Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Hoi An and Hanoi

For one person, living is cheaper in Hanoi: $796 a month against $876 in Hoi An, rent and utilities included – about $960 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Hoi An outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Hoi An
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$876
/mo nomad
Hanoi
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$796
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Hoi An and in Hanoi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Hoi An and in Hanoi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $876 in Hoi An versus $796 in Hanoi.

  • Hoi An $876
  • Hanoi $796

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,279 in Hoi An versus $1,239 in Hanoi.

  • Hoi An $1,279
  • Hanoi $1,239

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,682 in Hoi An versus $1,682 in Hanoi.

  • Hoi An $1,682
  • Hanoi $1,682

Living in Hoi An is roughly 10% more expensive than in Hanoi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hoi An 35% lower, Hanoi 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hoi An
Hanoi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28 ₫59.1K
$2.08 ₫53.8K
9.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.56 ₫480.5K
$23.16 ₫599.5K
-19.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.77 ₫97.7K
$4.46 ₫115.4K
-15.47%
Cappuccino
$1.74 ₫44.9K
$1.87 ₫48.5K
-6.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₫16.0K
$0.51 ₫13.3K
21.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ₫8,896
$0.33 ₫8,670
3.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.36 ₫35.2K
$1.10 ₫28.4K
23.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ₫34.0K
$1.89 ₫48.9K
-30.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hoi An
Hanoi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 ₫40.8K
$1.54 ₫39.8K
2.60%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 ₫31.2K
$1.06 ₫27.5K
13.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.00 ₫25.9K
$0.81 ₫21.1K
23.46%
Eggs
$1.49 ₫38.5K
$1.44 ₫37.4K
3.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.96 ₫335.6K
$10.44 ₫270.4K
24.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.09 ₫105.8K
$3.80 ₫98.5K
7.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.27 ₫239.9K
$9.83 ₫254.5K
-5.70%
Apples (1kg)
$2.63 ₫68.2K
$3.47 ₫89.8K
-24.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.11 ₫28.6K
$1.07 ₫27.7K
3.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 ₫26.0K
$1.33 ₫34.4K
-24.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ₫37.4K
$1.16 ₫30.0K
24.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 ₫30.6K
$0.91 ₫23.6K
29.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ₫28.1K
$1.08 ₫27.9K
0.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 ₫16.1K
$0.53 ₫13.8K
16.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₫12.8K
$0.57 ₫14.7K
-14.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.50 ₫38.7K
$1.45 ₫37.4K
3.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.57 ₫196.1K
$12.39 ₫320.9K
-38.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92 ₫23.9K
$0.96 ₫24.9K
-4.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 ₫39.4K
$1.71 ₫44.4K
-11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Hoi An
Hanoi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 ₫5,666
$0.41 ₫10.6K
-46.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$3.82 ₫98.8K
$9.21 ₫238.5K
-58.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.99 ₫25.6K
$0.76 ₫19.6K
30.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ₫14.7K
$0.59 ₫15.3K
-3.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.96 ₫102.6K
$2.36 ₫61.1K
67.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 ₫24.3K
$0.93 ₫24.1K
1.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9K ₫800.8M
$31.2K ₫807.4M
-0.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K ₫736.2M
$29.4K ₫761.8M
-3.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hoi An
Hanoi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.8 ₫2.0M
$87.2 ₫2.3M
-10.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 ₫167.1K
$5.15 ₫133.5K
25.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.03 ₫207.9K
$9.11 ₫235.9K
-11.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hoi An
Hanoi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.74 ₫433.5K
$24.70 ₫639.3K
-32.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.74 ₫122.8K
$9.58 ₫248.0K
-50.52%
Cinema Ticket
$3.06 ₫79.1K
$4.53 ₫117.4K
-32.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hoi An
Hanoi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$116 ₫3.0M
$787 ₫20.4M
-85.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.1K ₫441.8M
$27.2K ₫705.3M
-37.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hoi An
Hanoi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.44 ₫1.2M
$49.25 ₫1.3M
-5.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.51 ₫712.2K
$26.22 ₫678.7K
4.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.8 ₫1.8M
$84.9 ₫2.2M
-18.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 ₫2.1M
$79.2 ₫2.0M
2.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hoi An
Hanoi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$433 ₫11.2M
$414 ₫10.7M
4.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$395 ₫10.2M
$277 ₫7.2M
42.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$533 ₫13.8M
$858 ₫22.2M
-37.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$626 ₫16.2M
$535 ₫13.9M
16.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,561 ₫40.4M
$5,258 ₫136.1M
-70.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$982 ₫25.4M
$2,847 ₫73.7M
-65.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hoi An
Hanoi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$294 ₫7.6M
$515 ₫13.3M
-43.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.34
8.28
24.88%

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

Last update for Hoi An: October 19, 2026

Last update for Hanoi: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Hoi An
$395
Hanoi
$277 29.9% $118
Groceries & Markets
Hoi An
$193
Hanoi
$197 1.9% $3.7
Clothing & Footwear
Hoi An
$101
Hanoi
$108 7.1% $7.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hoi An
$92
Hanoi
$101 10% $9.2
Eating Out
Hoi An
$64
Hanoi
$65 2.2% $1.4
Sport & Entertainment
Hoi An
$23
Hanoi
$34 47.7% $11
Getting Around
Hoi An
$8.5
Hanoi
$15 71.1% $6.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $433 in Hoi An and $414 in Hanoi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hanoi pays 75% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Hoi An vs $23.00 in Hanoi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $197 per month, with Hoi An cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Hoi An
🇻🇳 Hanoi
🕒 Local time
03:30 3:30 AM
03:30 3:30 AM
Same time as Hoi An
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
120,000
8,587,100 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,105 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Hoi An Hanoi 630 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Hoi An
  • Hanoi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Hanoi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hoi An and in Hanoi?
Hoi An and Hanoi differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($876 vs $796 including rent). Hanoi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Hanoi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Hoi An and in Hanoi?
Rent for a central apartment: $433 in Hoi An versus $414 in Hanoi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Hoi An and in Hanoi?
A monthly transit pass in Hanoi runs roughly 141% less than in Hoi An. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Hoi An and Hanoi?
Childcare runs $116 in Hoi An versus $787 in Hanoi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $1,200 go in Hoi An compared to Hanoi?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Hanoi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Hoi An and Hanoi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Hoi An or Hanoi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Hoi An and Hanoi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Hoi An or Hanoi?
Expats usually find Hanoi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Hoi An. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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