Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Taiwan
For one person, living is cheaper in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): $855 a month against $1,183 in Taiwan, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Living Index42Cost of Living Index in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)Learn more -
Taiwan Living Index57Cost of Living Index in TaiwanLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 40.5% cheaper than Taiwan without rent, and 27.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 39.9% cheaper than Taiwan without rent, and 27.6% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Taiwan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.90 ₫49.1K
$4.86 NT$155
-60.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.32 ₫603.5K
$31.39 NT$1,002
-25.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.67 ₫120.9K
$5.48 NT$175
-14.78%
Cappuccino
$1.85 ₫47.9K
$2.89 NT$92.1
-35.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ₫14.4K
$0.99 NT$31.43
-43.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₫8,857
$0.68 NT$21.75
-50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.01 ₫26.2K
$1.86 NT$59.3
-45.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 ₫43.7K
$2.45 NT$78.0
-31.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Taiwan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 ₫40.8K
$3.08 NT$98.2
-48.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 ₫27.0K
$1.86 NT$59.3
-44.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ₫25.7K
$3.00 NT$95.7
-67.00%
Eggs
$1.60 ₫41.5K
$2.72 NT$86.8
-41.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.23 ₫316.6K
$18.38 NT$587
-33.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.54 ₫91.7K
$9.07 NT$289
-60.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.44 ₫270.2K
$20.49 NT$654
-49.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.09 ₫79.9K
$4.69 NT$150
-34.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ₫32.5K
$2.72 NT$86.8
-53.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 ₫40.6K
$2.94 NT$93.7
-46.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 ₫32.5K
$3.86 NT$123
-67.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 ₫30.4K
$2.82 NT$90.1
-58.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ₫29.7K
$2.29 NT$73.0
-49.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ₫18.7K
$2.13 NT$67.9
-66.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ₫14.0K
$1.19 NT$38.02
-54.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.22 ₫31.5K
$3.87 NT$124
-68.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.28 ₫317.8K
$12.74 NT$406
-3.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.98 ₫25.4K
$1.71 NT$54.4
-42.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 ₫38.5K
$2.19 NT$69.8
-31.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Taiwan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₫7,249
$0.65 NT$20.69
-56.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.62 ₫300.8K
$38.53 NT$1,229
-69.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 ₫18.9K
$2.82 NT$90.0
-74.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₫16.7K
$0.82 NT$26.21
-21.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ₫82.0K
$9.67 NT$309
-67.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 ₫24.6K
$1.02 NT$32.54
-6.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K ₫795.6M
$33.3K NT$1.1M
-7.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K ₫791.6M
$23.8K NT$760.9K
28.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Taiwan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ₫2.6M
$87.6 NT$2,797
16.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.65 ₫146.1K
$17.29 NT$552
-67.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.52 ₫272.2K
$23.97 NT$765
-56.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Taiwan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.86 ₫669.2K
$37.76 NT$1,205
-31.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.82 ₫305.9K
$11.77 NT$376
0.42%
Cinema Ticket
$3.39 ₫87.8K
$10.24 NT$327
-66.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Taiwan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$438 ₫11.3M
$562 NT$17.9K
-22.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K ₫603.1M
$16.2K NT$518.1K
43.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Taiwan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 ₫1.3M
$63.0 NT$2,009
-18.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.56 ₫894.3K
$33.32 NT$1,063
3.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.3 ₫2.4M
$82.8 NT$2,642
10.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.9 ₫2.5M
$104 NT$3,325
-8.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Taiwan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$577 ₫14.9M
$525 NT$16.7K
9.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 ₫7.6M
$318 NT$10.2K
-8.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 ₫33.5M
$1,126 NT$35.9K
14.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$717 ₫18.6M
$798 NT$25.5K
-10.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,714 ₫122.0M
$8,113 NT$258.9K
-41.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,882 ₫48.7M
$5,437 NT$173.5K
-65.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Taiwan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$486 ₫12.6M
$1,752 NT$55.9K
-72.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.64
2.45
252.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): October 5, 2026
Last update for Taiwan: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $292 34.3%
Taiwan $318 27.2% 8.9% $26
Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $206 24.1%
Taiwan $379 32.4% 84.5% $174
Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $123 14.4%
Taiwan $127 10.9% 4% $4.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $118 13.9%
Taiwan $129 11% 8.8% $10
Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $63 7.5%
Taiwan $111 9.5% 74.6% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $33 3.8%
Taiwan $58 5% 78.4% $26
Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $17 2%
Taiwan $48 4.1% 188% $31
Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $717 37%
Taiwan $798 29.4% 11.3% $81
Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $473 24.4%
Taiwan $887 32.7% 87.5% $414
Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $272 14.1%
Taiwan $283 10.4% 4% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $124 6.4%
Taiwan $146 5.4% 17.8% $22
Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $239 12.3%
Taiwan $376 13.8% 57.4% $137
Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $77 4%
Taiwan $128 4.7% 66.3% $51
Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $34 1.8%
Taiwan $97 3.6% 187% $63
Good to know
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Weather
Population
9,456,700
23,409,323
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Taiwan 2,230 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
- Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
- Taiwan
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 other spots: cost of living compared
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$855
/mo nomad
Da Nang
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$844
/mo nomad
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$855
/mo nomad
Tokyo
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,635
/mo nomad
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$855
/mo nomad
Hanoi
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$805
/mo nomad
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$855
/mo nomad
Jakarta
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$793
/mo nomad
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