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: $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $654 in Tetouan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $970 in Tetouan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,287 in Tetouan.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 26% more expensive than Tetouan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower, Tetouan 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ₫53.3K

$3.26 MAD 30.04

-37.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 ₫602.2K

$18.97 MAD 175

20.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₫123.3K

$7.16 MAD 65.9

-34.50%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₫44.5K

$1.73 MAD 15.90

-2.31%

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

$0.50 ₫13.2K

$0.66 MAD 6.05

-24.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,267

$0.33 MAD 3.00

-15.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$2.68 MAD 24.72

-63.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₫39.3K

$3.24 MAD 29.79

-53.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ₫38.9K

$0.87 MAD 8.01

70.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ₫27.0K

$0.25 MAD 2.28

312.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₫25.9K

$1.55 MAD 14.24

-36.77%

Eggs

$1.41 ₫36.9K

$1.80 MAD 16.60

-21.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 ₫312.3K

$4.65 MAD 42.78

155.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ₫94.7K

$5.58 MAD 51.3

-35.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.55 ₫277.4K

$10.45 MAD 96.2

0.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ₫72.6K

$1.24 MAD 11.45

122.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$1.30 MAD 11.97

-15.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.1K

$0.72 MAD 6.65

80.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₫30.6K

$0.75 MAD 6.90

54.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$0.65 MAD 5.99

80.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.9K

$0.67 MAD 6.17

74.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$0.45 MAD 4.17

55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₫13.4K

$0.65 MAD 5.95

-21.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₫33.3K

$4.04 MAD 37.15

-68.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.32 ₫323.8K

$8.91 MAD 82.0

38.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$1.75 MAD 16.07

-51.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$2.06 MAD 18.92

-27.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,437

$0.47 MAD 4.29

-40.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.75 ₫282.6K

$13.34 MAD 123

-19.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₫17.7K

$0.53 MAD 4.88

26.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.2K

$1.07 MAD 9.85

-35.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 ₫78.7K

$3.42 MAD 31.53

-12.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.7K

$1.56 MAD 14.36

-47.44%

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

$37.5K ₫986.5M

$37.1K MAD 341.5K

1.18%

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

$33.6K ₫882.4M

$24.5K MAD 225.2K

37.20%

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

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$42.41 MAD 390

100.00%

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

$6.06 ₫159.4K

$10.21 MAD 94.0

-40.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.14 ₫240.3K

$40.02 MAD 368

-77.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.73 ₫544.9K

$14.08 MAD 130

47.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.37 ₫246.5K

$12.55 MAD 116

-25.34%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 ₫111.9K

$3.87 MAD 35.63

10.08%

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

$273 ₫7.2M

$44.65 MAD 411

510.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ₫362.4M

$5,150 MAD 47.4K

167.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.85 ₫1.1M

$19.27 MAD 177

122.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.36 ₫719.2K

$46.66 MAD 430

-41.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₫2.6M

$59.5 MAD 548

64.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 ₫2.3M

$68.9 MAD 634

26.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₫13.8M

$217 MAD 1,999

142.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₫8.1M

$183 MAD 1,687

67.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 ₫28.7M

$478 MAD 4,404

127.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 ₫17.6M

$273 MAD 2,517

144.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,497 ₫118.2M

$1,160 MAD 10.7K

287.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,791 ₫47.1M

$807 MAD 7,425

122.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 ₫13.4M

$429 MAD 3,953

18.62%

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): May 30, 2026

Last update for Tetouan: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $217 in Tetouan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 19% 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 $198 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 26% 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.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 19% 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 $217 in Tetouan. 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 $654 in Tetouan – a 26% 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 $654 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 26% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.