17.44 ₱1,076

-36.01%

Cinema Ticket

$3.74 ₫98.1K

$6.31 ₱389

-40.73%

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

$261 ₫6.8M

$170 ₱10.5K

53.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₫306.0M

$14.0K ₱862.7K

-16.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.11 ₫1.2M

$45.12 ₱2,783

-2.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.54 ₫617.6K

$26.76 ₱1,651

-12.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 ₫2.3M

$51.0 ₱3,146

72.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.3 ₫1.9M

$37.11 ₱2,289

94.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 ₫8.7M

$131 ₱8,051

153.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 ₫6.5M

$103 ₱6,327

141.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$789 ₫20.7M

$266 ₱16.4K

196.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 ₫15.6M

$176 ₱10.8K

238.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,285 ₫112.4M

$386 ₱23.8K

1011.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₫63.2M

$307 ₱18.9K

684.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$488 ₫12.8M

$216 ₱13.3K

126.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

6.17

47.49%

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

Last update for Hanoi: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tarlac City: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $331 in Hanoi and $131 in Tarlac City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hanoi pays 127% 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 $15.00 in Tarlac City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $179 per month, with Tarlac City 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 Tarlac City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hanoi and Tarlac City differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($767 vs $632 including rent). Tarlac City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Hanoi pays 127% 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 $131 in Tarlac City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Tarlac City 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 $261 in Hanoi versus $170 in Tarlac City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Tarlac City 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 Tarlac City 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 Tarlac City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.