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