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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $736 in Phu Quoc versus $815 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,181 in Phu Quoc versus $1,295 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,626 in Phu Quoc versus $1,775 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

Living in Phu Quoc costs roughly 10% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Phu Quoc 45% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ₫50.9K

$1.97 ₫51.8K

-1.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.90 ₫548.6K

$22.83 ₫599.0K

-8.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 ₫117.0K

$4.67 ₫122.7K

-4.50%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ₫46.7K

$1.71 ₫44.8K

4.09%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₫12.3K

$0.48 ₫12.6K

-2.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 ₫7,270

$0.28 ₫7,344

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.93 ₫24.4K

$1.00 ₫26.1K

-7.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 ₫39.4K

$1.57 ₫41.1K

-4.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 ₫35.9K

$1.48 ₫38.7K

-7.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₫25.4K

$0.99 ₫25.9K

-2.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 ₫25.2K

$1.02 ₫26.7K

-5.88%

Eggs

$1.43 ₫37.5K

$1.47 ₫38.6K

-2.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.84 ₫310.7K

$11.73 ₫307.9K

0.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 ₫99.2K

$3.61 ₫94.7K

4.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ₫261.0K

$10.64 ₫279.1K

-6.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.79 ₫73.1K

$2.68 ₫70.4K

4.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.8K

$1.11 ₫29.1K

-8.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 ₫34.2K

$1.35 ₫35.5K

-3.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 ₫28.5K

$1.13 ₫29.6K

-3.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.8K

$1.17 ₫30.7K

-12.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ₫26.7K

$1.17 ₫30.8K

-12.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ₫17.3K

$0.77 ₫20.1K

-14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ₫12.7K

$0.51 ₫13.3K

-5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.32 ₫34.6K

$1.28 ₫33.7K

3.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.22 ₫294.5K

$12.97 ₫340.4K

-13.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₫21.0K

$0.91 ₫24.0K

-12.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₫41.5K

$1.48 ₫38.7K

6.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₫8,980

$0.28 ₫7,429

21.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.43 ₫168.6K

$10.38 ₫272.4K

-38.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 ₫17.6K

$0.68 ₫17.8K

-1.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 ₫16.1K

$0.67 ₫17.6K

-8.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 ₫72.1K

$3.04 ₫79.9K

-9.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₫22.2K

$0.90 ₫23.6K

-6.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$34.8K ₫913.8M

$37.8K ₫991.6M

-7.84%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.6K ₫830.3M

$33.9K ₫889.8M

-6.68%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$74.9 ₫2.0M

$85.8 ₫2.3M

-12.70%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.73 ₫150.3K

$6.04 ₫158.5K

-5.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$8.77 ₫230.2K

$9.11 ₫239.0K

-3.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.28 ₫584.6K

$20.99 ₫550.9K

6.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.54 ₫198.0K

$9.72 ₫255.2K

-22.43%

Cinema Ticket

$3.03 ₫79.4K

$4.16 ₫109.3K

-27.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$261 ₫6.9M

$270 ₫7.1M

-3.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K ₫305.9M

$13.8K ₫362.9M

-15.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.32 ₫1.1M

$41.54 ₫1.1M

-0.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.83 ₫599.2K

$27.25 ₫715.2K

-16.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.5 ₫2.2M

$95.1 ₫2.5M

-10.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.6 ₫2.0M

$85.3 ₫2.2M

-12.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 ₫9.3M

$536 ₫14.1M

-34.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 ₫6.6M

$307 ₫8.1M

-18.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$735 ₫19.3M

$1,129 ₫29.6M

-34.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$536 ₫14.1M

$647 ₫17.0M

-17.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,057 ₫54.0M

$4,217 ₫110.7M

-51.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,227 ₫32.2M

$1,843 ₫48.4M

-33.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$485 ₫12.7M

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 Phu Quoc: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $354 in Phu Quoc and $536 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21 in Phu Quoc vs $23 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $199 per month, with Phu Quoc 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

Phu Quoc vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phu Quoc wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phu Quoc the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,105 in Phu Quoc and $1,222 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $354 in Phu Quoc versus $536 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $736 per month in Phu Quoc versus $815 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Phu Quoc runs roughly 61% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Phu Quoc gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Phu Quoc delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $736 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phu Quoc hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Phu Quoc 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.

Expats usually find Phu Quoc gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.