Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Nabeul: $678 a month against $859 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$859
/mo nomad
Nabeul
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$678
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and in Nabeul

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and in Nabeul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $859 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $678 in Nabeul.

  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $859
  • Nabeul $678

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,395 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,065 in Nabeul.

  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,395
  • Nabeul $1,065

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,931 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,452 in Nabeul.

  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,931
  • Nabeul $1,452

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 27% more expensive than in Nabeul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 36% lower, Nabeul 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.91 ₫49.6K
$4.08 TND 12.22
-53.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.84 ₫591.2K
$20.03 TND 60.0
14.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.54 ₫117.6K
$4.81 TND 14.40
-5.61%
Cappuccino
$1.85 ₫48.0K
$1.50 TND 4.48
23.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₫14.6K
$0.61 TND 1.82
-8.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₫8,185
$0.55 TND 1.65
-41.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.06 ₫27.5K
$1.63 TND 4.89
-34.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 ₫44.5K
$1.62 TND 4.86
6.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ₫42.9K
$0.46 TND 1.38
260.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 ₫28.7K
$0.16 TND 0.49
593.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 ₫25.9K
$1.33 TND 3.97
-24.81%
Eggs
$1.67 ₫43.1K
$1.53 TND 4.58
9.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.08 ₫312.8K
$11.76 TND 35.23
2.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.68 ₫95.2K
$5.95 TND 17.83
-38.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.24 ₫265.1K
$12.33 TND 36.93
-16.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 ₫76.5K
$2.04 TND 6.10
45.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 ₫32.2K
$3.56 TND 10.65
-65.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.56 ₫40.3K
$1.32 TND 3.96
18.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 ₫33.6K
$0.77 TND 2.30
68.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 ₫31.9K
$0.65 TND 1.94
89.23%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ₫29.8K
$0.79 TND 2.38
45.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 ₫19.1K
$0.48 TND 1.43
54.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₫14.4K
$0.31 TND 0.94
80.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.24 ₫32.1K
$3.37 TND 10.08
-63.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.60 ₫326.1K
$4.87 TND 14.60
158.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 ₫24.9K
$1.21 TND 3.64
-20.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 ₫39.6K
$1.25 TND 3.76
22.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₫6,694
$0.83 TND 2.48
-68.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.51 ₫297.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 ₫19.5K
$0.31 TND 0.94
141.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.67 ₫17.4K
$0.32 TND 0.95
109.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ₫78.5K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 ₫24.8K
$0.88 TND 2.64
9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K ₫804.3M
$40.2K TND 120.5K
-22.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K ₫785.9M
$36.1K TND 108.0K
-15.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ₫2.6M
$59.7 TND 179
70.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.89 ₫152.5K
$10.40 TND 31.16
-43.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.49 ₫271.6K
$19.91 TND 59.6
-47.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.54 ₫661.2K
$29.74 TND 89.1
-14.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.92 ₫308.5K
$13.72 TND 41.09
-13.12%
Cinema Ticket
$3.53 ₫91.3K
$5.49 TND 16.44
-35.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 ₫11.3M
$60.3 TND 181
623.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K ₫602.8M
$3,717 TND 11.1K
526.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 ₫1.4M
$38.06 TND 114
38.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.15 ₫884.1K
$57.8 TND 173
-40.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.3 ₫2.3M
$96.5 TND 289
-6.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.0 ₫2.5M
$66.2 TND 198
43.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$589 ₫15.3M
$228 TND 684
158.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 ₫7.7M
$156 TND 468
90.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,292 ₫33.5M
$378 TND 1,133
241.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$711 ₫18.4M
$278 TND 832
155.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,676 ₫121.1M
$849 TND 2,544
450.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,904 ₫49.3M
$813 TND 2,435
134.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$490 ₫12.7M
$255 TND 763
92.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.64
10.33
-16.36%

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

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): October 10, 2026

Last update for Nabeul: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$298
Nabeul
$156 47.5% $142
Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$207
Nabeul
$188 9.4% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$122
Nabeul
$116 5% $6.1
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$118
Nabeul
$90 24% $28
Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$63
Nabeul
$81 27.7% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$33
Nabeul
$41 24.9% $8.1
Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$17
Nabeul
$5.2 * 68.6% $11

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $589 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $228 in Nabeul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 92% 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 $20.00 in Nabeul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $188 per month, with Nabeul cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇹🇳 Nabeul
🕒 Local time
17:48 5:48 PM
11:48 11:48 AM
6 h behind Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,456,700
73,128
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TND, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,105 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.334 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 TND (1 TND = 0.297 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Nabeul 9,820 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
  • Nabeul

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Nabeul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Nabeul?
Nabeul wins on cost – living expenses run 27% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Nabeul the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or in Nabeul?
Average pay runs 92% higher in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) compared to Nabeul?
Rent for a central apartment: $589 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $228 in Nabeul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or in Nabeul?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) compared to Nabeul?
All in, you'll spend $859 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $678 in Nabeul – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or in Nabeul?
At $678 in Nabeul versus $859 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nabeul but tight or insufficient in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The gap between the two cities makes Nabeul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Nabeul?
Both work as nomad bases, but Nabeul delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $678 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Nabeul hard to pass up.
How safe is Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) compared to Nabeul?
Safety-wise, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Nabeul are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Nabeul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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