Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandurah and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

For one person, living is cheaper in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): $859 a month against $2,351 in Mandurah, rent and utilities included – about $17,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mandurah
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,351
/mo nomad
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$859
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mandurah and in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mandurah and in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,351 in Mandurah versus $859 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Mandurah $2,351
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $859

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,455 in Mandurah versus $1,395 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Mandurah $3,455
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,395

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,558 in Mandurah versus $1,931 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Mandurah $4,558
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,931

Living in Mandurah is roughly 174% more expensive than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mandurah is 74% above, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 36% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandurah
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.01 A$28.66
$1.91 ₫49.7K
947.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.0 A$119
$22.84 ₫592.3K
263.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.49 A$15.02
$4.54 ₫117.8K
131.06%
Cappuccino
$4.34 A$6.22
$1.85 ₫48.1K
134.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 A$4.18
$0.56 ₫14.6K
421.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 A$3.17
$0.32 ₫8,199
590.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.09 A$8.73
$1.06 ₫27.5K
474.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.54 A$12.23
$1.72 ₫44.6K
396.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandurah
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 A$2.53
$1.66 ₫42.9K
6.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.59 A$3.71
$1.11 ₫28.7K
133.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 A$2.82
$1.00 ₫26.0K
97.00%
Eggs
$4.81 A$6.89
$1.67 ₫43.2K
188.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 A$13.45
$12.08 ₫313.3K
-22.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.42 A$13.50
$3.68 ₫95.4K
155.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.07 A$20.16
$10.24 ₫265.6K
37.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 A$4.77
$2.96 ₫76.7K
12.50%
Banana (1kg)
$3.07 A$4.39
$1.24 ₫32.2K
147.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.47 A$4.97
$1.56 ₫40.4K
122.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.90 A$7.02
$1.30 ₫33.6K
276.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 A$2.41
$1.23 ₫31.9K
36.59%
Onion (1kg)
$0.82 A$1.18
$1.15 ₫29.9K
-28.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 A$2.87
$0.74 ₫19.1K
171.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.38 A$1.98
$0.56 ₫14.4K
146.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$42.22 A$60.5
$1.24 ₫32.2K
3304.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.30 A$17.62
$12.60 ₫326.7K
-2.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.35 A$6.24
$0.96 ₫24.9K
353.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52 A$5.04
$1.53 ₫39.6K
130.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandurah
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.75 A$5.37
$0.26 ₫6,706
1342.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$90.6 A$130
$11.51 ₫298.4K
687.49%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 A$5.09
$0.75 ₫19.5K
373.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.44 A$2.06
$0.67 ₫17.4K
114.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.41 A$57.9
$3.03 ₫78.7K
1233.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 A$1.84
$0.96 ₫24.8K
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K A$39.4K
$31.1K ₫805.7M
-11.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K A$42.8K
$30.4K ₫787.3M
-1.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandurah
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 A$279
$102 ₫2.6M
90.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.91 A$29.96
$5.89 ₫152.8K
255.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.0 A$87.4
$10.49 ₫272.1K
481.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandurah
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.81 A$48.44
$25.54 ₫662.3K
32.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.60 A$15.18
$11.92 ₫309.1K
-11.07%
Cinema Ticket
$8.56 A$12.26
$3.53 ₫91.5K
142.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandurah
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$386 A$552
$436 ₫11.3M
-11.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.8K A$32.7K
$23.3K ₫603.9M
-1.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandurah
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.5 A$111
$52.8 ₫1.4M
46.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.43 A$63.7
$34.15 ₫885.7K
30.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$120 A$172
$90.3 ₫2.3M
33.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.3 A$108
$95.0 ₫2.5M
-20.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandurah
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,418 A$2,032
$589 ₫15.3M
140.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,107 A$1,585
$298 ₫7.7M
271.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,395 A$3,431
$1,292 ₫33.5M
85.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,756 A$2,515
$711 ₫18.4M
147.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,676 ₫121.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,904 ₫49.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandurah
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,177 A$5,984
$490 ₫12.7M
753.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.7
8.64
-34.03%

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

Last update for Mandurah: October 13, 2026

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mandurah
$1.1K
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$298 73.1% $809
Groceries & Markets
Mandurah
$346
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$207 40.2% $139
Eating Out
Mandurah
$312
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$63 79.6% $248
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandurah
$277
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$118 57.2% $158
Clothing & Footwear
Mandurah
$143
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$122 14.3% $20
Getting Around
Mandurah
$116
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$17 85.7% $100
Sport & Entertainment
Mandurah
$51
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$33 36% $18

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,418 in Mandurah and $589 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandurah pays 753% 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: $83.0 in Mandurah vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $346 vs $207 per month, with Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Mandurah
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🕒 Local time
05:18 5:18 AM
04:18 4:18 AM
1 h behind Mandurah
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
107,643
9,456,700
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.698 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.624 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 13, 2026: 1 USD = 25,934 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,022 VND (100,000 VND = 3.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mandurah Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 4,910 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mandurah
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

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
Mandurah vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mandurah or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) wins on cost – living expenses run 174% lower than in Mandurah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mandurah or in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Average pay runs 753% higher in Mandurah, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mandurah compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,418 in Mandurah versus $589 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Mandurah compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
All in, you'll spend $2,351 per month in Mandurah versus $859 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 174% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Mandurah compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
A monthly transit pass in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) runs roughly 687% less than in Mandurah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mandurah or in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
At $859 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $2,351 in Mandurah, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) but tight or insufficient in Mandurah. The gap between the two cities makes Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mandurah or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $859 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) hard to pass up.
How safe is Mandurah compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Safety-wise, Mandurah 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 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 174% less than in Mandurah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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