For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $766 in Vietnam, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pakistan and in Vietnam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Pakistan versus $766 in Vietnam.
Pakistan $483
Vietnam $766
Estimated couple costs with rent: $736 in Pakistan versus $1,214 in Vietnam.
Pakistan $736
Vietnam $1,214
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Pakistan versus $1,662 in Vietnam.
Pakistan $988
Vietnam $1,662
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Vietnam: monthly costs span $437 to $889, compared to $291–$607 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Vietnam.
🌍
Living in Pakistan costs about 37% less than in Vietnam on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Pakistan 65% lower, Vietnam 44% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Vietnam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11PKR 582
$1.95₫50.2K
8.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.97PKR 3,863
$19.34₫499.0K
-27.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.50PKR 1,522
$4.67₫120.5K
17.77%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22PKR 615
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31PKR 1,192
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.97PKR 545
$1.64₫42.3K
20.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38PKR 105
$0.49₫12.8K
-22.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23PKR 63.6
$0.29₫7,606
-20.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.93₫24.1K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.58₫40.8K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Vietnam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87PKR 239
$1.54₫39.6K
-43.51%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60PKR 164
$1.02₫26.3K
-41.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21PKR 334
$0.96₫24.6K
26.04%
Eggs
$1.21PKR 333
$1.55₫40.0K
-21.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.42PKR 1,499
$11.55₫298.1K
-53.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.83PKR 782
$3.81₫98.4K
-25.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.06PKR 1,399
$9.99₫257.7K
-49.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.20PKR 331
$2.86₫73.9K
-58.04%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64PKR 176
$1.14₫29.5K
-43.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.87PKR 241
$1.35₫34.7K
-35.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54PKR 148
$1.25₫32.3K
-56.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.33PKR 91.7
$1.15₫29.6K
-71.30%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39PKR 108
$1.18₫30.4K
-66.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37PKR 104
$0.67₫17.2K
-44.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41PKR 113
$0.52₫13.4K
-21.15%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.08PKR 574
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07PKR 296
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36PKR 652
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14PKR 593
$1.45₫37.5K
47.59%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$9.42₫243.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.83₫21.4K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.51₫39.1K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Vietnam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20PKR 55.0
$0.30₫7,645
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.01PKR 2,766
$10.91₫281.5K
-8.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.88PKR 243
$0.81₫20.8K
8.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56PKR 155
$0.56₫14.5K
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.22PKR 613
$2.26₫58.4K
-1.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29PKR 357
$0.89₫23.0K
44.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
$30.3K₫780.9M
-41.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3KPKR 6.7M
$29.0K₫749.3M
-16.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Vietnam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110PKR 30.5K
$73.4₫1.9M
50.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41PKR 1,494
$5.74₫148.1K
-5.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.79PKR 4,365
$9.47₫244.4K
66.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Vietnam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.50PKR 5,114
$21.24₫548.1K
-12.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.09PKR 3,064
$8.95₫231.0K
23.91%
Cinema Ticket
$4.32PKR 1,194
$3.97₫102.3K
8.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Vietnam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$56.4PKR 15.6K
$445₫11.5M
-87.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,511PKR 417.8K
$19.6K₫505.9M
-92.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Vietnam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.56PKR 4,855
$42.30₫1.1M
-58.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.58PKR 6,517
$26.17₫675.3K
-9.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.7PKR 21.2K
$86.3₫2.2M
-11.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.08PKR 9,697
$76.3₫2.0M
-53.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Vietnam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$150PKR 41.5K
$425₫11.0M
-64.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$87.4PKR 24.2K
$275₫7.1M
-68.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$320PKR 88.6K
$897₫23.1M
-64.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$190PKR 52.5K
$576₫14.9M
-67.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$970PKR 268.2K
$3,799₫98.0M
-74.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$520PKR 143.9K
$2,054₫53.0M
-74.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Vietnam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$192PKR 53.1K
$413₫10.6M
-53.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.1
8.75
61.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026
Last update for Vietnam: October 27, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
$131 27.2%
Vietnam
$89 11.6% ↓ 32.6%$43
🛒Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
$94 19.5%
Vietnam
$193 25.2% ↑ 105%$99
🏠Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
$87 18.1%
Vietnam
$275 36% ↑ 215%$188
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
$69 14.3%
Vietnam
$104 13.6% ↑ 51.1%$35
🍽Eating Out
Pakistan
$59 12.3%
Vietnam
$60 7.9% ↑ 1.3%$0.8
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
$27 5.6%
Vietnam
$29 3.8% ↑ 7.5%$2
🚌Getting Around
Pakistan
$14 3%
Vietnam
$16 2.1% ↑ 8.5%$1.2
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
$137 13.9%
Vietnam
$94 5.7% ↓ 31%$42
🛒Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
$228 23%
Vietnam
$448 27% ↑ 97%$221
🏠Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
$190 19.2%
Vietnam
$576 34.6% ↑ 203%$386
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
$153 15.5%
Vietnam
$231 13.9% ↑ 51.1%$78
🍽Eating Out
Pakistan
$186 18.9%
Vietnam
$213 12.8% ↑ 14.3%$27
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
$65 6.6%
Vietnam
$67 4.1% ↑ 3%$1.9
🚌Getting Around
Pakistan
$29 3%
Vietnam
$32 1.9% ↑ 9%$2.6
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $137 in Pakistan, $381 in Vietnam. Capital cities: $261 in Islamabad vs $429 in Hanoi.
💰National salary averages: $185 in Pakistan, $343 in Vietnam. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 178% higher in Vietnam.
⭐Dining out costs 54% more in Vietnam.
⭐Public transport is 43% more expensive in Pakistan.
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
Pakistan vs Vietnam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Pakistan and Vietnam?
At $483 per month in Pakistan and $766 in Vietnam, Pakistan comes out about 37% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $381 in Vietnam and $137 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Should I move to Pakistan or to Vietnam?
It depends on what you’re after: Pakistan wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.