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

🙂 Solo nomad: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 23.7% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 17.1% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 21.4% cheaper than Medellin without rent, and 13% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.06 ₫53.5K
$6.23 COP 26K
-66.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.36 ₫607.9K
$32.34 COP 134.8K
-27.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.66 ₫121.3K
$7.39 COP 30.8K
-36.94%
Cappuccino
$1.76 ₫45.9K
$1.72 COP 7,155
2.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₫12.3K
$1.1 COP 4,575
-57.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 ₫7,838
$0.73 COP 3,060
-58.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1 ₫26.1K
$1.66 COP 6,916
-39.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₫39.5K
$3.2 COP 13.3K
-52.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 ₫38.2K
$1.09 COP 4,552
34.86%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 ₫25.3K
$1.24 COP 5,188
-21.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₫26.2K
$1.33 COP 5,544
-24.06%
Eggs
$1.42 ₫36.9K
$2.22 COP 9,252
-36.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.67 ₫303.6K
$4.55 COP 19K
156.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.56 ₫92.7K
$5.71 COP 23.8K
-37.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.43 ₫271.3K
$8.59 COP 35.8K
21.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 ₫72K
$2.26 COP 9,410
22.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.8K
$1.07 COP 4,461
3.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₫33.3K
$1.51 COP 6,293
-15.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 ₫30.7K
$1.42 COP 5,911
-16.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.8K
$1.11 COP 4,619
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ₫30.4K
$1.18 COP 4,932
-0.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ₫19.8K
$0.89 COP 3,718
-14.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₫13.3K
$0.84 COP 3,507
-39.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.22 ₫31.7K
$2.35 COP 9,809
-48.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.99 ₫337.9K
$9.34 COP 38.9K
39.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 ₫22K
$1.18 COP 4,927
-27.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ₫38.5K
$2.49 COP 10.4K
-40.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₫7,361
$0.83 COP 3,464
-66.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.45 ₫271.9K
$41.9 COP 174.7K
-75.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 ₫18.7K
$1.41 COP 5,899
-48.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₫16.7K
$1.96 COP 8,164
-67.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 ₫79.3K
$7.85 COP 32.7K
-61.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 ₫22K
$1.02 COP 4,265
-17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K ₫986M
$17.6K COP 73.4M
115.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₫900.4M
$26.2K COP 109.2M
32.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.5 ₫2.2M
$82.5 COP 344.1K
3.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.76 ₫150K
$9.44 COP 39.4K
-38.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.63 ₫250.5K
$23.51 COP 98K
-59.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.91 ₫544.1K
$25.68 COP 107.1K
-18.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.5 ₫247.3K
$19.14 COP 79.8K
-50.37%
Cinema Ticket
$4.18 ₫108.9K
$3.96 COP 16.5K
5.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 ₫7.2M
$305 COP 1.3M
-9.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K ₫366M
$5,925 COP 24.7M
137.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.09 ₫1.1M
$57.9 COP 241.4K
-27.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.16 ₫706.8K
$31.59 COP 131.7K
-14.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 ₫2.5M
$103 COP 430.1K
-7.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 ₫2.3M
$106 COP 440.5K
-17.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$532 ₫13.9M
$489 COP 2M
8.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ₫8.1M
$379 COP 1.6M
-18.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,111 ₫28.9M
$827 COP 3.4M
34.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 ₫17.1M
$729 COP 3M
-9.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,817 ₫99.3M
$2,190 COP 9.1M
74.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,911 ₫49.7M
$1,532 COP 6.4M
24.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ₫13.1M
$550 COP 2.3M
-8.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.14
13.43
-31.94%

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

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): October 29, 2025

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

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