Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Ozamiz: $691 a month against $859 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ozamiz
🇵🇭 Philippines
$691
/mo nomad
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$859
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ozamiz 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 Ozamiz and in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $691 in Ozamiz versus $859 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Ozamiz $691
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $859

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,083 in Ozamiz versus $1,395 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Ozamiz $1,083
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,395

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,475 in Ozamiz versus $1,931 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Ozamiz $1,475
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,931

Living in Ozamiz costs roughly 19% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ozamiz 49% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ozamiz
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.85 ₱243
$1.91 ₫49.6K
101.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.04 ₱1,073
$22.84 ₫591.2K
-25.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.80 ₱176
$4.54 ₫117.6K
-38.33%
Cappuccino
$2.54 ₱160
$1.85 ₫48.0K
37.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 ₱40.51
$0.56 ₫14.6K
14.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ₱17.33
$0.32 ₫8,185
-12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.27 ₱79.8
$1.06 ₫27.5K
19.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 ₱115
$1.72 ₫44.5K
6.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ozamiz
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 ₱102
$1.66 ₫42.9K
-3.01%
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₱46.15
$1.11 ₫28.7K
-34.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.79 ₱49.61
$1.00 ₫25.9K
-21.00%
Eggs
$2.10 ₱132
$1.67 ₫43.1K
25.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.02 ₱379
$12.08 ₫312.8K
-50.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.46 ₱218
$3.68 ₫95.2K
-5.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.50 ₱472
$10.24 ₫265.1K
-26.76%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 ₱149
$2.96 ₫76.5K
-19.93%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 ₱46.99
$1.24 ₫32.2K
-39.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.59 ₱163
$1.56 ₫40.3K
66.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 ₱75.9
$1.30 ₫33.6K
-6.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.21 ₱139
$1.23 ₫31.9K
79.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.76 ₱174
$1.15 ₫29.8K
140.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ₱69.2
$0.74 ₫19.1K
48.65%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.53
$0.56 ₫14.4K
-5.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83 ₱178
$1.24 ₫32.1K
128.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.68 ₱546
$12.60 ₫326.1K
-31.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 ₱65.2
$0.96 ₫24.9K
8.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 ₱121
$1.53 ₫39.6K
26.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Ozamiz
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 ₱16.94
$0.26 ₫6,694
3.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.47 ₱722
$11.51 ₫297.9K
-0.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 ₱47.24
$0.75 ₫19.5K
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.19 ₱11.91
$0.67 ₫17.4K
-71.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.75 ₱110
$3.03 ₫78.5K
-42.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 ₱64.4
$0.96 ₫24.8K
6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K ₱1.2M
$31.1K ₫804.3M
-40.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.5K ₱1.2M
$30.4K ₫785.9M
-35.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ozamiz
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 ₱7,081
$102 ₫2.6M
10.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.02 ₱1,009
$5.89 ₫152.5K
171.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.02 ₱1,513
$10.49 ₫271.6K
128.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ozamiz
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.50 ₱1,857
$25.54 ₫661.2K
15.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.13 ₱260
$11.92 ₫308.5K
-65.35%
Cinema Ticket
$5.44 ₱342
$3.53 ₫91.3K
54.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ozamiz
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$128 ₱8,038
$436 ₫11.3M
-70.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,160 ₱576.7K
$23.3K ₫602.8M
-60.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ozamiz
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.38 ₱2,290
$52.8 ₫1.4M
-31.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.65 ₱1,363
$34.15 ₫884.1K
-36.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.9 ₱4,152
$90.3 ₫2.3M
-26.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.7 ₱3,192
$95.0 ₫2.5M
-46.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ozamiz
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$264 ₱16.6K
$589 ₫15.3M
-55.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$147 ₱9,284
$298 ₫7.7M
-50.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$520 ₱32.8K
$1,292 ₫33.5M
-59.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$358 ₱22.5K
$711 ₫18.4M
-49.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,576 ₱162.2K
$4,676 ₫121.1M
-44.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$947 ₱59.6K
$1,904 ₫49.3M
-50.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ozamiz
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$189 ₱11.9K
$490 ₫12.7M
-61.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
8.64
-21.41%

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

Last update for Ozamiz: October 12, 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.
Groceries & Markets
Ozamiz
$175
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$207 18.5% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ozamiz
$153
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$118 22.4% $34
Accommodation & Living
Ozamiz
$147
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$298 102% $150
Eating Out
Ozamiz
$83
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$63 23.9% $20
Clothing & Footwear
Ozamiz
$79
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$122 55.8% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Ozamiz
$40
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$33 19.2% $7.8
Getting Around
Ozamiz
$14
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$17 16.9% $2.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $264 in Ozamiz and $589 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 159% 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: $17.00 in Ozamiz vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $207 per month, with Ozamiz cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Ozamiz
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🕒 Local time
05:59 5:59 AM
04:59 4:59 AM
1 h behind Ozamiz
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
141,828
9,456,700
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,105 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ozamiz Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 1,900 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ozamiz
  • 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
Ozamiz vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ozamiz or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Ozamiz wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ozamiz the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ozamiz or in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
On paper, salaries run 159% lower in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). 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 Ozamiz compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Rent for a central apartment: $264 in Ozamiz 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 Ozamiz compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
All in, you'll spend $691 per month in Ozamiz versus $859 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ozamiz compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
A monthly transit pass in Ozamiz runs roughly 0% 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 $1,500/month in Ozamiz or in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
At $691 in Ozamiz versus $859 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ozamiz but tight or insufficient in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The gap between the two cities makes Ozamiz the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ozamiz or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ozamiz delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $691 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ozamiz hard to pass up.
How safe is Ozamiz compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Safety-wise, Ozamiz 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 Ozamiz gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ozamiz vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?