Cost of Living Comparison Between Hikkaduwa and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Cost of Living Comparison Between Hikkaduwa and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $515 in Hikkaduwa versus $850 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $829 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,385 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,142 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,920 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Living in Hikkaduwa costs roughly 39% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa 62% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 LKR 1,426

$2.14 ₫55.8K

103.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.55 LKR 8,053

$22.91 ₫597.3K

7.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.49 LKR 2,458

$4.67 ₫121.9K

60.39%

Cappuccino

$2.50 LKR 820

$1.78 ₫46.3K

40.45%

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

$0.68 LKR 222

$0.53 ₫13.8K

28.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 LKR 81.2

$0.35 ₫9,013

-28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 LKR 756

$1.17 ₫30.6K

97.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 LKR 1,010

$1.66 ₫43.3K

85.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 LKR 530

$1.57 ₫41.0K

3.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 LKR 188

$1.04 ₫27.1K

-45.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 LKR 260

$1.00 ₫26.1K

-21.00%

Eggs

$1.64 LKR 537

$1.61 ₫42.0K

1.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.00 LKR 4,264

$12.27 ₫319.8K

5.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 LKR 1,653

$3.54 ₫92.2K

42.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 LKR 2,476

$10.43 ₫271.8K

-27.61%

Apples (1kg)

$6.90 LKR 2,263

$3.12 ₫81.3K

121.15%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 LKR 288

$1.28 ₫33.2K

-31.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.28 LKR 1,405

$1.62 ₫42.1K

164.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 LKR 423

$1.21 ₫31.5K

6.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 LKR 342

$1.22 ₫31.9K

-14.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 LKR 267

$1.19 ₫31.1K

-31.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 LKR 311

$0.72 ₫18.7K

31.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 LKR 160

$0.51 ₫13.2K

-3.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.31 LKR 3,382

$1.25 ₫32.5K

724.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.76 LKR 4,514

$12.47 ₫325.0K

10.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 LKR 618

$0.93 ₫24.4K

103.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 LKR 880

$1.48 ₫38.5K

81.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,359

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.33 ₫295.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.42 LKR 137

$0.69 ₫18.0K

-39.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 LKR 122

$0.60 ₫15.7K

-38.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 LKR 288

$3.09 ₫80.5K

-71.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 LKR 431

$0.94 ₫24.5K

39.36%

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

$31.0K LKR 10.2M

$30.8K ₫802.5M

0.71%

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

$42.0K LKR 13.8M

$30.6K ₫797.2M

37.45%

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

$52.9 LKR 17.3K

$101 ₫2.6M

-47.75%

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

$4.30 LKR 1,411

$5.95 ₫155.0K

-27.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.48 LKR 6,718

$10.16 ₫264.9K

101.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.64 ₫642.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.67 ₫304.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 LKR 1,436

$3.54 ₫92.4K

23.73%

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

$37.60 LKR 12.3K

$464 ₫12.1M

-91.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,222 LKR 400.8K

$22.7K ₫592.2M

-94.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.32 LKR 6,665

$51.7 ₫1.3M

-60.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.74 LKR 5,493

$34.93 ₫910.5K

-52.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.6 LKR 26.4K

$90.7 ₫2.4M

-11.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.03 LKR 13.8K

$92.7 ₫2.4M

-54.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 ₫15.2M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 ₫7.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 ₫33.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 ₫17.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,704 ₫122.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,909 ₫49.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$488 ₫12.7M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

8.64

46.87%

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

Last update for Hikkaduwa: August 29, 2026

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $25.00 in Hikkaduwa vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $206 per month, with Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 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

Hikkaduwa vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hikkaduwa is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $773 in Hikkaduwa and $1,275 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $515 per month in Hikkaduwa versus $850 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $515 in Hikkaduwa versus $850 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hikkaduwa but tight or insufficient in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The gap between the two cities makes Hikkaduwa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Hikkaduwa is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Hikkaduwa and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 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 Hikkaduwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.