🙂A single person spends $763 per month in Hoi An vs $1,274 in Cape Town, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,058 per month in Hoi An vs $2,011 in Cape Town, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,353 per month in Hoi An vs $2,747 in Cape Town, rent included.
🙂Hoi An is about 40% cheaper than Cape Town, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Hoi An and Cape Town are more affordable than the global median – Hoi An43% lower, Cape Town5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51₫39.7K
$10.87R 179
-86.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.91₫444.5K
$44.99R 740
-62.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.84₫101.1K
$5.17R 84.9
-25.73%
Cappuccino
$1.53₫40.3K
$1.99R 32.64
-23.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53₫14.0K
$1.15R 18.85
-53.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31₫8,266
$0.88R 14.43
-64.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.95₫25.0K
$2.87R 47.24
-66.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36₫35.7K
$2.45R 40.27
-44.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44₫37.7K
$1.16R 19.13
24.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94₫24.7K
$1.10R 18.10
-14.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10₫28.9K
$1.90R 31.19
-42.11%
Eggs
$1.47₫38.6K
$2.47R 40.63
-40.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.63₫332.1K
$8.55R 141
47.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.73₫98.1K
$5.04R 82.8
-25.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.03₫263.7K
$7.48R 123
34.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.62₫68.8K
$1.52R 24.91
72.37%
Banana(1kg)
$0.86₫22.6K
$1.42R 23.32
-39.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97₫25.6K
$1.46R 24.01
-33.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09₫28.6K
$1.54R 25.40
-29.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13₫29.7K
$1.12R 18.44
0.89%
Onion(1kg)
$0.82₫21.5K
$1.24R 20.39
-33.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40₫10.4K
$1.09R 17.87
-63.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51₫13.4K
$0.96R 15.73
-46.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.17₫30.7K
$3.02R 49.58
-61.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.73₫203.2K
$6.02R 99.0
28.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77₫20.1K
$1.39R 22.87
-44.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55₫40.8K
$1.67R 27.44
-7.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22₫5,761
$0.97R 15.94
-77.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$3.88₫102.1K
$47.18R 775
-91.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.83₫21.7K
$1.43R 23.58
-41.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64₫16.9K
$0.93R 15.35
-31.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.86₫75.1K
$4.46R 73.4
-35.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86₫22.7K
$1.19R 19.57
-27.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.6K₫857.3M
$21.2KR 348.8K
53.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K₫744.8M
$23.9KR 392.8K
18.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.7₫1.6M
$99.4R 1,635
-38.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.69₫149.7K
$33.36R 548
-82.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.63₫200.6K
$40.88R 672
-81.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.35₫403.6K
$41.96R 690
-63.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.90₫128.7K
$8.18R 135
-40.10%
Cinema Ticket
$2.83₫74.5K
$6.87R 113
-58.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154₫4.1M
$210R 3,453
-26.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7K₫387.2M
$5,351R 88.0K
175.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.30₫612.5K
$55.8R 917
-58.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.57₫409.4K
$33.54R 551
-53.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.8₫1.4M
$113R 1,860
-53.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.0₫2.0M
$85.6R 1,407
-10.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$389₫10.2M
$768R 12.6K
-49.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334₫8.8M
$523R 8,597
-36.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$427₫11.2M
$1,455R 23.9K
-70.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$455₫12.0M
$1,044R 17.2K
-56.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,535₫40.4M
$2,329R 38.3K
-34.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$936₫24.6M
$1,509R 24.8K
-37.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$289₫7.6M
$1,600R 26.3K
-81.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.34
11.77
-12.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hoi An: July 14, 2026
Last update for Cape Town: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $389 in Hoi An versus $768 in Cape Town. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 454% higher in Cape Town, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Hoi An versus $45.00 in Cape Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $187 – making Hoi An the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Hoi An vs Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Hoi An or Cape Town?
Cape Town costs about 67% more than Hoi An, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Hoi An and in Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,145 per month in Hoi An and $1,911 in Cape Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Hoi An or Cape Town?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Hoi An, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Hoi An compared to Cape Town?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $763 in Hoi An and $1,274 in Cape Town. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Hoi An compared to Cape Town?
Public transport costs about 1116% less in Hoi An. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Hoi An or in Cape Town?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hoi An, where all-in costs run around $763, than in Cape Town at $1,274. In Hoi An it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cape Town it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Hoi An or Cape Town?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Hoi An costs $763 versus $1,274 in Cape Town. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Hoi An compared to Cape Town?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Hoi An or to Cape Town?
If budget matters most, go with Hoi An. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cape Town makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.