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: $582 in Hikkaduwa versus $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,118 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,654 in Hikkaduwa versus $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Living in Hikkaduwa costs roughly 30% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hikkaduwa 57% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.97 LKR 1,316

$2.03 ₫53.2K

95.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.53 LKR 8,466

$22.91 ₫601.9K

11.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.54 LKR 2,833

$4.69 ₫123.3K

82.09%

Cappuccino

$2.71 LKR 898

$1.69 ₫44.5K

60.36%

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

$0.74 LKR 246

$0.50 ₫13.2K

48.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 LKR 105

$0.28 ₫7,263

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.32 LKR 768

$0.99 ₫26.0K

134.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 LKR 1,086

$1.50 ₫39.3K

118.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 LKR 555

$1.48 ₫38.9K

12.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 LKR 184

$1.03 ₫26.9K

-46.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 LKR 275

$0.98 ₫25.9K

-15.31%

Eggs

$2.15 LKR 712

$1.41 ₫36.9K

52.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.82 LKR 4,583

$11.88 ₫312.1K

16.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 LKR 1,592

$3.60 ₫94.6K

33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.15 LKR 2,702

$10.55 ₫277.3K

-22.75%

Apples (1kg)

$7.58 LKR 2,515

$2.76 ₫72.5K

174.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.32 LKR 106

$1.10 ₫28.9K

-70.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 LKR 897

$1.30 ₫34.1K

108.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 326

$1.16 ₫30.6K

-15.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 LKR 384

$1.17 ₫30.7K

-0.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.38 LKR 127

$1.17 ₫30.9K

-67.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 LKR 377

$0.70 ₫18.4K

62.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LKR 174

$0.51 ₫13.4K

1.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.00 LKR 3,317

$1.27 ₫33.2K

687.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.85 LKR 4,262

$12.32 ₫323.6K

4.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 LKR 698

$0.85 ₫22.3K

147.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 971

$1.49 ₫39.1K

96.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LKR 106

$0.28 ₫7,433

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.75 ₫282.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.67 ₫17.7K

-43.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 LKR 109

$0.69 ₫18.2K

-52.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 LKR 192

$2.99 ₫78.7K

-80.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 LKR 396

$0.82 ₫21.7K

45.12%

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

$26.3K LKR 8.7M

$37.5K ₫985.9M

-29.99%

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

$34.4K LKR 11.4M

$33.6K ₫881.9M

2.40%

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

$59.9 LKR 19.9K

$84.8 ₫2.2M

-29.34%

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

$4.22 LKR 1,400

$6.06 ₫159.3K

-30.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.89 LKR 4,939

$9.14 ₫240.2K

62.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.73 ₫544.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.37 ₫246.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 LKR 1,081

$4.26 ₫111.8K

-23.47%

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

$37.16 LKR 12.3K

$273 ₫7.2M

-86.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$435 LKR 144.2K

$13.8K ₫362.2M

-96.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.63 LKR 9,160

$42.85 ₫1.1M

-35.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.41 LKR 6,435

$27.36 ₫718.8K

-29.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.3 LKR 23.0K

$97.6 ₫2.6M

-29.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$38.90 LKR 12.9K

$87.1 ₫2.3M

-55.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 LKR 54.7K

$526 ₫13.8M

-68.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.1 LKR 27.5K

$307 ₫8.1M

-72.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,671 LKR 554.2K

$1,090 ₫28.6M

53.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 LKR 164.8K

$668 ₫17.6M

-25.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,497 ₫118.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,791 ₫47.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 ₫13.4M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.45

9.14

79.98%

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

Last update for Hikkaduwa: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $165 in Hikkaduwa and $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $26.00 in Hikkaduwa vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $198 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 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $872 in Hikkaduwa and $1,240 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $165 in Hikkaduwa versus $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $582 per month in Hikkaduwa versus $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Hikkaduwa gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 42% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.