Cost of Living Comparison Between Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Playa del Carmen

🙂 Solo nomad: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 48.1% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 33.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 31.1% cheaper than Playa del Carmen without rent, and 39.9% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.06 ₫53.5K
$11.99 MX$227
-82.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.36 ₫607.9K
$42.47 MX$803
-45.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.66 ₫121.3K
$10.47 MX$198
-55.49%
Cappuccino
$1.76 ₫45.9K
$3.6 MX$68.2
-51.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₫12.3K
$1.44 MX$27.16
-67.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.3 ₫7,838
$0.89 MX$16.79
-66.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1 ₫26.1K
$3.09 MX$58.5
-67.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₫39.5K
$4.58 MX$86.6
-66.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 ₫38.2K
$1.38 MX$26.04
6.52%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 ₫25.3K
$1.85 MX$34.9
-47.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₫26.2K
$1.57 MX$29.68
-35.67%
Eggs
$1.42 ₫36.9K
$2.55 MX$48.3
-44.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.67 ₫303.6K
$8.61 MX$163
35.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.56 ₫92.7K
$8.54 MX$161
-58.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.43 ₫271.3K
$10.98 MX$208
-5.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 ₫72K
$2.72 MX$51.4
1.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.8K
$1.51 MX$28.57
-26.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₫33.3K
$1.88 MX$35.63
-31.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 ₫30.7K
$2.19 MX$41.42
-46.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.8K
$1.87 MX$35.3
-40.64%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ₫30.4K
$2.19 MX$41.37
-46.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ₫19.8K
$1.07 MX$20.23
-28.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₫13.3K
$1.09 MX$20.64
-53.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.22 ₫31.7K
$3.96 MX$74.9
-69.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.99 ₫337.9K
$8.86 MX$167
46.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 ₫22K
$1.72 MX$32.53
-50.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ₫38.5K
$2.61 MX$49.37
-43.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Playa del Carmen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₫7,361
$0.52 MX$9.74
-46.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.45 ₫271.9K
$26.59 MX$503
-60.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 ₫18.7K
$3.24 MX$61.2
-77.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₫16.7K
$2.38 MX$44.94
-73.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 ₫79.3K
$3.11 MX$58.7
-1.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 ₫22K
$1.31 MX$24.85
-35.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9K ₫986M
$30.3K MX$573K
25.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₫900.4M
$24K MX$453.6K
44.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.5 ₫2.2M
$84.2 MX$1,592
1.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.76 ₫150K
$22.14 MX$419
-73.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.63 ₫250.5K
$30.14 MX$570
-68.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.91 ₫544.1K
$52 MX$983
-59.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.5 ₫247.3K
$18.72 MX$354
-49.25%
Cinema Ticket
$4.18 ₫108.9K
$5.07 MX$95.9
-17.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 ₫7.2M
$200 MX$3,787
37.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K ₫366M
$5,333 MX$100.8K
163.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.09 ₫1.1M
$35.74 MX$676
17.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.16 ₫706.8K
$39.8 MX$753
-31.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.7 ₫2.5M
$79 MX$1,493
21.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.9 ₫2.3M
$88.4 MX$1,671
-1.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Playa del Carmen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$532 ₫13.9M
$965 MX$18.3K
-44.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ₫8.1M
$474 MX$8,968
-34.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,111 ₫28.9M
$1,653 MX$31.2K
-32.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 ₫17.1M
$1,202 MX$22.7K
-45.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,817 ₫99.3M
$3,081 MX$58.3K
23.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,911 ₫49.7M
$7,529 MX$142.3K
-74.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Playa del Carmen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$505 ₫13.1M
$792 MX$15K
-36.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.14
11.42
-19.96%

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 Playa del Carmen: October 28, 2025

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