Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Pangasinan: $785 a month against $862 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), rent and utilities included – about $920 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Pangasinan
🇵🇭 Philippines
$785
/mo nomad
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$862
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $785 in Pangasinan versus $862 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Pangasinan $785
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $862

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,175 in Pangasinan versus $1,410 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Pangasinan $1,175
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,410

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,566 in Pangasinan versus $1,958 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Pangasinan $1,566
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,958

Living in Pangasinan costs roughly 9% 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: Pangasinan 42% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pangasinan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.20 ₱75.8
$1.98 ₫51.3K
-39.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.70 ₱862
$23.14 ₫599.0K
-40.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.00 ₱252
$4.76 ₫123.2K
-15.97%
Cappuccino
$2.55 ₱160
$1.86 ₫48.1K
37.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 ₱68.0
$0.51 ₫13.3K
111.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.62
$0.32 ₫8,191
65.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.83 ₱52.3
$1.03 ₫26.7K
-19.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 ₱198
$1.71 ₫44.4K
84.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pangasinan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 ₱68.9
$1.58 ₫40.8K
-31.01%
White Bread (500g)
$0.83 ₱52.0
$1.09 ₫28.3K
-23.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.72 ₱45.61
$1.05 ₫27.2K
-31.43%
Eggs
$2.49 ₱157
$1.64 ₫42.6K
51.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.03 ₱442
$12.33 ₫319.2K
-42.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.81 ₱303
$3.58 ₫92.6K
34.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.01 ₱441
$10.56 ₫273.3K
-33.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$2.97 ₫76.9K
-20.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.93 ₱122
$1.26 ₫32.7K
53.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.14 ₱198
$1.62 ₫42.0K
93.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.39 ₱151
$1.31 ₫33.8K
82.44%
Potato (1kg)
$3.57 ₱225
$1.19 ₫30.8K
200.00%
Onion (1kg)
$3.45 ₱217
$1.14 ₫29.6K
202.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.11 ₱70.0
$0.73 ₫18.8K
52.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ₱36.27
$0.56 ₫14.6K
3.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.69 ₱169
$1.28 ₫33.0K
110.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 ₱494
$12.46 ₫322.5K
-37.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 ₱82.9
$0.96 ₫24.9K
37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 ₱130
$1.48 ₫38.3K
39.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Pangasinan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱16.50
$0.26 ₫6,704
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.24 ₱708
$11.43 ₫296.0K
-1.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.66 ₱41.59
$0.68 ₫17.7K
-2.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.50
$0.62 ₫16.1K
-62.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.93 ₱121
$3.00 ₫77.7K
-35.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 ₱58.1
$0.91 ₫23.5K
1.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$30.6K ₫791.4M
-30.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.3K ₱1.2M
$29.4K ₫760.1M
-34.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pangasinan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$153 ₱9,648
$104 ₫2.7M
47.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.75 ₱992
$5.79 ₫149.9K
172.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.66 ₱1,993
$10.48 ₫271.3K
202.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pangasinan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.52 ₱2,048
$26.08 ₫675.1K
24.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.58 ₱288
$11.90 ₫308.1K
-61.51%
Cinema Ticket
$7.07 ₱445
$3.89 ₫100.7K
81.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pangasinan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$132 ₱8,330
$440 ₫11.4M
-69.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,373 ₱464.2K
$24.1K ₫622.7M
-69.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pangasinan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.82 ₱2,066
$50.9 ₫1.3M
-35.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.88 ₱1,252
$35.18 ₫910.8K
-43.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.2 ₱5,049
$92.1 ₫2.4M
-12.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.7 ₱3,444
$96.5 ₫2.5M
-43.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pangasinan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$265 ₱16.7K
$582 ₫15.1M
-54.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$169 ₱10.6K
$297 ₫7.7M
-43.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$519 ₱32.6K
$1,298 ₫33.6M
-60.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$360 ₱22.7K
$727 ₫18.8M
-50.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,394 ₱150.7K
$4,782 ₫123.8M
-49.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$986 ₱62.1K
$1,853 ₫48.0M
-46.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pangasinan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$490 ₫12.7M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.5
8.64
-13.19%

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

Last update for Pangasinan: October 18, 2026

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Pangasinan
$201
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$208 3.1% $6.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pangasinan
$201
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$120 40.2% $81
Accommodation & Living
Pangasinan
$169
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$297 75.6% $128
Clothing & Footwear
Pangasinan
$84
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$124 46.4% $39
Eating Out
Pangasinan
$69
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$64 6.9% $4.8
Sport & Entertainment
Pangasinan
$47
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$34 27.4% $13
Getting Around
Pangasinan
$14
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$16 15.3% $2.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $265 in Pangasinan and $582 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Pangasinan vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $208 per month, with Pangasinan cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Pangasinan
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🕒 Local time
23:28 11:28 PM
22:28 10:28 PM
1 h behind Pangasinan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,188,540
9,456,700
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 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 20, 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
  • Pangasinan Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 1,580 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Pangasinan
  • 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
Pangasinan vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pangasinan or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Pangasinan wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pangasinan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Pangasinan and in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
You'd need roughly $1,178 in Pangasinan and $1,294 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 Pangasinan compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Rent for a central apartment: $265 in Pangasinan versus $582 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 Pangasinan compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
All in, you'll spend $785 per month in Pangasinan versus $862 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Pangasinan compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
A monthly transit pass in Pangasinan runs roughly 2% 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 Pangasinan or in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
At $785 in Pangasinan versus $862 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pangasinan but tight or insufficient in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The gap between the two cities makes Pangasinan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pangasinan or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Both work as nomad bases, but Pangasinan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $785 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Pangasinan hard to pass up.
How safe is Pangasinan compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Safety-wise, Pangasinan 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 Pangasinan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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