🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $732 in Mui Ne versus $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Mui Ne versus $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,631 in Mui Ne versus $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Living in Mui Ne costs roughly 11% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mui Ne45% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.90₫50.0K
$2.03₫53.2K
-6.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.84₫547.7K
$22.91₫601.9K
-9.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.62₫121.4K
$4.69₫123.3K
-1.49%
Cappuccino
$1.71₫45.0K
$1.69₫44.5K
1.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50₫13.2K
$0.50₫13.2K
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28₫7,336
$0.28₫7,263
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.95₫24.9K
$0.99₫26.0K
-4.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56₫41.0K
$1.50₫39.3K
4.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41₫37.1K
$1.48₫38.9K
-4.73%
White Bread(500g)
$0.93₫24.5K
$1.03₫26.9K
-9.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02₫26.7K
$0.98₫25.9K
4.08%
Eggs
$1.45₫38.1K
$1.41₫36.9K
2.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.70₫307.5K
$11.88₫312.1K
-1.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.60₫94.6K
$3.60₫94.6K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.93₫260.8K
$10.55₫277.3K
-5.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72₫71.5K
$2.76₫72.5K
-1.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.05₫27.7K
$1.10₫28.9K
-4.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30₫34.1K
$1.30₫34.1K
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13₫29.6K
$1.16₫30.6K
-2.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07₫28.1K
$1.17₫30.7K
-8.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05₫27.6K
$1.17₫30.9K
-10.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65₫17.1K
$0.70₫18.4K
-7.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52₫13.7K
$0.51₫13.4K
1.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.31₫34.3K
$1.27₫33.2K
3.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.55₫303.5K
$12.32₫323.6K
-6.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.79₫20.7K
$0.85₫22.3K
-7.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59₫41.8K
$1.49₫39.1K
6.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34₫9,056
$0.28₫7,433
21.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.59₫173.1K
$10.75₫282.5K
-38.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.68₫17.7K
$0.67₫17.7K
1.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66₫17.4K
$0.69₫18.2K
-4.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.76₫72.6K
$2.99₫78.7K
-7.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90₫23.6K
$0.82₫21.7K
9.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K₫918.7M
$37.5K₫985.9M
-6.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K₫842.3M
$33.6K₫881.9M
-4.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.7₫2.0M
$84.8₫2.2M
-9.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.76₫151.5K
$6.06₫159.3K
-4.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.98₫235.9K
$9.14₫240.2K
-1.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.37₫587.7K
$20.73₫544.6K
7.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.88₫207.0K
$9.37₫246.3K
-15.90%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01₫79.1K
$4.26₫111.8K
-29.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$264₫6.9M
$273₫7.2M
-3.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8K₫310.2M
$13.8K₫362.2M
-14.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.94₫1.1M
$42.85₫1.1M
-4.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.06₫605.8K
$27.36₫718.8K
-15.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.4₫2.3M
$97.6₫2.6M
-11.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5₫2.0M
$87.1₫2.3M
-14.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$360₫9.5M
$526₫13.8M
-31.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$249₫6.5M
$307₫8.1M
-19.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733₫19.3M
$1,090₫28.6M
-32.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$541₫14.2M
$668₫17.6M
-18.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,138₫56.2M
$4,497₫118.2M
-52.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,245₫32.7M
$1,791₫47.1M
-30.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mui Ne
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$509₫13.4M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.1
9.14
-0.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mui Ne: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $360 in Mui Ne and $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Mui Ne vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $198 per month, with Mui Ne cheaper across the board.
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
Mui Ne vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mui Ne or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Mui Ne wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mui Ne the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mui Ne vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
You'd need roughly $1,098 in Mui Ne and $1,240 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mui Ne vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Rent for a central apartment: $360 in Mui Ne versus $526 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 Mui Ne compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
All in, you'll spend $732 per month in Mui Ne versus $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Mui Ne vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
A monthly transit pass in Mui Ne runs roughly 63% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Mui Ne or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Mui Ne gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mui Ne or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mui Ne delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $732 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mui Ne hard to pass up.
How safe is Mui Ne compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Safety-wise, Mui Ne 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 Mui Ne gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.