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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 1.1% more expensive than Chongqing without rent, and 29.9% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 1.2% more expensive than Chongqing without rent, and 30.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.99 โ‚ซ52.1K
$2.74 ยฅ19.11
-27.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.76 โ‚ซ596.8K
$20.81 ยฅ145
9.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.58 โ‚ซ120.0K
$4.76 ยฅ33.23
-3.78%
Cappuccino
$1.79 โ‚ซ47.0K
$2.31 ยฅ16.09
-22.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 โ‚ซ13.3K
$0.41 ยฅ2.84
24.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 โ‚ซ7,290
$0.27 ยฅ1.86
3.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.04 โ‚ซ27.2K
$0.94 ยฅ6.59
10.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 โ‚ซ40.8K
$2.11 ยฅ14.69
-26.07%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 โ‚ซ40.0K
$1.69 ยฅ11.76
-9.47%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 โ‚ซ25.6K
$1.20 ยฅ8.37
-18.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 โ‚ซ24.9K
$0.71 ยฅ4.97
33.80%
Eggs
$1.42 โ‚ซ37.3K
$1.87 ยฅ13.07
-24.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.74 โ‚ซ307.8K
$15.41 ยฅ108
-23.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.62 โ‚ซ95.0K
$2.58 ยฅ18.00
40.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.37 โ‚ซ271.9K
$10.48 ยฅ73.1
-1.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 โ‚ซ69.7K
$1.42 ยฅ9.92
87.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.16 โ‚ซ30.4K
$1.34 ยฅ9.32
-13.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.34 โ‚ซ35.2K
$1.07 ยฅ7.43
25.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 โ‚ซ29.6K
$1.11 ยฅ7.77
1.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 โ‚ซ29.1K
$0.65 ยฅ4.51
70.77%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 โ‚ซ30.6K
$0.86 ยฅ6.01
36.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 โ‚ซ18.5K
$0.56 ยฅ3.91
26.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 โ‚ซ12.2K
$0.68 ยฅ4.74
-30.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.23 โ‚ซ32.3K
$3.09 ยฅ21.55
-60.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.53 โ‚ซ354.8K
$7.19 ยฅ50.2
88.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 โ‚ซ23.8K
$1.02 ยฅ7.10
-10.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 โ‚ซ37.4K
$2.05 ยฅ14.34
-30.24%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 โ‚ซ6,752
$0.29 ยฅ2.03
-10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.52 โ‚ซ275.9K
$24.96 ยฅ174
-57.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 โ‚ซ18.9K
$1.38 ยฅ9.62
-47.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.65 โ‚ซ16.9K
$0.32 ยฅ2.25
103.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.15 โ‚ซ82.6K
$2.87 ยฅ20.01
9.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 โ‚ซ23.5K
$1.10 ยฅ7.66
-18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K โ‚ซ972.3M
$17.9K ยฅ124.6K
107.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7K โ‚ซ883.1M
$16.7K ยฅ116.3K
102.08%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.4 โ‚ซ2.2M
$36.13 ยฅ252
133.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.95 โ‚ซ156.0K
$6.22 ยฅ43.39
-4.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.33 โ‚ซ244.8K
$8.45 ยฅ59.0
10.41%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.77 โ‚ซ544.6K
$21.55 ยฅ150
-3.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.67 โ‚ซ253.5K
$15.74 ยฅ110
-38.56%
Cinema Ticket
$4.20 โ‚ซ110.1K
$5.55 ยฅ38.77
-24.32%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$270 โ‚ซ7.1M
$331 ยฅ2,312
-18.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K โ‚ซ373.1M
$27.4K ยฅ191.0K
-48.01%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.47 โ‚ซ1.1M
$29.84 ยฅ208
38.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.53 โ‚ซ722.0K
$29.10 ยฅ203
-5.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.4 โ‚ซ2.6M
$58.3 ยฅ407
67.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.5 โ‚ซ2.3M
$60.8 ยฅ424
42.35%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$534 โ‚ซ14.0M
$265 ยฅ1,849
101.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$299 โ‚ซ7.8M
$160 ยฅ1,114
87.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,090 โ‚ซ28.6M
$577 ยฅ4,029
88.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$667 โ‚ซ17.5M
$314 ยฅ2,193
112.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,235 โ‚ซ111.1M
$2,609 ยฅ18.2K
62.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,829 โ‚ซ48.0M
$1,627 ยฅ11.4K
12.45%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Chongqing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$461 โ‚ซ12.1M
$1,004 ยฅ7,011
-54.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.14
3.74
144.39%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): January 11, 2026

Last update for Chongqing: January 12, 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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