Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanur, Bali and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

For one person, living is cheaper in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): $855 a month against $1,112 in Sanur, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Sanur, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,112
/mo nomad
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$855
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,112 in Sanur, Bali versus $855 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Sanur, Bali $1,112
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $855

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,852 in Sanur, Bali versus $1,400 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Sanur, Bali $1,852
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,400

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,591 in Sanur, Bali versus $1,944 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).

  • Sanur, Bali $2,591
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) $1,944

Living in Sanur, Bali is roughly 30% more expensive than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sanur, Bali 17% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanur, Bali
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.67 Rp 47.7K
$1.90 ₫49.1K
40.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.01 Rp 500.7K
$23.32 ₫603.5K
20.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.43 Rp 79.1K
$4.67 ₫120.9K
-5.14%
Cappuccino
$2.11 Rp 37.7K
$1.85 ₫47.9K
14.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 Rp 24.5K
$0.56 ₫14.4K
144.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 Rp 10.9K
$0.34 ₫8,857
79.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
$1.01 ₫26.2K
111.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 Rp 62.3K
$1.69 ₫43.7K
106.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanur, Bali
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 Rp 24.5K
$1.58 ₫40.8K
-13.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 Rp 37.2K
$1.04 ₫27.0K
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.9K
$0.99 ₫25.7K
12.12%
Eggs
$1.86 Rp 33.2K
$1.60 ₫41.5K
16.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.49 Rp 276.9K
$12.23 ₫316.6K
26.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.51 Rp 62.7K
$3.54 ₫91.7K
-0.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.94 Rp 195.5K
$10.44 ₫270.2K
4.79%
Apples (1kg)
$3.22 Rp 57.6K
$3.09 ₫79.9K
4.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 Rp 25.1K
$1.26 ₫32.5K
11.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 Rp 38.0K
$1.57 ₫40.6K
35.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.73 Rp 31.0K
$1.26 ₫32.5K
37.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.71 Rp 30.5K
$1.17 ₫30.4K
46.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.11 Rp 37.6K
$1.15 ₫29.7K
83.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 Rp 15.6K
$0.72 ₫18.7K
20.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 8,049
$0.54 ₫14.0K
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04 Rp 36.4K
$1.22 ₫31.5K
67.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.81 Rp 372.0K
$12.28 ₫317.8K
69.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
$0.98 ₫25.4K
118.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 Rp 47.4K
$1.49 ₫38.5K
77.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Sanur, Bali
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,468
$0.28 ₫7,249
-10.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.59 Rp 135.6K
$11.62 ₫300.8K
-34.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,214
$0.73 ₫18.9K
-36.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 Rp 7,252
$0.64 ₫16.7K
-35.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.87 Rp 104.9K
$3.17 ₫82.0K
85.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
$0.95 ₫24.6K
-15.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K Rp 417.9M
$30.7K ₫795.6M
-23.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0K Rp 536.2M
$30.6K ₫791.6M
-1.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanur, Bali
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.1 Rp 1.4M
$102 ₫2.6M
-23.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.24 Rp 111.5K
$5.65 ₫146.1K
10.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.76 Rp 317.5K
$10.52 ₫272.2K
68.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanur, Bali
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.63 Rp 726.2K
$25.86 ₫669.2K
57.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.58 Rp 242.7K
$11.82 ₫305.9K
14.89%
Cinema Ticket
$3.18 Rp 56.9K
$3.39 ₫87.8K
-6.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanur, Bali
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$443 Rp 7.9M
$438 ₫11.3M
1.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,134 Rp 91.8M
$23.3K ₫603.1M
-77.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanur, Bali
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.04 Rp 733.6K
$51.5 ₫1.3M
-20.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.00 Rp 571.9K
$34.56 ₫894.3K
-7.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 Rp 1.3M
$91.3 ₫2.4M
-21.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 Rp 1.3M
$94.9 ₫2.5M
-24.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanur, Bali
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$819 Rp 14.6M
$577 ₫14.9M
42.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$512 Rp 9.2M
$292 ₫7.6M
75.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,616 Rp 46.8M
$1,293 ₫33.5M
102.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,296 Rp 23.2M
$717 ₫18.6M
80.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,067 Rp 37.0M
$4,714 ₫122.0M
-56.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,657 Rp 29.6M
$1,882 ₫48.7M
-11.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanur, Bali
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$486 ₫12.6M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
8.64
59.49%

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

Last update for Sanur, Bali: October 6, 2026

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sanur, Bali
$512
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$292 42.9% $220
Groceries & Markets
Sanur, Bali
$261
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$206 21.2% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanur, Bali
$102
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$118 16% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Sanur, Bali
$98
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$123 25.6% $25
Eating Out
Sanur, Bali
$86
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$63 25.8% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Sanur, Bali
$47
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$33 30.5% $14
Getting Around
Sanur, Bali
$11
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
$17 50.7% $5.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $819 in Sanur, Bali and $577 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $28.00 in Sanur, Bali vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $261 vs $206 per month, with Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Sanur, Bali
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
🕒 Local time
11:02 11:02 AM
10:02 10:02 AM
1 h behind Sanur, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
15,000
9,456,700
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

VND, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,048 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 25,879 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,025 VND (100,000 VND = 3.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sanur, Bali Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) 2,360 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Sanur, Bali
  • 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
Sanur, Bali vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sanur, Bali or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Sanur, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sanur, Bali and in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
You'd need roughly $1,669 in Sanur, Bali and $1,283 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 Sanur, Bali compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Rent for a central apartment: $819 in Sanur, Bali versus $577 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 Sanur, Bali compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
All in, you'll spend $1,112 per month in Sanur, Bali versus $855 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Sanur, Bali compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
A monthly transit pass in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) runs roughly 53% less than in Sanur, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sanur, Bali or in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
At $855 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) versus $1,112 in Sanur, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) but tight or insufficient in Sanur, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sanur, Bali or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $855 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) hard to pass up.
How safe is Sanur, Bali compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Safety-wise, Sanur, Bali 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 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Sanur, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Sanur, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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