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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $608 in Villavicencio.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,034 in Villavicencio.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,459 in Villavicencio.

Living in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is roughly 36% more expensive than Villavicencio, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 38% lower, Villavicencio 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ₫53.2K

$2.94 COP 10.5K

-30.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.91 ₫601.9K

$21.86 COP 78.1K

4.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.69 ₫123.3K

$5.95 COP 21.2K

-21.18%

Cappuccino

$1.69 ₫44.5K

$1.22 COP 4,373

38.52%

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

$0.50 ₫13.2K

$0.82 COP 2,940

-39.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,263

$0.58 COP 2,054

-51.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.99 ₫26.0K

$1.06 COP 3,795

-6.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₫39.3K

$1.68 COP 5,984

-10.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 ₫38.9K

$1.01 COP 3,624

46.53%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ₫26.9K

$1.21 COP 4,304

-14.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₫25.9K

$0.91 COP 3,262

7.69%

Eggs

$1.41 ₫36.9K

$1.98 COP 7,081

-28.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.88 ₫312.1K

$4.79 COP 17.1K

148.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 ₫94.6K

$5.02 COP 17.9K

-28.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.55 ₫277.3K

$7.29 COP 26.0K

44.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ₫72.5K

$2.46 COP 8,793

12.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₫28.9K

$0.80 COP 2,853

37.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.1K

$1.31 COP 4,695

-0.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₫30.6K

$1.28 COP 4,576

-9.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.7K

$1.11 COP 3,978

5.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ₫30.9K

$1.12 COP 3,988

4.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ₫18.4K

$0.70 COP 2,490

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₫13.4K

$0.68 COP 2,425

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₫33.2K

$2.41 COP 8,601

-47.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.32 ₫323.6K

$10.64 COP 38.0K

15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 ₫22.3K

$0.88 COP 3,126

-3.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₫39.1K

$1.57 COP 5,603

-5.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₫7,433

$0.62 COP 2,217

-54.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.75 ₫282.5K

$9.40 COP 33.6K

14.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₫17.7K

$1.44 COP 5,141

-53.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.69 ₫18.2K

$1.37 COP 4,909

-49.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 ₫78.7K

$6.21 COP 22.2K

-51.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₫21.7K

$0.98 COP 3,515

-16.33%

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

$37.5K ₫985.9M

$12.3K COP 43.9M

205.55%

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

$33.6K ₫881.9M

$16.8K COP 60.1M

99.44%

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

$84.8 ₫2.2M

$32.67 COP 116.7K

159.63%

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

$6.06 ₫159.3K

$10.93 COP 39.0K

-44.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.14 ₫240.2K

$23.09 COP 82.5K

-60.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.73 ₫544.6K

$24.95 COP 89.1K

-16.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.37 ₫246.3K

$17.21 COP 61.5K

-45.55%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 ₫111.8K

$3.64 COP 13.0K

17.03%

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

$273 ₫7.2M

$242 COP 862.9K

12.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ₫362.2M

$8,460 COP 30.2M

62.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.85 ₫1.1M

$55.2 COP 197.0K

-22.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.36 ₫718.8K

$32.12 COP 114.7K

-14.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.6 ₫2.6M

$71.0 COP 253.6K

37.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.1 ₫2.3M

$67.1 COP 239.7K

29.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$526 ₫13.8M

$148 COP 527.2K

256.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₫8.1M

$139 COP 495.0K

121.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 ₫28.6M

$412 COP 1.5M

164.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 ₫17.6M

$382 COP 1.4M

75.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,497 ₫118.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,791 ₫47.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$509 ₫13.4M

$378 COP 1.3M

34.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.14

12.93

-29.31%

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 Villavicencio: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and $148 in Villavicencio. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 35% 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 $22.00 in Villavicencio for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $169 per month, with Villavicencio 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 Villavicencio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Villavicencio wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Villavicencio the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 35% 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 $148 in Villavicencio. 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 $608 in Villavicencio – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Villavicencio runs roughly 14% 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 Villavicencio 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 Villavicencio delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $608 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Villavicencio hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Villavicencio 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 Villavicencio gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.