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 16% more expensive than Tarlac City without rent, and 32.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 7.5% more expensive than Tarlac City without rent, and 42.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97 ₫51.8K
$2.63 ₱157
-25.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.74 ₫597.1K
$15.10 ₱905
50.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.68 ₫123.0K
$3.48 ₱208
34.48%
Cappuccino
$1.77 ₫46.4K
$1.59 ₱95.2
11.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₫12.5K
$0.87 ₱51.9
-44.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ₫7,255
$0.28 ₱16.87
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 ₫27.1K
$0.93 ₱55.7
10.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 ₫41.6K
$1.72 ₱103
-8.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 ₫40.0K
$1.65 ₱98.8
-7.88%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 ₫25.9K
$1.48 ₱88.8
-33.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 ₫24.7K
$0.94 ₱56.1
-
Eggs
$1.47 ₫38.5K
$2.00 ₱120
-26.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.64 ₫305.7K
$8.67 ₱519
34.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.72 ₫97.6K
$3.14 ₱188
18.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.25 ₫269.1K
$5.97 ₱358
71.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.66 ₫69.9K
$2.98 ₱179
-10.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 ₫30.1K
$1.61 ₱96.5
-28.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.31 ₫34.4K
$2.10 ₱126
-37.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.17 ₫30.6K
$1.47 ₱88.2
-20.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 ₫30.4K
$1.45 ₱86.6
-20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ₫30.6K
$1.16 ₱69.7
0.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ₫18.5K
$0.87 ₱51.9
-18.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₫13.2K
$0.82 ₱49.13
-39.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.22 ₫31.9K
$2.77 ₱166
-55.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.67 ₫332.6K
$3.93 ₱236
222.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₫24.3K
$0.78 ₱46.48
17.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 ₫37.4K
$1.50 ₱89.7
-5.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₫7,384
$0.26 ₱15.57
7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.40 ₫273.0K
$8.10 ₱485
28.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 ₫18.4K
$0.77 ₱45.83
-9.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.69 ₫18.0K
$0.24 ₱14.42
187.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ₫79.8K
$2.11 ₱127
44.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 ₫23.3K
$1.12 ₱67.3
-20.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K ₫1.0B
$28.4K ₱1.7M
34.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K ₫881.8M
$19.7K ₱1.2M
70.59%
🧾 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)
$84.4 ₫2.2M
$98.5 ₱5,898
-14.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.83 ₫153.0K
$16.20 ₱970
-64.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.23 ₫242.3K
$26.50 ₱1,588
-65.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.56 ₫539.8K
$44.70 ₱2,678
-54.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.30 ₫244.2K
$17.39 ₱1,042
-46.52%
Cinema Ticket
$4.11 ₫107.8K
$6.15 ₱368
-33.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 ₫7.2M
$170 ₱10.2K
61.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K ₫373.5M
$13.8K ₱828.6K
2.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.41 ₫1.1M
$45.27 ₱2,712
-6.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.94 ₫707.3K
$26.57 ₱1,592
1.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.8 ₫2.5M
$50.7 ₱3,037
90.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.8 ₫2.2M
$36.96 ₱2,214
129.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$529 ₫13.9M
$127 ₱7,632
315.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 ₫8.0M
$99.9 ₱5,985
204.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,094 ₫28.7M
$266 ₱15.9K
312.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 ₫17.2M
$179 ₱10.7K
265.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,142 ₫108.8M
$384 ₱23.0K
977.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,875 ₫49.2M
$308 ₱18.5K
508.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tarlac City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ₫12.9M
$227 ₱13.6K
116.82%
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): April 12, 2026

Last update for Tarlac City: April 11, 2026

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

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