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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $621 in Tarlac City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $954 in Tarlac City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,286 in Tarlac City.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 33% more expensive than Tarlac City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower, Tarlac City 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ₫53.2K

$2.70 ₱166

-24.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 ₫601.9K

$14.96 ₱922

53.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₫123.3K

$3.51 ₱216

33.62%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₫44.5K

$1.57 ₱96.7

7.64%

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

$0.50 ₫13.2K

$0.87 ₱53.4

-42.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,263

$0.26 ₱15.95

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$0.99 ₱60.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₫39.3K

$1.72 ₱106

-12.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ₫38.9K

$1.66 ₱103

-10.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$1.54 ₱95.3

-33.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₫25.9K

$0.98 ₱60.7

Eggs

$1.41 ₫36.9K

$2.02 ₱124

-30.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 ₫312.1K

$9.07 ₱560

30.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ₫94.6K

$3.21 ₱198

12.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.55 ₫277.3K

$5.91 ₱365

78.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ₫72.5K

$2.89 ₱178

-4.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$1.62 ₱99.6

-32.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.1K

$2.15 ₱132

-39.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₫30.6K

$1.52 ₱94.0

-23.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$1.45 ₱89.2

-19.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.9K

$1.18 ₱72.9

-0.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$0.92 ₱56.9

-23.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₫13.4K

$0.90 ₱55.4

-43.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₫33.2K

$2.78 ₱171

-54.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.32 ₫323.6K

$3.76 ₱232

227.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$0.83 ₱50.9

2.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$1.56 ₱96.5

-4.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,433

$0.28 ₱17.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.75 ₫282.5K

$7.93 ₱489

35.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₫17.7K

$0.84 ₱51.7

-20.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.2K

$0.22 ₱13.50

213.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 ₫78.7K

$2.11 ₱130

41.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.7K

$1.15 ₱71.0

-28.70%

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

$37.5K ₫985.9M

$28.6K ₱1.8M

31.11%

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

$33.6K ₫881.9M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

70.37%

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

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$101 ₱6,199

-15.63%

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

$6.06 ₫159.3K

$15.85 ₱977

-61.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.14 ₫240.2K

$26.78 ₱1,651

-65.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.73 ₫544.6K

$44.51 ₱2,745

-53.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.37 ₫246.3K

$17.48 ₱1,078

-46.40%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 ₫111.8K

$6.27 ₱387

-32.06%

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

$273 ₫7.2M

$170 ₱10.5K

60.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ₫362.2M

$14.0K ₱866.1K

-1.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.85 ₫1.1M

$46.32 ₱2,856

-7.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.36 ₫718.8K

$26.53 ₱1,636

3.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₫2.6M

$50.4 ₱3,109

93.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 ₫2.3M

$37.32 ₱2,301

133.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₫13.8M

$131 ₱8,057

302.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₫8.1M

$103 ₱6,333

199.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 ₫28.6M

$268 ₱16.5K

306.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 ₫17.6M

$176 ₱10.9K

279.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,497 ₫118.2M

$372 ₱23.0K

1107.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,791 ₫47.1M

$294 ₱18.1K

510.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 ₫13.4M

$212 ₱13.1K

140.12%

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 Tarlac City: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $131 in Tarlac City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 140% 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 $15.00 in Tarlac City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $181 per month, with Tarlac City 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 Tarlac City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Tarlac City wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tarlac City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 140% 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 $131 in Tarlac City. 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 $621 in Tarlac City – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tarlac City runs roughly 36% 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 Tarlac City 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 Tarlac City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $621 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tarlac City hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Tarlac City 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 Tarlac City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.