Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Vietnam Cost of Living Comparison Between India and Vietnam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $388 in India versus $697 in Vietnam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $617 in India versus $1,099 in Vietnam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $846 in India versus $1,501 in Vietnam.

Living in India costs about 44% less than in Vietnam on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: India 71% lower, Vietnam 48% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $264 to $888, compared to $499$826 in Vietnam. City choice carries more weight in India.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
India
Vietnam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49 ₹237
$1.89 ₫49.5K
31.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.20 ₹1,353
$21.47 ₫564.1K
-33.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.98 ₹379
$4.52 ₫118.7K
-11.95%
Cappuccino
$1.88 ₹179
$1.62 ₫42.6K
16.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ₹41.98
$0.46 ₫12.1K
-4.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₹18.57
$0.27 ₫7,074
-29.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 ₹192
$0.97 ₫25.6K
108.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 ₹329
$1.56 ₫41.1K
121.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Vietnam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.72 ₹68.3
$1.38 ₫36.3K
-47.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 ₹49.26
$0.96 ₫25.1K
-45.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 ₹68.7
$0.94 ₫24.7K
-23.40%
Eggs
$0.93 ₹88.8
$1.47 ₫38.5K
-36.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.24 ₹499
$11.46 ₫301.2K
-54.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.07 ₹292
$3.73 ₫98.0K
-17.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$9.87 ₫259.4K
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 ₹207
$2.85 ₫74.9K
-23.86%
Banana (1kg)
$0.76 ₹72.2
$1.08 ₫28.4K
-29.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 ₹100
$1.33 ₫35.1K
-21.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 ₹50.7
$1.06 ₫27.9K
-50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.39 ₹37.53
$1.13 ₫29.6K
-65.49%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.81
$1.19 ₫31.3K
-58.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 ₹49.35
$0.73 ₫19.1K
-28.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₹31.13
$0.49 ₫12.8K
-32.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05 ₹386
$1.38 ₫36.2K
193.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.39 ₹704
$10.08 ₫264.9K
-26.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ₹175
$0.85 ₫22.2K
116.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ₹277
$1.47 ₫38.7K
97.28%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$5.65 ₹538
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Vietnam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₹34.59
$0.32 ₫8,429
12.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.74 ₹928
$7.63 ₫200.5K
27.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.95 ₹90.6
$0.74 ₫19.5K
28.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹28.64
$0.62 ₫16.2K
-51.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.73 ₹165
$3.77 ₫99.0K
-54.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ₹117
$0.85 ₫22.4K
44.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$13.9K ₹1.3M
$36.5K ₫958.3M
-62.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K ₹2.2M
$32.4K ₫850.4M
-30.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Vietnam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.88 ₹3,894
$71.9 ₫1.9M
-43.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91 ₹372
$5.63 ₫148.0K
-30.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.81 ₹744
$8.99 ₫236.3K
-13.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Vietnam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.15 ₹1,538
$21.64 ₫568.5K
-25.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49 ₹713
$7.98 ₫209.6K
-6.14%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42 ₹326
$3.73 ₫98.0K
-8.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Vietnam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.9 ₹6,660
$239 ₫6.3M
-70.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,793 ₹170.8K
$12.5K ₫327.5M
-85.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Vietnam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.83 ₹2,460
$36.52 ₫959.6K
-29.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.61 ₹2,535
$24.26 ₫637.4K
9.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$45.24 ₹4,309
$87.0 ₫2.3M
-48.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.68 ₹3,208
$80.4 ₫2.1M
-58.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Vietnam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$178 ₹17.0K
$373 ₫9.8M
-52.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 ₹10.9K
$242 ₫6.4M
-52.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 ₹38.8K
$786 ₫20.7M
-48.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$264 ₹25.1K
$522 ₫13.7M
-49.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,240 ₹118.1K
$3,585 ₫94.2M
-65.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$631 ₹60.1K
$1,774 ₫46.6M
-64.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Vietnam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$432 ₹41.2K
$399 ₫10.5M
8.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.02
9.37
-3.74%

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

Last update for India: June 2, 2026

Last update for Vietnam: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $127 in India, $334 in Vietnam. Capital cities: $239 in Delhi vs $331 in Hanoi.

National salary averages: $398 in India, $340 in Vietnam. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 163% higher in Vietnam.

Dining out costs 73% more in Vietnam.

Public transport is 29% more expensive in India.

Salaries are 17% higher in India, giving India stronger purchasing power.

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
India vs Vietnam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Vietnam?
At $576 per month in India and $663 in Vietnam, there's a 15% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Vietnam beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Vietnam?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Vietnam, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Vietnam?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Vietnam may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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