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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $808 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs $595 in Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,306 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs $1,003 in Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,803 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs $1,412 in Cavite, rent included.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) costs about 36% more than Cavite, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 40% lower, Cavite 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.07 ₫54.3K

$2.74 ₱169

-24.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 ₫595.2K

$13.24 ₱815

71.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 ₫124.2K

$2.65 ₱163

78.11%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₫46.9K

$1.94 ₱120

-7.73%

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

$0.47 ₫12.5K

$0.63 ₱38.64

-25.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,257

$0.30 ₱18.75

-6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 ₫26.4K

$1.22 ₱75.2

-18.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₫41.6K

$1.78 ₱110

-11.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 ₫40.2K

$1.72 ₱106

-11.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$1.26 ₱77.3

-21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.7K

$1.04 ₱64.2

-1.92%

Eggs

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$2.27 ₱140

-37.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.46 ₫301.4K

$7.37 ₱454

55.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 ₫95.1K

$3.88 ₱239

-6.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.56 ₫277.6K

$6.96 ₱428

51.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₫71.6K

$2.73 ₱168

-0.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$1.35 ₱83.3

-18.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.2K

$2.38 ₱147

-45.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ₫29.8K

$1.18 ₱72.4

-3.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.6K

$1.84 ₱113

-39.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 ₫31.1K

$1.64 ₱101

-28.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$0.56 ₱34.76

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₫12.4K

$0.57 ₱34.79

-17.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.28 ₫33.6K

$2.23 ₱137

-42.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 ₫297.1K

$4.94 ₱304

128.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₫23.9K

$0.97 ₱59.9

-6.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₫37.5K

$1.43 ₱88.3

-0.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,399

$0.28 ₱17.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.74 ₫282.5K

$3.12 ₱192

244.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ₫17.8K

$0.73 ₱44.92

-6.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₫16.5K

$0.22 ₱13.47

186.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₫79.4K

$2.45 ₱151

23.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.6K

$1.16 ₱71.4

-29.31%

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

$37.7K ₫990.5M

$31.8K ₱2.0M

18.65%

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

$33.5K ₫881.9M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

66.35%

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

$83.2 ₫2.2M

$50.8 ₱3,126

63.82%

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

$5.76 ₫151.6K

$18.00 ₱1,108

-68.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.26 ₫243.6K

$26.39 ₱1,624

-64.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.01 ₫552.3K

$33.76 ₱2,079

-37.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₫255.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 ₫112.4K

$5.83 ₱359

-26.59%

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

$280 ₫7.4M

$152 ₱9,362

83.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K ₫369.7M

$4,669 ₱287.5K

201.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.71 ₫1.1M

$41.32 ₱2,544

3.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.93 ₫708.0K

$26.93 ₱1,658

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 ₫2.6M

$75.4 ₱4,645

28.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$46.63 ₱2,871

81.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$539 ₫14.2M

$162 ₱9,978

232.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₫8.0M

$126 ₱7,753

142.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,110 ₫29.2M

$264 ₱16.2K

320.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$645 ₫17.0M

$393 ₱24.2K

64.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,555 ₫119.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,818 ₫47.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$495 ₫13.0M

$224 ₱13.8K

120.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

4.5

103.11%

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

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): July 14, 2026

Last update for Cavite: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $539 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $162 in Cavite. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 121% higher in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $13.00 in Cavite. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $178 – making Cavite the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Cavite: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is pricier by about 36%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,212 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $893 in Cavite. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cavite, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $808 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $595 in Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 244% less in Cavite. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $808 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $595 in Cavite, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Cavite – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Cavite. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.