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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $624 in Nabeul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,014 in Nabeul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,404 in Nabeul.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 32% more expensive than Nabeul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower, Nabeul 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ₫53.2K
$3.36 TND 9.75
-39.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.91 ₫601.9K
$20.21 TND 58.7
13.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.69 ₫123.3K
$3.40 TND 9.89
37.94%
Cappuccino
$1.69 ₫44.5K
$0.71 TND 2.06
138.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₫13.2K
$0.61 TND 1.76
-18.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ₫7,263
$0.25 TND 0.73
12.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.99 ₫26.0K
$1.25 TND 3.62
-20.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 ₫39.3K
$1.67 TND 4.85
-10.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.48 ₫38.9K
$0.53 TND 1.55
179.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 ₫26.9K
$0.17 TND 0.50
505.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 ₫25.9K
$1.13 TND 3.27
-13.27%
Eggs
$1.41 ₫36.9K
$1.62 TND 4.71
-12.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.88 ₫312.1K
$11.10 TND 32.21
7.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.60 ₫94.6K
$5.66 TND 16.43
-36.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.55 ₫277.3K
$12.50 TND 36.30
-15.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ₫72.5K
$2.05 TND 5.96
34.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 ₫28.9K
$2.96 TND 8.58
-62.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.30 ₫34.1K
$0.82 TND 2.37
58.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.16 ₫30.6K
$0.64 TND 1.87
81.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 ₫30.7K
$0.64 TND 1.86
82.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ₫30.9K
$0.48 TND 1.39
143.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ₫18.4K
$0.48 TND 1.39
45.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₫13.4K
$0.31 TND 0.90
64.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.27 ₫33.2K
$3.43 TND 9.95
-62.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.32 ₫323.6K
$5.04 TND 14.64
144.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 ₫22.3K
$1.10 TND 3.20
-22.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 ₫39.1K
$1.06 TND 3.09
40.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₫7,433
$0.89 TND 2.58
-68.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.75 ₫282.5K
$10.03 TND 29.12
7.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.67 ₫17.7K
$0.30 TND 0.87
123.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₫18.2K
$0.31 TND 0.89
122.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.99 ₫78.7K
$7.42 TND 21.55
-59.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 ₫21.7K
$0.82 TND 2.40
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K ₫985.9M
$34.9K TND 101.4K
7.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K ₫881.9M
$34.2K TND 99.4K
-1.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.8 ₫2.2M
$46.25 TND 134
83.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.06 ₫159.3K
$9.86 TND 28.62
-38.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.14 ₫240.2K
$15.02 TND 43.62
-39.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.73 ₫544.6K
$29.10 TND 84.5
-28.76%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.37 ₫246.3K
$14.15 TND 41.09
-33.78%
Cinema Ticket
$4.26 ₫111.8K
$4.45 TND 12.92
-4.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$273 ₫7.2M
$86.3 TND 251
215.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.8K ₫362.2M
$2,502 TND 7,266
450.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.85 ₫1.1M
$38.24 TND 111
12.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.36 ₫718.8K
$44.82 TND 130
-38.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.6 ₫2.6M
$101 TND 293
-3.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.1 ₫2.3M
$64.8 TND 188
34.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$526 ₫13.8M
$234 TND 679
124.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$307 ₫8.1M
$160 TND 464
92.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,090 ₫28.6M
$377 TND 1,095
189.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$668 ₫17.6M
$285 TND 827
134.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,497 ₫118.2M
$873 TND 2,535
415.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,791 ₫47.1M
$817 TND 2,372
119.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Nabeul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$509 ₫13.4M
$270 TND 785
88.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.14
13.6
-32.79%

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 Nabeul: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $234 in Nabeul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 88% 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 $198 vs $178 per month, with Nabeul 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 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 32% 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 Nabeul?
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 88% more on average, 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) vs Nabeul?
Rent for a central apartment: $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $234 in Nabeul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) compared to Nabeul?
All in, you'll spend $826 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $624 in Nabeul – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs Nabeul?
A monthly transit pass in Nabeul runs roughly 7% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $800/month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Nabeul?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Nabeul gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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 $624 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 32% 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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