Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Broome, WA

For one person, living is cheaper in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): $855 a month against $2,663 in Broome, WA, rent and utilities included – about $21,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$855
/mo nomad
Broome, WA
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and in Broome, WA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and in Broome, WA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $855 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $2,663 in Broome, WA.

  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $855
  • Broome, WA $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,400 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $4,396 in Broome, WA.

  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,400
  • Broome, WA $4,396

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,944 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $6,129 in Broome, WA.

  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,944
  • Broome, WA $6,129

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) costs roughly 68% less than in Broome, WA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 36% below, Broome, WA is 99% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Broome, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.90 ₫49.1K
$21.14 A$30.26
-91.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.32 ₫603.5K
$82.8 A$118
-71.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.67 ₫120.9K
$21.18 A$30.30
-77.95%
Cappuccino
$1.85 ₫47.9K
$5.16 A$7.39
-64.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₫14.4K
$3.83 A$5.48
-85.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₫8,857
$2.25 A$3.23
-84.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 ₫26.2K
$8.17 A$11.69
-87.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 ₫43.7K
$7.48 A$10.70
-77.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Broome, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 ₫40.8K
$2.83 A$4.05
-44.17%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 ₫27.0K
$2.60 A$3.73
-60.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ₫25.7K
$2.16 A$3.08
-54.17%
Eggs
$1.60 ₫41.5K
$5.10 A$7.30
-68.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.23 ₫316.6K
$9.35 A$13.39
30.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.54 ₫91.7K
$9.95 A$14.25
-64.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.44 ₫270.2K
$14.48 A$20.72
-27.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.09 ₫79.9K
$4.44 A$6.35
-30.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ₫32.5K
$3.39 A$4.84
-62.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 ₫40.6K
$4.28 A$6.13
-63.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 ₫32.5K
$5.54 A$7.94
-77.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 ₫30.4K
$3.59 A$5.13
-67.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ₫29.7K
$3.07 A$4.39
-62.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ₫18.7K
$3.66 A$5.24
-80.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₫14.0K
$1.59 A$2.27
-66.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.22 ₫31.5K
$32.14 A$46.00
-96.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.28 ₫317.8K
$17.33 A$24.81
-29.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 ₫25.4K
$4.71 A$6.74
-79.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 ₫38.5K
$5.25 A$7.51
-71.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Broome, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₫7,249
$3.00 A$4.29
-90.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.62 ₫300.8K
$81.0 A$116
-85.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 ₫18.9K
$3.56 A$5.09
-79.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₫16.7K
$1.56 A$2.24
-58.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ₫82.0K
$71.2 A$102
-95.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 ₫24.6K
$1.71 A$2.44
-44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K ₫795.6M
$28.0K A$40.0K
9.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K ₫791.6M
$22.4K A$32.1K
36.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Broome, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ₫2.6M
$206 A$295
-50.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.65 ₫146.1K
$27.39 A$39.20
-79.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.52 ₫272.2K
$48.95 A$70.1
-78.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Broome, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.86 ₫669.2K
$56.4 A$80.7
-54.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.82 ₫305.9K
$15.70 A$22.46
-24.71%
Cinema Ticket
$3.39 ₫87.8K
$17.80 A$25.47
-80.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Broome, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$438 ₫11.3M
$1,079 A$1,544
-59.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K ₫603.1M
$20.3K A$29.1K
14.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Broome, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 ₫1.3M
$111 A$158
-53.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.56 ₫894.3K
$70.4 A$101
-50.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 ₫2.4M
$159 A$228
-42.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.9 ₫2.5M
$123 A$175
-22.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Broome, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$577 ₫14.9M
$1,504 A$2,153
-61.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 ₫7.6M
$1,212 A$1,734
-75.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 ₫33.5M
$3,003 A$4,297
-56.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$717 ₫18.6M
$2,894 A$4,142
-75.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,714 ₫122.0M
$5,827 A$8,339
-19.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,882 ₫48.7M
$4,895 A$7,005
-61.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Broome, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$486 ₫12.6M
$3,825 A$5,474
-87.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.64
5.84
47.95%

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

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): October 5, 2026

Last update for Broome, WA: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$292
Broome, WA
$1.2K 315% $920
Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$206
Broome, WA
$411 100% $206
Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$123
Broome, WA
$208 69.9% $86
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$118
Broome, WA
$283 139% $164
Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$63
Broome, WA
$375 491% $311
Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$33
Broome, WA
$92 182% $59
Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$17
Broome, WA
$104 525% $88

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $577 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $1,504 in Broome, WA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Broome, WA pays 687% 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: $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs $83.0 in Broome, WA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $411 per month, with Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇦🇺 Broome, WA
🕒 Local time
13:54 1:54 PM
14:54 2:54 PM
1 h ahead of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,456,700
14,660
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 25,879 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,025 VND (100,000 VND = 3.45 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.699 USD). 1 EUR = 1.61 AUD (1 AUD = 0.623 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Broome, WA 3,620 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
  • Broome, WA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs Broome, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and in Broome, WA?
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Broome, WA differ by about 211% in total monthly costs ($855 vs $2,663 including rent). Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 687% lower in Broome, WA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and in Broome, WA?
Rent for a central apartment: $577 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,504 in Broome, WA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Broome, WA?
All in, you'll spend $855 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $2,663 in Broome, WA – a 211% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and in Broome, WA?
A monthly transit pass in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) runs roughly 597% less than in Broome, WA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $855 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $2,663 in Broome, WA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) but tight or insufficient in Broome, WA. The gap between the two cities makes Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Broome, WA?
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.
Is Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Broome, WA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Broome, WA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Broome, WA?
Expats usually find Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 211% less than in Broome, WA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?