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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $668 in Criciuma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $986 in Criciuma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,305 in Criciuma.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 24% more expensive than Criciuma, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower, Criciuma 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ₫53.2K

$4.92 R$25.45

-58.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 ₫601.8K

$21.56 R$111

6.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₫123.2K

$5.30 R$27.40

-11.51%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₫44.5K

$1.22 R$6.29

38.52%

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

$0.50 ₫13.2K

$0.86 R$4.42

-41.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,261

$0.56 R$2.91

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$1.58 R$8.19

-37.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₫39.3K

$1.52 R$7.84

-1.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ₫38.9K

$0.85 R$4.40

74.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$1.23 R$6.36

-16.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₫25.9K

$0.93 R$4.81

5.38%

Eggs

$1.41 ₫36.9K

$1.85 R$9.59

-23.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 ₫312.1K

$8.15 R$42.14

45.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ₫94.6K

$3.18 R$16.45

13.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.55 ₫277.2K

$6.87 R$35.55

53.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ₫72.5K

$1.93 R$9.96

43.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$0.82 R$4.25

34.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.1K

$0.87 R$4.49

49.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₫30.6K

$1.28 R$6.59

-9.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$1.04 R$5.36

12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.9K

$0.97 R$5.04

20.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$0.65 R$3.37

7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₫13.4K

$0.64 R$3.29

-20.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₫33.2K

$2.51 R$12.96

-49.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.32 ₫323.6K

$4.75 R$24.58

159.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$1.07 R$5.55

-20.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$1.31 R$6.77

13.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,431

$0.88 R$4.54

-68.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.75 ₫282.4K

$32.04 R$166

-66.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₫17.7K

$0.45 R$2.32

48.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.2K

$1.02 R$5.27

-32.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 ₫78.6K

$2.20 R$11.40

35.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.7K

$1.09 R$5.63

-24.77%

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

$37.5K ₫985.7M

$20.0K R$103.5K

87.50%

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

$33.6K ₫881.8M

$25.7K R$133.1K

30.40%

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

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$59.9 R$310

41.72%

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

$6.06 ₫159.3K

$13.94 R$72.1

-56.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.14 ₫240.1K

$20.82 R$108

-56.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.73 ₫544.5K

$25.30 R$131

-18.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.37 ₫246.3K

$21.66 R$112

-56.74%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 ₫111.8K

$7.65 R$39.55

-44.31%

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

$273 ₫7.2M

$125 R$647

117.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ₫362.1M

$1,542 R$7,975

793.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.85 ₫1.1M

$24.14 R$125

77.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.36 ₫718.7K

$30.08 R$156

-9.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₫2.6M

$67.1 R$347

45.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 ₫2.3M

$32.03 R$166

171.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₫13.8M

$222 R$1,151

136.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₫8.1M

$198 R$1,023

55.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 ₫28.6M

$303 R$1,568

259.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 ₫17.6M

$245 R$1,269

172.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,497 ₫118.1M

$1,175 R$6,077

282.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,791 ₫47.1M

$657 R$3,399

172.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 ₫13.4M

$314 R$1,626

61.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

8.4

8.81%

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 Criciuma: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $222 in Criciuma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 62% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs $22.00 in Criciuma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $150 per month, with Criciuma cheaper across the board.

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 Criciuma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Criciuma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 62% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $222 in Criciuma. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Criciuma runs roughly 198% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $273 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $125 in Criciuma. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Criciuma gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Criciuma is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Criciuma are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Criciuma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.