Cost of Living Comparison Between Hoi An and Cape Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Hoi An and Cape Town

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $891 per month in Hoi An vs $1,640 in Cape Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,275 per month in Hoi An vs $2,528 in Cape Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,658 per month in Hoi An vs $3,415 in Cape Town, rent included.

Hoi An is about 46% cheaper than Cape Town, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Hoi An sits 35% below the global median, while Cape Town is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.27 ₫59.1K
$12.20 R 196
-81.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.29 ₫476.8K
$48.92 R 786
-62.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.79 ₫98.7K
$5.65 R 90.8
-32.92%
Cappuccino
$1.72 ₫44.9K
$2.64 R 42.34
-34.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₫16.1K
$1.31 R 21.12
-52.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₫8,248
$1.06 R 16.99
-69.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.31 ₫34.3K
$3.17 R 50.9
-58.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 ₫34.6K
$3.80 R 61.0
-65.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 ₫40.1K
$1.38 R 22.15
11.59%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 ₫29.7K
$1.23 R 19.84
-7.32%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 ₫27.2K
$2.18 R 34.99
-52.29%
Eggs
$1.52 ₫39.6K
$3.04 R 48.85
-50.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.83 ₫334.5K
$9.18 R 147
39.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.94 ₫102.8K
$6.89 R 111
-42.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.06 ₫236.3K
$9.32 R 150
-2.79%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ₫69.8K
$1.89 R 30.39
41.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.8K
$2.03 R 32.67
-45.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 ₫26.1K
$1.67 R 26.78
-40.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.45 ₫37.8K
$2.22 R 35.63
-34.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 ₫28.5K
$1.53 R 24.55
-28.76%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 ₫27.0K
$1.62 R 25.96
-35.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ₫17.5K
$1.33 R 21.42
-49.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₫13.9K
$1.18 R 18.91
-55.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.51 ₫39.2K
$3.59 R 57.7
-57.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₫204.3K
$6.25 R 100
25.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₫21.6K
$1.41 R 22.57
-41.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.49 ₫38.8K
$2.32 R 37.19
-35.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 ₫6,264
$1.45 R 23.31
-83.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.75 ₫97.7K
$61.5 R 988
-93.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.93 ₫24.3K
$0.65 R 10.36
43.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 ₫16.8K
$1.62 R 25.98
-60.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.90 ₫101.6K
$5.06 R 81.3
-22.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 ₫22.4K
$1.57 R 25.22
-45.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K ₫801.4M
$37.1K R 595.7K
-17.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ₫710.6M
$33.2K R 533.1K
-17.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.6 ₫2.0M
$121 R 1,938
-35.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.22 ₫162.1K
$30.79 R 495
-79.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.21 ₫214.0K
$39.59 R 636
-79.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.69 ₫435.0K
$50.7 R 814
-67.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.66 ₫121.4K
$11.80 R 190
-60.51%
Cinema Ticket
$3.05 ₫79.6K
$9.35 R 150
-67.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$113 ₫2.9M
$265 R 4,261
-57.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.8K ₫436.9M
$6,560 R 105.4K
155.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.78 ₫1.2M
$57.6 R 925
-20.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.19 ₫708.8K
$33.12 R 532
-17.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.7 ₫1.8M
$121 R 1,941
-43.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.7 ₫2.1M
$110 R 1,764
-26.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$440 ₫11.5M
$1,035 R 16.6K
-57.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$402 ₫10.5M
$727 R 11.7K
-44.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$535 ₫13.9M
$1,896 R 30.5K
-71.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$611 ₫15.9M
$1,359 R 21.8K
-55.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,540 ₫40.1M
$2,488 R 40.0K
-38.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$975 ₫25.4M
$1,614 R 25.9K
-39.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hoi An
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$288 ₫7.5M
$1,642 R 26.4K
-82.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.34
11.02
-6.17%

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

Last update for Hoi An: August 31, 2026

Last update for Cape Town: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $440 in Hoi An versus $1,035 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 470% 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 $18.00 in Hoi An versus $49.00 in Cape Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $228 – 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 84% 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 $1,337 per month in Hoi An and $2,460 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 $891 in Hoi An and $1,640 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 1540% 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 $891, than in Cape Town at $1,640. 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 $891 versus $1,640 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.

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