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

😐 Solo nomad: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 19.2% more expensive than Tarlac City without rent, and 32.8% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 2.8% cheaper than Tarlac City without rent, and 41.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.05 ₫53.4K
$2.74 ₱160
-25.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.72 ₫592.3K
$15.23 ₱891
49.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.59 ₫119.7K
$3.51 ₱205
30.77%
Cappuccino
$1.71 ₫44.5K
$1.59 ₱92.7
7.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₫12.3K
$0.83 ₱48.28
-43.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₫7,911
$0.26 ₱15.10
15.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.05 ₫27.3K
$0.93 ₱54.3
12.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 ₫39.5K
$1.79 ₱105
-15.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 ₫39.5K
$1.66 ₱96.8
-8.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.02 ₫26.5K
$1.53 ₱89.6
-33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ₫24.7K
$0.93 ₱54.6
2.15%
Eggs
$1.43 ₫37.2K
$2.07 ₱121
-30.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.82 ₫308.1K
$9.00 ₱527
31.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.68 ₫95.9K
$3.25 ₱190
13.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.53 ₫274.4K
$5.92 ₱346
77.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ₫69.8K
$2.85 ₱166
-5.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.9K
$1.55 ₱90.8
-28.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.29 ₫33.6K
$2.07 ₱121
-37.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 ₫30.8K
$1.48 ₱86.8
-20.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 ₫29.4K
$1.42 ₱83.2
-20.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.22 ₫31.7K
$1.12 ₱65.6
8.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 ₫19.6K
$0.92 ₱53.9
-18.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₫12.4K
$0.90 ₱52.7
-46.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.28 ₫33.3K
$2.82 ₱165
-54.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.42 ₫349.7K
$3.92 ₱230
242.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₫23.6K
$0.84 ₱48.89
8.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 ₫38.7K
$1.52 ₱89.1
-1.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₫6,716
$0.28 ₱16.47
-7.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.48 ₫273.2K
$7.78 ₱455
34.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 ₫18.3K
$0.84 ₱49.11
-16.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₫18.0K
$0.22 ₱12.86
213.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.00 ₫78.1K
$2.07 ₱121
44.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 ₫23.1K
$1.13 ₱66.0
-21.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K ₫996.1M
$27.9K ₱1.6M
36.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K ₫903.1M
$19.4K ₱1.1M
78.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.2 ₫2.2M
$98.7 ₱5,774
-13.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.75 ₫149.9K
$16.18 ₱947
-64.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.23 ₫240.7K
$26.91 ₱1,575
-65.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.15 ₫551.2K
$44.89 ₱2,626
-52.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.29 ₫242.1K
$17.45 ₱1,021
-46.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 ₫110.8K
$6.30 ₱369
-32.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₫7.2M
$171 ₱9,990
60.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.1K ₫366.7M
$14.1K ₱822.6K
0.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.92 ₫1.1M
$45.85 ₱2,682
-6.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.42 ₫714.6K
$26.21 ₱1,533
4.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.4 ₫2.6M
$52.0 ₱3,042
89.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3 ₫2.2M
$36.63 ₱2,143
135.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$521 ₫13.6M
$126 ₱7,384
312.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₫8.1M
$99.9 ₱5,844
209.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,132 ₫29.5M
$262 ₱15.3K
331.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$644 ₫16.8M
$180 ₱10.5K
257.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,099 ₫106.8M
$402 ₱23.5K
920.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,948 ₫50.8M
$317 ₱18.5K
515.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$496 ₫12.9M
$229 ₱13.4K
116.99%
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): March 3, 2026

Last update for Tarlac City: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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