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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $499 in Hue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $857 in Hue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,216 in Hue.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 66% more expensive than Hue, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower, Hue 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ₫53.2K

$1.14 ₫29.9K

78.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 ₫601.9K

$10.89 ₫286.2K

110.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₫123.3K

$4.48 ₫117.7K

4.69%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₫44.5K

$1.04 ₫27.3K

62.50%

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

$0.50 ₫13.2K

$0.50 ₫13.1K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,263

$0.29 ₫7,572

-3.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$0.80 ₫21.1K

23.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₫39.3K

$1.14 ₫29.9K

31.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ₫38.9K

$1.35 ₫35.4K

9.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$1.01 ₫26.6K

1.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₫25.9K

$0.62 ₫16.2K

58.06%

Eggs

$1.41 ₫36.9K

$1.12 ₫29.5K

25.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 ₫312.1K

$12.35 ₫324.4K

-3.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ₫94.6K

$3.75 ₫98.6K

-4.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.55 ₫277.3K

$9.79 ₫257.1K

7.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ₫72.5K

$2.20 ₫57.9K

25.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$0.68 ₫17.9K

61.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.1K

$1.11 ₫29.2K

17.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₫30.6K

$0.53 ₫13.9K

118.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$0.64 ₫16.9K

82.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.9K

$0.74 ₫19.4K

58.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$0.68 ₫17.9K

2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₫13.4K

$0.33 ₫8,614

54.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₫33.2K

$1.38 ₫36.2K

-7.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.32 ₫323.6K

$7.79 ₫204.7K

58.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$0.75 ₫19.7K

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$1.31 ₫34.5K

13.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,433

$0.34 ₫8,826

-17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.75 ₫282.5K

$7.08 ₫186.1K

51.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₫17.7K

$0.45 ₫11.9K

48.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.2K

$0.62 ₫16.3K

11.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 ₫78.7K

$2.53 ₫66.6K

18.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.7K

$0.75 ₫19.7K

9.33%

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

$37.5K ₫985.9M

$32.5K ₫855.0M

15.31%

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

$33.6K ₫881.9M

$28.0K ₫736.5M

19.74%

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

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$37.04 ₫973.3K

129.00%

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

$6.06 ₫159.3K

$5.83 ₫153.1K

3.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.14 ₫240.2K

$7.72 ₫202.9K

18.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.73 ₫544.6K

$51.2 ₫1.3M

-59.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.37 ₫246.3K

$7.69 ₫202.0K

21.85%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 ₫111.8K

$3.08 ₫80.9K

38.31%

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

$273 ₫7.2M

$151 ₫4.0M

80.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ₫362.2M

$8,981 ₫236.0M

53.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.85 ₫1.1M

$30.43 ₫799.7K

40.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.36 ₫718.8K

$18.67 ₫490.6K

46.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₫2.6M

$37.89 ₫995.5K

157.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 ₫2.3M

$38.06 ₫1.0M

128.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₫13.8M

$129 ₫3.4M

306.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₫8.1M

$97.9 ₫2.6M

214.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 ₫28.6M

$510 ₫13.4M

113.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 ₫17.6M

$349 ₫9.2M

91.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,497 ₫118.2M

$1,473 ₫38.7M

205.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,791 ₫47.1M

$1,100 ₫28.9M

62.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 ₫13.4M

$286 ₫7.5M

78.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

6.87

33.04%

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 Hue: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $129 in Hue. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 78% 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 $11.00 in Hue for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $170 per month, with Hue 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 Hue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hue wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hue the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 78% 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 $129 in Hue. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $826 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $499 in Hue – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Hue runs roughly 52% 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 $1,000 a month, though Hue gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Hue delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $499 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Hue hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Hue 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 Hue gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.