Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Vung Tau Cost of Living Comparison Between Hanoi and Vung Tau

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $759 in Hanoi versus $579 in Vung Tau.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,237 in Hanoi versus $957 in Vung Tau.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,715 in Hanoi versus $1,334 in Vung Tau.

Living in Hanoi is roughly 31% more expensive than Vung Tau, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hanoi 43% lower, Vung Tau 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ₫51.8K

$1.99 ₫52.3K

-1.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.89 ₫706.5K

$14.93 ₫392.2K

80.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 ₫119.7K

$4.52 ₫118.7K

0.88%

Cappuccino

$1.80 ₫47.2K

$1.70 ₫44.8K

5.88%

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

$0.49 ₫12.7K

$0.48 ₫12.7K

2.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₫7,104

$0.30 ₫7,993

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ₫24.7K

$0.64 ₫16.7K

46.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 ₫51.4K

$1.53 ₫40.1K

28.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 ₫36.0K

$1.53 ₫40.3K

-10.46%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ₫25.9K

$0.98 ₫25.9K

1.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.91 ₫24.0K

$0.67 ₫17.5K

35.82%

Eggs

$1.55 ₫40.8K

$1.40 ₫36.9K

10.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.19 ₫241.5K

$7.24 ₫190.2K

26.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.86 ₫101.5K

$3.67 ₫96.3K

5.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.81 ₫257.7K

$3.79 ₫99.5K

158.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 ₫86.5K

$2.25 ₫59.2K

46.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ₫27.8K

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 ₫41.1K

$0.99 ₫25.9K

57.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.4K

$1.01 ₫26.7K

10.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.9K

$1.07 ₫28.0K

-4.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.01 ₫26.4K

$1.05 ₫27.6K

-3.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₫14.8K

$0.56 ₫14.7K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₫14.2K

$0.47 ₫12.4K

14.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.36 ₫35.7K

$1.29 ₫33.8K

5.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.09 ₫343.8K

$12.71 ₫333.9K

2.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₫25.6K

$0.81 ₫21.2K

20.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 ₫46.0K

$1.08 ₫28.5K

62.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₫9,517

$0.34 ₫8,940

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.73 ₫203.0K

$6.38 ₫167.6K

21.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.81 ₫21.2K

$0.67 ₫17.7K

20.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ₫15.1K

$0.62 ₫16.2K

-6.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 ₫41.9K

$3.15 ₫82.7K

-49.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 ₫22.5K

$0.88 ₫23.2K

-2.27%

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

$37.8K ₫994.4M

$37.5K ₫985.5M

0.90%

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

$31.8K ₫834.9M

$33.6K ₫881.7M

-5.30%

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

$78.9 ₫2.1M

$38.11 ₫1.0M

107.11%

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

$5.13 ₫134.8K

$4.65 ₫122.1K

10.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.93 ₫234.5K

$7.52 ₫197.6K

18.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.05 ₫737.0K

$15.51 ₫407.6K

80.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.35 ₫298.1K

$7.79 ₫204.7K

45.70%

Cinema Ticket

$3.77 ₫99.0K

$3.07 ₫80.8K

22.80%

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

$264 ₫6.9M

$273 ₫7.2M

-3.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.5K ₫303.3M

$13.9K ₫365.8M

-17.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.92 ₫1.2M

$18.89 ₫496.2K

137.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.90 ₫601.6K

$20.84 ₫547.5K

9.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.2 ₫2.3M

$95.7 ₫2.5M

-6.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.7 ₫1.9M

$84.5 ₫2.2M

-15.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$331 ₫8.7M

$265 ₫7.0M

25.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 ₫6.6M

$185 ₫4.9M

34.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 ₫20.3M

$693 ₫18.2M

11.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 ₫15.6M

$416 ₫10.9M

43.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,919 ₫129.3M

$7,414 ₫194.8M

-33.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,835 ₫74.5M

$4,367 ₫114.7M

-35.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ₫13.2M

$568 ₫14.9M

-11.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.1

9.14

-0.44%

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

Last update for Hanoi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Vung Tau: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $331 in Hanoi and $265 in Vung Tau. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vung Tau pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Hanoi vs $15.00 in Vung Tau for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $156 per month, with Vung Tau 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 Vung Tau: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hanoi and Vung Tau differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($759 vs $579 including rent). Vung Tau is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Vung Tau earns 13% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $331 in Hanoi versus $265 in Vung Tau. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Vung Tau runs roughly 21% less than in Hanoi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $264 in Hanoi versus $273 in Vung Tau. 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 Vung Tau 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 Vung Tau 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 Vung Tau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.