🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $616 in Tarlac City versus $752 in Hanoi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $948 in Tarlac City versus $1,245 in Hanoi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,280 in Tarlac City versus $1,737 in Hanoi.
🙂Living in Tarlac City costs roughly 18% less than in Hanoi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tarlac City54% lower, Hanoi44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tarlac City
Hanoi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.69₱162
$1.90₫49.9K
41.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.85₱894
$26.52₫695.9K
-44.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.53₱213
$4.62₫121.2K
-23.59%
Cappuccino
$1.62₱97.8
$1.81₫47.4K
-10.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83₱49.89
$0.45₫11.9K
84.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26₱15.64
$0.27₫7,112
-3.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.99₱59.4
$0.99₫25.9K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74₱105
$1.93₫50.7K
-9.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tarlac City
Hanoi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60₱96.2
$1.39₫36.4K
15.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53₱92.0
$0.97₫25.5K
57.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01₱61.0
$0.84₫22.0K
20.24%
Eggs
$2.06₱124
$1.57₫41.1K
31.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.68₱523
$9.32₫244.5K
-6.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.26₱197
$3.75₫98.4K
-13.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.02₱363
$9.33₫244.9K
-35.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.96₱178
$3.36₫88.1K
-11.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58₱95.1
$1.01₫26.6K
56.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16₱130
$1.57₫41.2K
37.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52₱91.7
$1.07₫28.1K
42.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37₱82.8
$1.03₫27.1K
33.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12₱67.6
$1.05₫27.5K
6.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87₱52.1
$0.53₫13.9K
64.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88₱53.2
$0.57₫15.0K
54.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80₱169
$1.37₫35.9K
104.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.81₱229
$13.39₫351.3K
-71.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83₱50.2
$0.91₫23.9K
-8.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50₱90.3
$1.81₫47.6K
-17.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Tarlac City
Hanoi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28₱17.01
$0.37₫9,582
-24.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.95₱479
$7.64₫200.4K
4.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.83₱49.86
$0.79₫20.7K
5.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.22₱13.20
$0.58₫15.2K
-62.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.10₱126
$1.60₫41.9K
31.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11₱66.7
$0.85₫22.3K
30.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K₱1.7M
$38.7K₫1.0B
-25.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.4K₱1.2M
$32.4K₫850.2M
-40.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tarlac City
Hanoi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100₱6,034
$78.7₫2.1M
27.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.96₱961
$5.29₫138.7K
201.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.80₱1,614
$8.77₫230.2K
205.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tarlac City
Hanoi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.14₱2,658
$27.81₫729.7K
58.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.48₱1,052
$11.15₫292.5K
56.77%
Cinema Ticket
$6.12₱369
$3.91₫102.5K
56.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tarlac City
Hanoi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$167₱10.1K
$267₫7.0M
-37.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.1K₱851.1K
$11.5K₫301.1M
23.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tarlac City
Hanoi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.60₱2,746
$44.72₫1.2M
1.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.80₱1,614
$23.04₫604.5K
16.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.3₱3,152
$89.2₫2.3M
-41.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.23₱2,242
$72.3₫1.9M
-48.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tarlac City
Hanoi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$128₱7,691
$327₫8.6M
-60.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$100₱6,031
$257₫6.7M
-60.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$263₱15.8K
$767₫20.1M
-65.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178₱10.7K
$603₫15.8M
-70.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$379₱22.8K
$4,821₫126.5M
-92.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$301₱18.1K
$2,722₫71.4M
-88.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tarlac City
Hanoi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$220₱13.2K
$498₫13.1M
-55.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.17
9.1
-32.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tarlac City: June 15, 2026
Last update for Hanoi: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $128 in Tarlac City and $327 in Hanoi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hanoi pays 127% 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: $15.00 in Tarlac City vs $27.00 in Hanoi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $192 per month, with Tarlac City 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
Tarlac City vs Hanoi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tarlac City and Hanoi?
Tarlac City and Hanoi differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($616 vs $752 including rent). Tarlac City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Hanoi earns 127% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Tarlac City and Hanoi?
Rent for a central apartment: $128 in Tarlac City versus $327 in Hanoi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Tarlac City and Hanoi?
A monthly transit pass in Tarlac City runs roughly 4% less than in Hanoi. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tarlac City and Hanoi?
Childcare runs $167 in Tarlac City versus $267 in Hanoi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $800 go in Tarlac City vs Hanoi?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Tarlac City gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Tarlac City and Hanoi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Tarlac City or Hanoi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tarlac City and Hanoi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Tarlac City or Hanoi?
Expats usually find Tarlac City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Tarlac City vs other spots: cost of living compared