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: $808 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $660 in Tetouan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,306 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $983 in Tetouan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,803 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,306 in Tetouan.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 22% more expensive than in Tetouan, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 40% lower, Tetouan 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.07 ₫54.3K

$3.24 MAD 30.17

-36.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.64 ₫595.2K

$19.15 MAD 179

18.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 ₫124.2K

$7.14 MAD 66.6

-33.89%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ₫46.9K

$1.64 MAD 15.33

9.15%

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

$0.47 ₫12.5K

$0.66 MAD 6.18

-28.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,257

$0.35 MAD 3.30

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.00 ₫26.4K

$2.72 MAD 25.33

-63.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₫41.6K

$3.26 MAD 30.36

-51.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 ₫40.2K

$0.88 MAD 8.21

73.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$0.27 MAD 2.54

266.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.7K

$1.61 MAD 14.99

-36.65%

Eggs

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$1.81 MAD 16.85

-20.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.46 ₫301.4K

$4.47 MAD 41.66

156.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 ₫95.1K

$5.37 MAD 50.1

-32.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.56 ₫277.6K

$10.50 MAD 97.9

0.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 ₫71.6K

$1.29 MAD 11.98

110.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$1.37 MAD 12.78

-19.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.2K

$0.77 MAD 7.18

68.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.14 ₫29.8K

$0.79 MAD 7.37

44.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 ₫29.6K

$0.64 MAD 5.96

75.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 ₫31.1K

$0.72 MAD 6.75

63.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$0.46 MAD 4.30

52.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₫12.4K

$0.64 MAD 5.97

-26.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.28 ₫33.6K

$4.03 MAD 37.54

-68.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.30 ₫297.1K

$8.61 MAD 80.3

31.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 ₫23.9K

$1.82 MAD 16.94

-50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₫37.5K

$2.08 MAD 19.37

-31.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,399

$0.47 MAD 4.39

-40.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.74 ₫282.5K

$13.34 MAD 124

-19.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.68 ₫17.8K

$0.57 MAD 5.36

19.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.63 ₫16.5K

$1.02 MAD 9.48

-38.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₫79.4K

$3.55 MAD 33.09

-14.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.6K

$1.55 MAD 14.42

-47.10%

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

$37.7K ₫990.5M

$36.7K MAD 341.8K

2.77%

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

$33.5K ₫881.9M

$24.0K MAD 224.0K

39.64%

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

$83.2 ₫2.2M

$42.68 MAD 398

94.92%

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

$5.76 ₫151.6K

$10.03 MAD 93.5

-42.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.26 ₫243.6K

$39.41 MAD 367

-76.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.01 ₫552.3K

$13.93 MAD 130

50.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.72 ₫255.4K

$12.53 MAD 117

-22.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 ₫112.4K

$4.00 MAD 37.30

7.00%

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

$280 ₫7.4M

$44.72 MAD 417

525.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K ₫369.7M

$5,154 MAD 48.1K

172.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.71 ₫1.1M

$18.54 MAD 173

130.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.93 ₫708.0K

$46.91 MAD 437

-42.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 ₫2.6M

$58.1 MAD 542

66.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$70.8 MAD 660

19.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$539 ₫14.2M

$218 MAD 2,035

146.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$306 ₫8.0M

$186 MAD 1,737

64.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,110 ₫29.2M

$470 MAD 4,379

136.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$645 ₫17.0M

$275 MAD 2,569

134.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,555 ₫119.8M

$1,106 MAD 10.3K

311.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,818 ₫47.8M

$783 MAD 7,304

132.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$495 ₫13.0M

$425 MAD 3,963

16.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

4.35

110.11%

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

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): July 14, 2026

Last update for Tetouan: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $539 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $218 in Tetouan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 16% 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 $194 vs $162 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

Tetouan wins on cost – living expenses run 22% 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.

Average pay runs 16% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $539 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $218 in Tetouan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $808 per month in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $660 in Tetouan – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Tetouan runs roughly 24% 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 $1,000 a month, though Tetouan 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 Tetouan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $660 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tetouan hard to pass up.

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.

Expats usually find Tetouan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.