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 $826 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs $609 in Cavite, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,300 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs $1,025 in Cavite, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,773 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs $1,440 in Cavite, rent included.

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

Both Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Cavite are more affordable than the global median – Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower, Cavite 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ₫53.2K

$2.74 ₱169

-25.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 ₫601.9K

$13.37 ₱825

71.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₫123.3K

$2.65 ₱163

76.98%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₫44.5K

$1.95 ₱120

-13.33%

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

$0.50 ₫13.2K

$0.67 ₱41.09

-25.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,263

$0.31 ₱18.87

-9.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$1.21 ₱74.9

-18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₫39.3K

$1.74 ₱107

-13.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ₫38.9K

$1.73 ₱107

-14.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$1.24 ₱76.3

-16.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₫25.9K

$1.05 ₱64.6

-6.67%

Eggs

$1.41 ₫36.9K

$2.27 ₱140

-37.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 ₫312.1K

$7.52 ₱464

57.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ₫94.6K

$3.86 ₱238

-6.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.55 ₫277.3K

$6.98 ₱431

51.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ₫72.5K

$2.59 ₱159

6.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$1.35 ₱83.3

-18.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.1K

$2.37 ₱146

-45.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₫30.6K

$1.17 ₱72.4

-0.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$1.85 ₱114

-36.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.9K

$1.63 ₱101

-28.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$0.56 ₱34.57

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₫13.4K

$0.57 ₱35.08

-10.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₫33.2K

$2.26 ₱139

-43.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.32 ₫323.6K

$4.97 ₱306

147.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$1.02 ₱63.0

-16.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$1.39 ₱85.9

7.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,433

$0.28 ₱17.48

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.75 ₫282.5K

$3.17 ₱195

239.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₫17.7K

$0.69 ₱42.54

-2.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.2K

$0.22 ₱13.49

213.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 ₫78.7K

$2.38 ₱147

25.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.7K

$1.10 ₱67.8

-25.45%

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

$37.5K ₫985.9M

$32.1K ₱2.0M

16.84%

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

$33.6K ₫881.9M

$20.8K ₱1.3M

61.55%

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

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$49.25 ₱3,037

72.22%

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

$6.06 ₫159.3K

$17.55 ₱1,082

-65.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.14 ₫240.2K

$26.70 ₱1,646

-65.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.73 ₫544.6K

$34.30 ₱2,115

-39.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.37 ₫246.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 ₫111.8K

$5.70 ₱351

-25.26%

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

$273 ₫7.2M

$153 ₱9,455

77.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ₫362.2M

$4,675 ₱288.2K

194.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.85 ₫1.1M

$40.09 ₱2,472

6.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.36 ₫718.8K

$26.72 ₱1,648

2.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₫2.6M

$75.8 ₱4,672

28.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 ₫2.3M

$45.60 ₱2,812

90.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₫13.8M

$158 ₱9,743

232.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₫8.1M

$124 ₱7,624

148.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 ₫28.6M

$264 ₱16.3K

313.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 ₫17.6M

$400 ₱24.6K

67.16%

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

$229 ₱14.1K

122.28%

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): May 30, 2026

Last update for Cavite: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $158 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 122% 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: $198 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 Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,240 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $913 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 $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $609 in Cavite. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 239% 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 $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $609 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.