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

😐 Solo nomad: Medellin is 31% more expensive than Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) without rent, and 20.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Medellin is 27.2% more expensive than Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) without rent, and 15% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.23 COP 26K
$2.06 ₫53.5K
202.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 COP 134.8K
$23.36 ₫607.9K
38.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 COP 30.8K
$4.66 ₫121.3K
58.58%
Cappuccino
$1.72 COP 7,155
$1.76 ₫45.9K
-2.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 COP 4,575
$0.47 ₫12.3K
134.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COP 3,060
$0.3 ₫7,838
143.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 COP 6,916
$1 ₫26.1K
66.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.2 COP 13.3K
$1.52 ₫39.5K
110.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 COP 4,552
$1.47 ₫38.2K
-25.85%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 5,188
$0.97 ₫25.3K
27.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 COP 5,544
$1.01 ₫26.2K
31.68%
Eggs
$2.22 COP 9,252
$1.42 ₫36.9K
56.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 19K
$11.67 ₫303.6K
-61.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.71 COP 23.8K
$3.56 ₫92.7K
60.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.59 COP 35.8K
$10.43 ₫271.3K
-17.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 COP 9,410
$2.77 ₫72K
-18.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,461
$1.11 ₫28.8K
-3.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 COP 6,293
$1.28 ₫33.3K
17.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 5,911
$1.18 ₫30.7K
20.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,619
$1.11 ₫28.8K
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.18 COP 4,932
$1.17 ₫30.4K
0.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COP 3,718
$0.76 ₫19.8K
17.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 COP 3,507
$0.51 ₫13.3K
64.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35 COP 9,809
$1.22 ₫31.7K
92.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.34 COP 38.9K
$12.99 ₫337.9K
-28.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 COP 4,927
$0.85 ₫22K
38.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 COP 10.4K
$1.48 ₫38.5K
68.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 COP 3,464
$0.28 ₫7,361
196.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.9 COP 174.7K
$10.45 ₫271.9K
300.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COP 5,899
$0.72 ₫18.7K
95.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 8,164
$0.64 ₫16.7K
206.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 COP 32.7K
$3.05 ₫79.3K
157.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 COP 4,265
$0.84 ₫22K
21.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 73.4M
$37.9K ₫986M
-53.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K COP 109.2M
$34.6K ₫900.4M
-24.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.5 COP 344.1K
$85.5 ₫2.2M
-3.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 COP 39.4K
$5.76 ₫150K
63.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.51 COP 98K
$9.63 ₫250.5K
144.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.68 COP 107.1K
$20.91 ₫544.1K
22.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COP 79.8K
$9.5 ₫247.3K
101.47%
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 16.5K
$4.18 ₫108.9K
-5.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 COP 1.3M
$276 ₫7.2M
10.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,925 COP 24.7M
$14.1K ₫366M
-57.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 COP 241.4K
$42.09 ₫1.1M
37.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.59 COP 131.7K
$27.16 ₫706.8K
16.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 COP 430.1K
$95.7 ₫2.5M
7.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 COP 440.5K
$86.9 ₫2.3M
21.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$489 COP 2M
$532 ₫13.9M
-8.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COP 1.6M
$310 ₫8.1M
22.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$827 COP 3.4M
$1,111 ₫28.9M
-25.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 COP 3M
$658 ₫17.1M
10.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,190 COP 9.1M
$3,817 ₫99.3M
-42.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,532 COP 6.4M
$1,911 ₫49.7M
-19.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$550 COP 2.3M
$505 ₫13.1M
8.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
9.14
46.94%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 28, 2025

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): October 29, 2025

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