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

🙂 Solo nomad: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 21.8% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 4.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 17.6% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 0.8% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.06 ₫53.5K
$2.02 ฿65.3
1.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.36 ₫607.9K
$18.78 ฿608
24.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.66 ₫121.3K
$7.67 ฿248
-39.24%
Cappuccino
$1.76 ₫45.9K
$1.98 ฿64.2
-11.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₫12.3K
$0.82 ฿26.64
-42.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 ₫7,838
$0.33 ฿10.58
-9.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1 ₫26.1K
$2.12 ฿68.6
-52.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₫39.5K
$3.73 ฿121
-59.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 ₫38.2K
$1.64 ฿53.2
-10.37%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 ₫25.3K
$1.57 ฿50.9
-38.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₫26.2K
$1.19 ฿38.62
-15.13%
Eggs
$1.42 ₫36.9K
$1.98 ฿64.1
-28.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.67 ₫303.6K
$15.99 ฿517
-27.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.56 ₫92.7K
$3.12 ฿101
14.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.43 ₫271.3K
$11.16 ฿361
-6.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 ₫72K
$2.76 ฿89.2
0.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.8K
$1.22 ฿39.5
-9.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₫33.3K
$1.71 ฿55.4
-25.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 ₫30.7K
$1.55 ฿50.2
-23.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.8K
$1.34 ฿43.21
-17.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ₫30.4K
$1.21 ฿39.23
-3.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ₫19.8K
$0.72 ฿23.2
5.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₫13.3K
$0.53 ฿17.05
-3.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.22 ₫31.7K
$4.72 ฿153
-74.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.99 ₫337.9K
$18.39 ฿595
-29.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 ₫22K
$1.79 ฿57.9
-52.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ₫38.5K
$3.21 ฿104
-53.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₫7,361
$0.94 ฿30.44
-70.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.45 ₫271.9K
$18.9 ฿612
-44.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 ₫18.7K
$1.42 ฿46.08
-49.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₫16.7K
$1.35 ฿43.53
-52.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 ₫79.3K
$7.85 ฿254
-61.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 ₫22K
$1.25 ฿40.4
-32.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K ₫986M
$21.2K ฿684.9K
79.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₫900.4M
$21.8K ฿706.8K
58.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.5 ₫2.2M
$70.6 ฿2,285
21.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.76 ₫150K
$13.72 ฿444
-58.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.63 ₫250.5K
$17.56 ฿568
-45.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.91 ₫544.1K
$41.64 ฿1,347
-49.78%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.5 ₫247.3K
$6.9 ฿223
37.68%
Cinema Ticket
$4.18 ₫108.9K
$5.8 ฿188
-27.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 ₫7.2M
$308 ฿9,963
-10.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K ₫366M
$14.7K ฿475.8K
-4.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.09 ₫1.1M
$55.4 ฿1,793
-24.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.16 ₫706.8K
$26.4 ฿854
2.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 ₫2.5M
$85.1 ฿2,755
12.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 ₫2.3M
$71.8 ฿2,323
20.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$532 ₫13.9M
$434 ฿14K
22.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ₫8.1M
$235 ฿7,610
31.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,111 ₫28.9M
$821 ฿26.6K
35.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 ₫17.1M
$498 ฿16.1K
32.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,817 ₫99.3M
$2,180 ฿70.6K
75.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,911 ₫49.7M
$1,543 ฿49.9K
23.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ₫13.1M
$703 ฿22.8K
-28.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.14
5
82.80%

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

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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