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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $582 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,118 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,654 in Hikkaduwa.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 42% more expensive than Hikkaduwa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower, Hikkaduwa 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ₫53.2K

$3.97 LKR 1,316

-48.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 ₫601.9K

$25.53 LKR 8,466

-10.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₫123.3K

$8.54 LKR 2,833

-45.08%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₫44.5K

$2.71 LKR 898

-37.64%

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

$0.50 ₫13.2K

$0.74 LKR 246

-32.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,263

$0.32 LKR 105

-12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$2.32 LKR 768

-57.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₫39.3K

$3.27 LKR 1,086

-54.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ₫38.9K

$1.67 LKR 555

-11.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$0.55 LKR 184

87.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₫25.9K

$0.83 LKR 275

18.07%

Eggs

$1.41 ₫36.9K

$2.15 LKR 712

-34.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 ₫312.1K

$13.82 LKR 4,583

-14.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ₫94.6K

$4.80 LKR 1,592

-25.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.55 ₫277.3K

$8.15 LKR 2,702

29.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ₫72.5K

$7.58 LKR 2,515

-63.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$0.32 LKR 106

243.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.1K

$2.71 LKR 897

-52.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₫30.6K

$0.98 LKR 326

18.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$1.16 LKR 384

0.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.9K

$0.38 LKR 127

207.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$1.14 LKR 377

-38.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₫13.4K

$0.52 LKR 174

-1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₫33.2K

$10.00 LKR 3,317

-87.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.32 ₫323.6K

$12.85 LKR 4,262

-4.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$2.10 LKR 698

-59.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$2.93 LKR 971

-49.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,433

$0.32 LKR 106

-12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.75 ₫282.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₫17.7K

$0.38 LKR 126

76.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.2K

$0.33 LKR 109

109.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 ₫78.7K

$0.58 LKR 192

415.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.7K

$1.19 LKR 396

-31.09%

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

$37.5K ₫985.9M

$26.3K LKR 8.7M

42.85%

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

$33.6K ₫881.9M

$34.4K LKR 11.4M

-2.34%

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

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$59.9 LKR 19.9K

41.53%

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

$6.06 ₫159.3K

$4.22 LKR 1,400

43.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.14 ₫240.2K

$14.89 LKR 4,939

-38.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.73 ₫544.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.37 ₫246.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 ₫111.8K

$3.26 LKR 1,081

30.67%

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

$273 ₫7.2M

$37.16 LKR 12.3K

633.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ₫362.2M

$435 LKR 144.2K

3069.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.85 ₫1.1M

$27.63 LKR 9,160

55.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.36 ₫718.8K

$19.41 LKR 6,435

40.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₫2.6M

$69.3 LKR 23.0K

40.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 ₫2.3M

$38.90 LKR 12.9K

123.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₫13.8M

$165 LKR 54.7K

218.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₫8.1M

$83.1 LKR 27.5K

269.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 ₫28.6M

$1,671 LKR 554.2K

-34.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 ₫17.6M

$497 LKR 164.8K

34.47%

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

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

16.45

-44.44%

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 Hikkaduwa: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $165 in Hikkaduwa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs $26.00 in Hikkaduwa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $237 per month, with Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 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 Hikkaduwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hikkaduwa is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,240 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $872 in Hikkaduwa to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $165 in Hikkaduwa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pay roughly 20% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $826 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $582 in Hikkaduwa – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Hikkaduwa 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 Hikkaduwa 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 Hikkaduwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.