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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $726 in Da Lat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,122 in Da Lat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,517 in Da Lat.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 14% more expensive than Da Lat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower, Da Lat 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ₫53.2K

$2.22 ₫58.3K

-8.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 ₫601.9K

$22.53 ₫592.0K

1.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₫123.3K

$6.29 ₫165.3K

-25.44%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₫44.5K

$1.58 ₫41.5K

6.96%

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

$0.50 ₫13.2K

$0.95 ₫24.9K

-47.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,263

$0.41 ₫10.7K

-31.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$1.76 ₫46.4K

-43.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₫39.3K

$2.45 ₫64.3K

-38.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ₫38.9K

$1.49 ₫39.1K

-0.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$1.25 ₫32.8K

-17.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₫25.9K

$1.14 ₫29.8K

-14.04%

Eggs

$1.41 ₫36.9K

$1.63 ₫42.8K

-13.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 ₫312.1K

$7.46 ₫196.0K

59.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ₫94.6K

$4.13 ₫108.5K

-12.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.55 ₫277.3K

$4.51 ₫118.6K

133.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ₫72.5K

$4.17 ₫109.5K

-33.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$1.83 ₫48.2K

-39.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.1K

$3.16 ₫83.1K

-58.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₫30.6K

$1.57 ₫41.2K

-26.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$1.79 ₫47.1K

-34.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.9K

$1.60 ₫42.1K

-26.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$0.76 ₫20.0K

-7.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₫13.4K

$0.62 ₫16.3K

-17.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₫33.2K

$1.76 ₫46.2K

-27.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.32 ₫323.6K

$7.67 ₫201.5K

60.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$0.74 ₫19.5K

14.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$2.09 ₫54.8K

-28.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,433

$0.36 ₫9,460

-22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.75 ₫282.5K

$6.63 ₫174.2K

62.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₫17.7K

$0.56 ₫14.6K

19.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.2K

$0.69 ₫18.1K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 ₫78.7K

$2.80 ₫73.5K

6.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.7K

$0.97 ₫25.5K

-15.46%

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

$37.5K ₫985.9M

$35.8K ₫939.9M

4.90%

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

$33.6K ₫881.9M

$32.0K ₫841.8M

4.77%

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

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$39.41 ₫1.0M

115.22%

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

$6.06 ₫159.3K

$4.36 ₫114.5K

38.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.14 ₫240.2K

$15.13 ₫397.6K

-39.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.73 ₫544.6K

$21.72 ₫570.7K

-4.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.37 ₫246.3K

$7.76 ₫203.9K

20.75%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 ₫111.8K

$1.95 ₫51.4K

118.46%

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

$273 ₫7.2M

$268 ₫7.0M

1.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ₫362.2M

$11.7K ₫307.7M

17.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.85 ₫1.1M

$41.27 ₫1.1M

3.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.36 ₫718.8K

$23.12 ₫607.4K

18.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₫2.6M

$87.8 ₫2.3M

11.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 ₫2.3M

$73.7 ₫1.9M

18.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₫13.8M

$279 ₫7.3M

88.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₫8.1M

$253 ₫6.7M

21.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 ₫28.6M

$627 ₫16.5M

73.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 ₫17.6M

$472 ₫12.4M

41.57%

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

$418 ₫11.0M

21.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

9.1

0.44%

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 Da Lat: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $279 in Da Lat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 22% 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 $23.00 in Da Lat. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $190, with Da Lat cheaper for home cooking.

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 Da Lat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Da Lat differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($826 vs $726 including rent). Da Lat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 22% 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 $279 in Da Lat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Da Lat – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $826 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $726 in Da Lat – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Da Lat gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Da Lat 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 Da Lat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.