🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $623 in Kyzylorda versus $825 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $981 in Kyzylorda versus $1,301 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,339 in Kyzylorda versus $1,778 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Living in Kyzylorda costs roughly 24% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kyzylorda54% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)39% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kyzylorda
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.96₸3,886
$1.97₫51.7K
304.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.52₸14.4K
$23.39₫614.1K
26.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.62₸3,231
$4.69₫123.1K
41.15%
Cappuccino
$2.02₸988
$1.77₫46.4K
14.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20₸586
$0.48₫12.5K
150.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41₸198
$0.28₫7,237
46.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13₸1,041
$0.99₫26.1K
115.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92₸1,426
$1.56₫40.9K
87.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kyzylorda
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17₸569
$1.51₫39.5K
-22.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.21₸102
$0.98₫25.7K
-78.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83₸407
$0.96₫25.2K
-13.54%
Eggs
$1.21₸592
$1.47₫38.6K
-17.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.71₸4,256
$11.89₫312.1K
-26.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$1.79₸874
$3.56₫93.6K
-49.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.17₸2,034
$10.61₫278.6K
-60.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.19₸582
$2.67₫70.2K
-55.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79₸876
$1.15₫30.2K
55.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69₸825
$1.36₫35.6K
24.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.29₸1,117
$1.18₫31.0K
94.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19₸580
$1.15₫30.2K
3.48%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56₸273
$1.23₫32.4K
-54.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20₸587
$0.74₫19.5K
62.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88₸431
$0.47₫12.4K
87.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.21₸1,081
$1.28₫33.6K
72.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$2.31₸1,126
$12.69₫333.2K
-81.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10₸537
$0.85₫22.4K
29.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69₸826
$1.47₫38.6K
14.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Kyzylorda
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21₸104
$0.26₫6,796
-19.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$10.74₫281.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70₸341
$0.67₫17.7K
4.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68₸330
$0.63₫16.6K
7.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.73₸2,312
$3.13₫82.0K
51.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.42₸205
$0.82₫21.5K
-48.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K₸12.4M
$38.2K₫1.0B
-33.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6K₸13.5M
$34.0K₫893.7M
-19.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kyzylorda
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.5₸33.0K
$85.0₫2.2M
-20.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.01₸3,913
$5.85₫153.6K
36.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.82₸6,750
$9.10₫238.9K
51.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kyzylorda
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.00₸14.2K
$20.54₫539.1K
41.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.93₸7,778
$9.70₫254.5K
64.23%
Cinema Ticket
$5.49₸2,683
$4.31₫113.1K
27.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kyzylorda
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$211₸103.1K
$274₫7.2M
-22.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,849₸2.4M
$14.1K₫371.0M
-65.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kyzylorda
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.03₸19.1K
$42.11₫1.1M
-7.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.50₸24.2K
$27.32₫717.0K
81.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.40₸23.2K
$96.4₫2.5M
-50.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.0₸28.3K
$86.6₫2.3M
-33.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kyzylorda
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$168₸81.8K
$535₫14.0M
-68.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$136₸66.5K
$310₫8.1M
-56.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$251₸122.4K
$1,093₫28.7M
-77.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$197₸96.2K
$650₫17.1M
-69.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,532₫119.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,820₫47.8M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kyzylorda
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$304₸148.5K
$505₫13.3M
-39.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
23
9.14
151.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kyzylorda: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $168 in Kyzylorda and $535 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 66% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $30.00 in Kyzylorda vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Groceries flip the comparison at $138 vs $199, with Kyzylorda cheaper for home cooking.
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
Kyzylorda vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kyzylorda or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Kyzylorda wins on cost – living expenses run 32% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kyzylorda the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kyzylorda or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
On paper, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) earns 66% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kyzylorda vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Rent for a central apartment: $168 in Kyzylorda versus $535 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Kyzylorda or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Kyzylorda compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
All in, you'll spend $623 per month in Kyzylorda versus $825 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kyzylorda or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
At $623 in Kyzylorda versus $825 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kyzylorda but tight or insufficient in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The gap between the two cities makes Kyzylorda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kyzylorda or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kyzylorda delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $623 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kyzylorda hard to pass up.
How safe is Kyzylorda compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Safety-wise, Kyzylorda and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kyzylorda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.