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

😐 Solo nomad: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 3.1% more expensive than Chongqing without rent, and 33.5% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 1% cheaper than Chongqing without rent, and 28.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.05 ₫53.4K
$2.76 ¥19.11
-25.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.72 ₫592.3K
$20.73 ¥143
9.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.59 ₫119.7K
$4.81 ¥33.30
-4.57%
Cappuccino
$1.71 ₫44.5K
$2.31 ¥15.97
-25.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₫12.3K
$0.41 ¥2.82
14.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₫7,911
$0.29 ¥2.01
3.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 ₫27.3K
$0.96 ¥6.64
9.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 ₫39.5K
$2.07 ¥14.31
-27.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 ₫39.5K
$1.72 ¥11.87
-11.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 ₫26.5K
$1.26 ¥8.71
-19.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ₫24.7K
$0.71 ¥4.92
33.80%
Eggs
$1.43 ₫37.2K
$1.85 ¥12.83
-22.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.82 ₫308.1K
$15.85 ¥110
-25.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.68 ₫95.9K
$2.57 ¥17.75
43.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.53 ₫274.4K
$10.29 ¥71.2
2.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ₫69.8K
$1.50 ¥10.38
78.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.9K
$1.35 ¥9.33
-17.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.29 ₫33.6K
$1.11 ¥7.71
16.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 ₫30.8K
$1.08 ¥7.45
9.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 ₫29.4K
$0.70 ¥4.82
61.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 ₫31.7K
$0.90 ¥6.26
35.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 ₫19.6K
$0.57 ¥3.92
31.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₫12.4K
$0.63 ¥4.39
-23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.28 ₫33.3K
$3.22 ¥22.28
-60.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₫349.7K
$8.69 ¥60.1
54.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₫23.6K
$0.96 ¥6.63
-5.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 ₫38.7K
$2.03 ¥14.07
-26.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₫6,716
$0.29 ¥2.02
-10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.48 ₫273.2K
$24.75 ¥171
-57.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 ₫18.3K
$1.40 ¥9.72
-50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₫18.0K
$0.32 ¥2.24
115.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 ₫78.1K
$2.84 ¥19.67
5.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 ₫23.1K
$1.12 ¥7.72
-20.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K ₫996.1M
$18.5K ¥127.7K
107.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₫903.1M
$16.7K ¥115.3K
108.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.2 ₫2.2M
$36.11 ¥250
135.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.75 ₫149.9K
$6.01 ¥41.60
-4.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.23 ₫240.7K
$8.18 ¥56.6
12.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.15 ₫551.2K
$21.89 ¥151
-3.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.29 ₫242.1K
$15.80 ¥109
-41.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 ₫110.8K
$5.47 ¥37.87
-22.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₫7.2M
$331 ¥2,288
-16.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K ₫366.7M
$26.9K ¥185.8K
-47.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.92 ₫1.1M
$28.95 ¥200
48.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.42 ₫714.6K
$29.38 ¥203
-6.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.4 ₫2.6M
$58.6 ¥406
67.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3 ₫2.2M
$60.2 ¥417
43.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$521 ₫13.6M
$266 ¥1,839
95.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₫8.1M
$157 ¥1,088
96.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,132 ₫29.5M
$573 ¥3,966
97.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$644 ₫16.8M
$326 ¥2,259
97.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,099 ₫106.8M
$2,613 ¥18.1K
56.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,948 ₫50.8M
$1,585 ¥11.0K
22.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$496 ₫12.9M
$1,020 ¥7,061
-51.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.14
3.74
144.39%

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

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): March 3, 2026

Last update for Chongqing: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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