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: $805 in Hanoi versus $523 in Tarlac City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,223 in Hanoi versus $814 in Tarlac City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,641 in Hanoi versus $1,104 in Tarlac City.

Living in Hanoi is roughly 54% more expensive than in Tarlac City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hanoi 41% lower, Tarlac City 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 ₫53.2K

$1.94 ₱122

5.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.43 ₫557.1K

$7.78 ₱488

175.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.45 ₫115.7K

$2.72 ₱171

63.60%

Cappuccino

$1.83 ₫47.5K

$1.79 ₱112

2.23%

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

$0.49 ₫12.6K

$0.49 ₱30.77

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₫8,083

$0.30 ₱18.95

3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 ₫30.8K

$1.02 ₱64.2

15.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 ₫49.4K

$1.56 ₱97.7

21.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ₫40.1K

$1.61 ₱101

-4.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 ₫26.4K

$1.15 ₱71.9

-12.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 ₫21.0K

$1.02 ₱63.9

-20.59%

Eggs

$1.52 ₫39.5K

$1.88 ₱118

-19.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.52 ₫273.5K

$4.94 ₱310

112.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ₫98.3K

$2.66 ₱167

42.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.66 ₫251.2K

$6.11 ₱383

58.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 ₫80.7K

$1.62 ₱101

91.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 ₫27.4K

$1.59 ₱99.8

-33.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 ₫34.6K

$1.95 ₱123

-31.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.3K

$1.04 ₱65.2

4.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 ₫24.3K

$1.74 ₱109

-45.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.5K

$1.21 ₱76.1

-9.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₫14.2K

$0.61 ₱38.25

-9.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₫13.5K

$0.50 ₱31.31

4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.4K

$2.87 ₱180

-52.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.30 ₫319.8K

$3.81 ₱239

222.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 ₫22.5K

$0.96 ₱60.3

-9.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 ₫42.8K

$1.53 ₱96.1

7.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 ₫10.1K

$0.25 ₱15.73

56.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.34 ₫242.7K

$8.21 ₱515

13.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 ₫20.9K

$0.75 ₱47.32

6.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 ₫14.5K

$0.25 ₱15.70

124.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.32 ₫60.4K

$1.31 ₱82.4

77.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₫21.8K

$1.08 ₱68.0

-22.22%

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

$30.9K ₫802.4M

$21.4K ₱1.3M

44.11%

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

$30.6K ₫794.6M

$19.3K ₱1.2M

58.50%

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

$84.6 ₫2.2M

$88.2 ₱5,534

-4.16%

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

$4.86 ₫126.5K

$5.44 ₱341

-10.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.59 ₫223.2K

$23.40 ₱1,468

-63.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.25 ₫630.3K

$40.11 ₱2,516

-39.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.66 ₫251.0K

$16.16 ₱1,014

-40.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.24 ₫110.3K

$5.08 ₱319

-16.54%

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

$727 ₫18.9M

$131 ₱8,205

455.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.1K ₫705.0M

$10.5K ₱661.4K

157.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.38 ₫1.2M

$28.77 ₱1,804

61.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.86 ₫672.3K

$19.79 ₱1,242

30.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 ₫2.2M

$63.1 ₱3,955

34.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.2 ₫2.1M

$47.80 ₱2,998

72.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 ₫10.6M

$87.7 ₱5,503

366.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 ₫7.2M

$71.1 ₱4,460

289.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$882 ₫22.9M

$250 ₱15.6K

253.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₫13.9M

$167 ₱10.4K

221.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,583 ₫119.1M

$376 ₱23.6K

1120.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,750 ₫71.5M

$290 ₱18.2K

849.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$490 ₫12.7M

$215 ₱13.5K

128.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.45

6.75

25.19%

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

Last update for Hanoi: September 14, 2026

Last update for Tarlac City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $410 in Hanoi and $87.7 in Tarlac City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hanoi pays 129% 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: $21.00 in Hanoi vs $8.00 in Tarlac City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $148 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 54% in total monthly costs ($805 vs $523 including rent). Tarlac City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 129% 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: $410 in Hanoi versus $87.7 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 14% less than in Hanoi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $727 in Hanoi versus $131 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 54% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.