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: $850 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $515 in Hikkaduwa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,385 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $829 in Hikkaduwa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,920 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,142 in Hikkaduwa.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 65% more expensive than in Hikkaduwa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower, Hikkaduwa 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 ₫55.8K

$4.35 LKR 1,426

-50.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 ₫597.3K

$24.55 LKR 8,053

-6.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.67 ₫121.9K

$7.49 LKR 2,458

-37.65%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₫46.3K

$2.50 LKR 820

-28.80%

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

$0.53 ₫13.8K

$0.68 LKR 222

-22.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₫9,013

$0.25 LKR 81.2

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 ₫30.6K

$2.31 LKR 756

-49.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₫43.3K

$3.08 LKR 1,010

-46.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 ₫41.0K

$1.62 LKR 530

-3.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 ₫27.1K

$0.57 LKR 188

82.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.00 ₫26.1K

$0.79 LKR 260

26.58%

Eggs

$1.61 ₫42.0K

$1.64 LKR 537

-1.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.27 ₫319.8K

$13.00 LKR 4,264

-5.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.54 ₫92.2K

$5.04 LKR 1,653

-29.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 ₫271.8K

$7.55 LKR 2,476

38.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 ₫81.3K

$6.90 LKR 2,263

-54.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 ₫33.2K

$0.88 LKR 288

45.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ₫42.1K

$4.28 LKR 1,405

-62.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 ₫31.5K

$1.29 LKR 423

-6.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 ₫31.9K

$1.04 LKR 342

17.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ₫31.1K

$0.81 LKR 267

46.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ₫18.7K

$0.95 LKR 311

-24.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₫13.2K

$0.49 LKR 160

4.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.25 ₫32.5K

$10.31 LKR 3,382

-87.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.47 ₫325.0K

$13.76 LKR 4,514

-9.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₫24.4K

$1.89 LKR 618

-50.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ₫38.5K

$2.68 LKR 880

-44.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,359

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.33 ₫295.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ₫18.0K

$0.42 LKR 137

64.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 ₫15.7K

$0.37 LKR 122

62.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.09 ₫80.5K

$0.88 LKR 288

251.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 ₫24.5K

$1.31 LKR 431

-28.24%

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

$30.8K ₫802.5M

$31.0K LKR 10.2M

-0.70%

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

$30.6K ₫797.2M

$42.0K LKR 13.8M

-27.24%

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

$101 ₫2.6M

$52.9 LKR 17.3K

91.38%

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

$5.95 ₫155.0K

$4.30 LKR 1,411

38.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.16 ₫264.9K

$20.48 LKR 6,718

-50.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.64 ₫642.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.67 ₫304.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.54 ₫92.4K

$4.38 LKR 1,436

-19.18%

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

$464 ₫12.1M

$37.60 LKR 12.3K

1134.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.7K ₫592.2M

$1,222 LKR 400.8K

1759.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 ₫1.3M

$20.32 LKR 6,665

154.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.93 ₫910.5K

$16.74 LKR 5,493

108.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.7 ₫2.4M

$80.6 LKR 26.4K

12.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.7 ₫2.4M

$42.03 LKR 13.8K

120.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$582 ₫15.2M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$283 ₫7.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,271 ₫33.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 ₫17.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,704 ₫122.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,909 ₫49.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$488 ₫12.7M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.64

12.69

-31.91%

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

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): August 31, 2026

Last update for Hikkaduwa: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs $25.00 in Hikkaduwa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 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 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,275 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $773 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.

Shoppers in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $850 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $515 in Hikkaduwa – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $515 in Hikkaduwa versus $850 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a $1,500 budget is realistic in Hikkaduwa but tight or insufficient in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The gap between the two cities makes Hikkaduwa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 65% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.