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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $669 in Pampanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,107 in Pampanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,545 in Pampanga.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 24% more expensive than Pampanga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower, Pampanga 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ₫53.2K

$3.03 ₱187

-33.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 ₫601.9K

$17.80 ₱1,098

28.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₫123.3K

$3.23 ₱199

45.20%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₫44.5K

$2.68 ₱165

-36.94%

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

$0.50 ₫13.2K

$0.39 ₱24.16

28.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,263

$0.38 ₱23.55

-26.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$1.20 ₱74.0

-17.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₫39.3K

$2.41 ₱149

-37.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ₫38.9K

$1.43 ₱88.3

3.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$1.14 ₱70.3

-9.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₫25.9K

$0.84 ₱51.9

16.67%

Eggs

$1.41 ₫36.9K

$1.44 ₱88.9

-2.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 ₫312.1K

$4.45 ₱275

166.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ₫94.6K

$3.10 ₱191

16.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.55 ₫277.3K

$7.30 ₱450

44.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ₫72.5K

$2.17 ₱134

27.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$1.03 ₱63.4

6.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.1K

$2.33 ₱144

-44.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₫30.6K

$0.92 ₱56.9

26.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$1.71 ₱105

-31.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.9K

$1.75 ₱108

-33.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$0.97 ₱59.9

-27.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₫13.4K

$0.65 ₱40.12

-21.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₫33.2K

$2.15 ₱133

-40.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.32 ₫323.6K

$6.14 ₱378

100.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$0.79 ₱48.97

7.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$1.44 ₱89.0

3.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,433

$0.29 ₱17.99

-3.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.75 ₫282.5K

$11.67 ₱720

-7.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₫17.7K

$0.82 ₱50.7

-18.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.2K

$0.29 ₱17.96

137.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 ₫78.7K

$2.07 ₱127

44.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.7K

$1.12 ₱69.1

-26.79%

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

$37.5K ₫985.9M

$17.8K ₱1.1M

110.78%

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

$33.6K ₫881.9M

$17.5K ₱1.1M

92.24%

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

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$132 ₱8,111

-35.52%

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

$6.06 ₫159.3K

$26.11 ₱1,610

-76.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.14 ₫240.2K

$26.86 ₱1,657

-65.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.73 ₫544.6K

$51.9 ₱3,201

-60.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.37 ₫246.3K

$4.32 ₱266

116.90%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 ₫111.8K

$4.31 ₱266

-1.16%

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

$273 ₫7.2M

$126 ₱7,797

115.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ₫362.2M

$1,773 ₱109.3K

677.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.85 ₫1.1M

$28.91 ₱1,782

48.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.36 ₫718.8K

$26.63 ₱1,642

2.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₫2.6M

$59.9 ₱3,692

62.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 ₫2.3M

$42.40 ₱2,614

105.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₫13.8M

$150 ₱9,223

251.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₫8.1M

$99.1 ₱6,110

210.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 ₫28.6M

$596 ₱36.7K

82.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 ₫17.6M

$422 ₱26.0K

58.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,497 ₫118.2M

$2,309 ₱142.4K

94.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,791 ₫47.1M

$1,281 ₱79.0K

39.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 ₫13.4M

$321 ₱19.8K

58.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

6.17

48.14%

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 Pampanga: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $150 in Pampanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 59% 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 $18.00 in Pampanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $156 per month, with Pampanga 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 Pampanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pampanga wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pampanga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 59% 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 $150 in Pampanga. 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 $669 in Pampanga – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pampanga runs roughly 9% 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 $800 a month, though Pampanga 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 Pampanga delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $669 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pampanga hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Pampanga 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 Pampanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.