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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $808 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $665 in Hai Phong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,306 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,274 in Hai Phong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,803 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,883 in Hai Phong.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 21% more expensive than in Hai Phong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 40% lower, Hai Phong 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.07 ₫54.3K

$1.51 ₫39.6K

37.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 ₫595.2K

$19.94 ₫524.3K

13.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 ₫124.2K

$4.25 ₫111.6K

11.06%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₫46.9K

$1.86 ₫48.9K

-3.76%

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

$0.47 ₫12.5K

$0.49 ₫12.9K

-4.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,257

$0.25 ₫6,494

12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 ₫26.4K

$0.75 ₫19.8K

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₫41.6K

$1.50 ₫39.4K

5.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 ₫40.2K

$1.38 ₫36.4K

10.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$0.56 ₫14.8K

76.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.7K

$0.84 ₫22.0K

21.43%

Eggs

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$1.50 ₫39.5K

-4.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.46 ₫301.4K

$9.14 ₫240.4K

25.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 ₫95.1K

$3.91 ₫102.8K

-7.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.56 ₫277.6K

$8.14 ₫214.0K

29.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₫71.6K

$3.25 ₫85.4K

-16.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$1.02 ₫26.9K

7.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.2K

$1.63 ₫42.9K

-20.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ₫29.8K

$1.12 ₫29.4K

1.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.6K

$1.04 ₫27.3K

7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 ₫31.1K

$1.04 ₫27.4K

13.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$0.56 ₫14.7K

25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₫12.4K

$0.48 ₫12.7K

-2.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.28 ₫33.6K

$1.16 ₫30.5K

10.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 ₫297.1K

$12.20 ₫320.7K

-7.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₫23.9K

$0.76 ₫19.9K

19.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₫37.5K

$1.77 ₫46.4K

-19.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,399

$0.41 ₫10.8K

-31.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.74 ₫282.5K

$5.77 ₫151.8K

86.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ₫17.8K

$0.74 ₫19.4K

-8.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₫16.5K

$0.57 ₫14.9K

10.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₫79.4K

$1.60 ₫42.0K

88.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.6K

$0.81 ₫21.4K

1.23%

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

$37.7K ₫990.5M

$38.4K ₫1.0B

-1.91%

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

$33.5K ₫881.9M

$31.8K ₫835.1M

5.60%

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

$83.2 ₫2.2M

$37.73 ₫992.1K

120.49%

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

$5.76 ₫151.6K

$5.33 ₫140.1K

8.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.26 ₫243.6K

$8.90 ₫234.0K

4.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.01 ₫552.3K

$23.36 ₫614.1K

-10.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₫255.4K

$7.81 ₫205.4K

24.46%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 ₫112.4K

$3.77 ₫99.1K

13.53%

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

$280 ₫7.4M

$263 ₫6.9M

6.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K ₫369.7M

$11.8K ₫309.6M

19.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.71 ₫1.1M

$43.68 ₫1.1M

-2.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.93 ₫708.0K

$23.46 ₫616.9K

14.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 ₫2.6M

$88.2 ₫2.3M

10.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$73.8 ₫1.9M

14.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$539 ₫14.2M

$413 ₫10.9M

30.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₫8.0M

$244 ₫6.4M

25.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,110 ₫29.2M

$692 ₫18.2M

60.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$645 ₫17.0M

$873 ₫22.9M

-26.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,555 ₫119.8M

$1,326 ₫34.9M

243.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,818 ₫47.8M

$966 ₫25.4M

88.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$495 ₫13.0M

$504 ₫13.2M

-1.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

5.99

52.59%

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

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): July 14, 2026

Last update for Hai Phong: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $539 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $413 in Hai Phong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hai Phong pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs $20.00 in Hai Phong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $180 per month, with Hai Phong 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 Hai Phong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Hai Phong differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($808 vs $665 including rent). Hai Phong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Hai Phong. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $539 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $413 in Hai Phong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $808 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $665 in Hai Phong – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Hai Phong runs roughly 86% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Hai Phong 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 Hai Phong 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 Hai Phong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.