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: $808 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $590 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,306 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,125 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,803 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,660 in Hikkaduwa.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 37% more expensive than in Hikkaduwa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 40% lower, Hikkaduwa 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.07 ₫54.3K

$4.05 LKR 1,361

-48.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 ₫595.2K

$25.51 LKR 8,571

-11.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 ₫124.2K

$8.38 LKR 2,816

-43.68%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₫46.9K

$2.65 LKR 890

-32.45%

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

$0.47 ₫12.5K

$0.72 LKR 243

-34.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,257

$0.34 LKR 115

-17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 ₫26.4K

$2.33 LKR 783

-57.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₫41.6K

$3.32 LKR 1,114

-52.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 ₫40.2K

$1.76 LKR 593

-13.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$0.52 LKR 176

90.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.7K

$0.88 LKR 295

15.91%

Eggs

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$2.22 LKR 747

-35.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.46 ₫301.4K

$14.29 LKR 4,801

-19.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 ₫95.1K

$4.78 LKR 1,606

-24.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.56 ₫277.6K

$7.87 LKR 2,645

34.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₫71.6K

$7.42 LKR 2,492

-63.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$0.32 LKR 107

243.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.2K

$2.75 LKR 923

-52.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ₫29.8K

$0.98 LKR 331

16.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.6K

$1.16 LKR 391

-3.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 ₫31.1K

$0.36 LKR 120

227.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$1.18 LKR 397

-40.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₫12.4K

$0.57 LKR 190

-17.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.28 ₫33.6K

$10.11 LKR 3,398

-87.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 ₫297.1K

$12.67 LKR 4,258

-10.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₫23.9K

$2.06 LKR 694

-55.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₫37.5K

$2.93 LKR 985

-51.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,399

$0.34 LKR 115

-17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.74 ₫282.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ₫17.8K

$0.42 LKR 140

61.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₫16.5K

$0.35 LKR 118

80.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₫79.4K

$0.60 LKR 203

403.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.6K

$1.26 LKR 422

-34.92%

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

$37.7K ₫990.5M

$27.2K LKR 9.1M

38.58%

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

$33.5K ₫881.9M

$35.2K LKR 11.8M

-4.80%

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

$83.2 ₫2.2M

$61.4 LKR 20.6K

35.60%

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

$5.76 ₫151.6K

$4.28 LKR 1,438

34.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.26 ₫243.6K

$15.20 LKR 5,107

-39.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.01 ₫552.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₫255.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 ₫112.4K

$3.26 LKR 1,096

31.29%

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

$280 ₫7.4M

$37.47 LKR 12.6K

646.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K ₫369.7M

$440 LKR 147.8K

3097.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.71 ₫1.1M

$27.50 LKR 9,239

55.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.93 ₫708.0K

$19.44 LKR 6,531

38.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 ₫2.6M

$69.8 LKR 23.4K

39.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$39.04 LKR 13.1K

117.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$539 ₫14.2M

$169 LKR 56.9K

218.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₫8.0M

$83.5 LKR 28.1K

266.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,110 ₫29.2M

$1,689 LKR 567.6K

-34.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$645 ₫17.0M

$497 LKR 167.0K

29.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,555 ₫119.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,818 ₫47.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$495 ₫13.0M

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): July 14, 2026

Last update for Hikkaduwa: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $539 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $169 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 $194 vs $238 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 37% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,212 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $885 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: $539 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $169 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 22% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $808 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $590 in Hikkaduwa – a 37% 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 37% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.