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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $850 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $693 in Tetouan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,385 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,048 in Tetouan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,920 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,402 in Tetouan.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 23% more expensive than in Tetouan, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower, Tetouan 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tetouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14 ₫55.8K
$3.16 MAD 29.53
-32.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.91 ₫597.3K
$18.94 MAD 177
20.96%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.67 ₫121.9K
$8.43 MAD 78.7
-44.60%
Cappuccino
$1.78 ₫46.3K
$1.83 MAD 17.10
-2.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₫13.8K
$0.78 MAD 7.25
-32.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₫9,013
$0.34 MAD 3.14
2.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.17 ₫30.6K
$2.63 MAD 24.57
-55.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ₫43.3K
$3.31 MAD 30.88
-49.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tetouan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 ₫41.0K
$1.03 MAD 9.63
52.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 ₫27.1K
$0.28 MAD 2.62
271.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 ₫26.1K
$2.00 MAD 18.70
-50.00%
Eggs
$1.61 ₫42.0K
$1.74 MAD 16.26
-7.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.27 ₫319.8K
$5.97 MAD 55.8
105.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.54 ₫92.2K
$7.43 MAD 69.3
-52.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.43 ₫271.8K
$13.03 MAD 122
-19.95%
Apples (1kg)
$3.12 ₫81.3K
$1.63 MAD 15.20
91.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 ₫33.2K
$1.51 MAD 14.10
-15.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ₫42.1K
$0.91 MAD 8.54
78.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 ₫31.5K
$0.84 MAD 7.88
44.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 ₫31.9K
$0.91 MAD 8.46
34.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ₫31.1K
$0.80 MAD 7.45
48.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ₫18.7K
$0.50 MAD 4.66
44.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₫13.2K
$0.62 MAD 5.75
-17.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.25 ₫32.5K
$3.86 MAD 36.08
-67.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.47 ₫325.0K
$9.05 MAD 84.5
37.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₫24.4K
$2.29 MAD 21.38
-59.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.48 ₫38.5K
$2.52 MAD 23.50
-41.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tetouan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₫7,359
$0.51 MAD 4.80
-45.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.33 ₫295.4K
$13.05 MAD 122
-13.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 ₫18.0K
$0.73 MAD 6.83
-5.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 ₫15.7K
$1.14 MAD 10.62
-47.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 ₫80.5K
$3.52 MAD 32.87
-12.22%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 ₫24.5K
$1.52 MAD 14.24
-38.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K ₫802.5M
$34.8K MAD 324.6K
-11.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K ₫797.2M
$32.0K MAD 298.7K
-4.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tetouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 ₫2.6M
$46.20 MAD 431
119.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.95 ₫155.0K
$10.90 MAD 102
-45.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.16 ₫264.9K
$42.81 MAD 400
-76.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tetouan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.64 ₫642.4K
$15.36 MAD 143
60.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.67 ₫304.3K
$12.47 MAD 116
-6.42%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54 ₫92.4K
$3.80 MAD 35.51
-6.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tetouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$464 ₫12.1M
$48.91 MAD 457
849.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.7K ₫592.2M
$6,094 MAD 56.9K
272.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tetouan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 ₫1.3M
$18.44 MAD 172
180.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.93 ₫910.5K
$48.29 MAD 451
-27.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.7 ₫2.4M
$57.1 MAD 533
58.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.7 ₫2.4M
$68.4 MAD 639
35.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tetouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$582 ₫15.2M
$213 MAD 1,993
172.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$283 ₫7.4M
$173 MAD 1,610
64.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 ₫33.1M
$424 MAD 3,962
199.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 ₫17.6M
$267 MAD 2,492
152.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,704 ₫122.6M
$1,122 MAD 10.5K
319.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,909 ₫49.8M
$718 MAD 6,702
165.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Tetouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$488 ₫12.7M
$418 MAD 3,901
16.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.64
5.5
57.09%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): August 31, 2026

Last update for Tetouan: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $582 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $213 in Tetouan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 17% 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 $19.00 in Tetouan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $196 per month, with Tetouan 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 Tetouan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Tetouan?
Tetouan wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tetouan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or in Tetouan?
Average pay runs 17% higher in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) compared to Tetouan?
Rent for a central apartment: $582 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $213 in Tetouan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) compared to Tetouan?
All in, you'll spend $850 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $693 in Tetouan – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) compared to Tetouan?
A monthly transit pass in Tetouan runs roughly 15% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or in Tetouan?
At $693 in Tetouan versus $850 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tetouan but tight or insufficient in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The gap between the two cities makes Tetouan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) or Tetouan?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tetouan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $693 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tetouan hard to pass up.
How safe is Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) compared to Tetouan?
Safety-wise, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Tetouan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tetouan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities