🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $693 in Tetouan versus $850 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,048 in Tetouan versus $1,385 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,402 in Tetouan versus $1,920 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🌍Living in Tetouan costs roughly 18% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tetouan50% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.16MAD 29.53
$2.14₫55.8K
47.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.94MAD 177
$22.91₫597.3K
-17.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43MAD 78.7
$4.67₫121.9K
80.51%
Cappuccino
$1.83MAD 17.10
$1.78₫46.3K
2.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78MAD 7.25
$0.53₫13.8K
47.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34MAD 3.14
$0.35₫9,013
-2.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63MAD 24.57
$1.17₫30.6K
124.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31MAD 30.88
$1.66₫43.3K
99.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03MAD 9.63
$1.57₫41.0K
-34.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.28MAD 2.62
$1.04₫27.1K
-73.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00MAD 18.70
$1.00₫26.1K
100.00%
Eggs
$1.74MAD 16.26
$1.61₫42.0K
8.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.97MAD 55.8
$12.27₫319.8K
-51.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.43MAD 69.3
$3.54₫92.2K
109.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.03MAD 122
$10.43₫271.8K
24.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.63MAD 15.20
$3.12₫81.3K
-47.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MAD 14.10
$1.28₫33.2K
17.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.91MAD 8.54
$1.62₫42.1K
-43.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.84MAD 7.88
$1.21₫31.5K
-30.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91MAD 8.46
$1.22₫31.9K
-25.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80MAD 7.45
$1.19₫31.1K
-32.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50MAD 4.66
$0.72₫18.7K
-30.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62MAD 5.75
$0.51₫13.2K
21.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86MAD 36.08
$1.25₫32.5K
208.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.05MAD 84.5
$12.47₫325.0K
-27.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29MAD 21.38
$0.93₫24.4K
146.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52MAD 23.50
$1.48₫38.5K
70.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MAD 4.80
$0.28₫7,359
82.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.05MAD 122
$11.33₫295.4K
15.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73MAD 6.83
$0.69₫18.0K
5.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14MAD 10.62
$0.60₫15.7K
90.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.52MAD 32.87
$3.09₫80.5K
13.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52MAD 14.24
$0.94₫24.5K
61.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KMAD 324.6K
$30.8K₫802.5M
12.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0KMAD 298.7K
$30.6K₫797.2M
4.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.20MAD 431
$101₫2.6M
-54.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.90MAD 102
$5.95₫155.0K
83.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.81MAD 400
$10.16₫264.9K
321.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.36MAD 143
$24.64₫642.4K
-37.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.47MAD 116
$11.67₫304.3K
6.86%
Cinema Ticket
$3.80MAD 35.51
$3.54₫92.4K
7.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.91MAD 457
$464₫12.1M
-89.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,094MAD 56.9K
$22.7K₫592.2M
-73.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.44MAD 172
$51.7₫1.3M
-64.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.29MAD 451
$34.93₫910.5K
38.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.1MAD 533
$90.7₫2.4M
-37.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.4MAD 639
$92.7₫2.4M
-26.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$213MAD 1,993
$582₫15.2M
-63.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173MAD 1,610
$283₫7.4M
-39.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424MAD 3,962
$1,271₫33.1M
-66.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$267MAD 2,492
$674₫17.6M
-60.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,122MAD 10.5K
$4,704₫122.6M
-76.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$718MAD 6,702
$1,909₫49.8M
-62.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$418MAD 3,901
$488₫12.7M
-14.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.5
8.64
-36.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tetouan: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $213 in Tetouan and $582 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 17% 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: $19.00 in Tetouan vs $23.00 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $206 per month, with Tetouan 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
Tetouan vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tetouan or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Tetouan wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tetouan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Tetouan or in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Tetouan compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Rent for a central apartment: $213 in Tetouan 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 Tetouan compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
All in, you'll spend $693 per month in Tetouan versus $850 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tetouan compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
A monthly transit pass in Tetouan runs roughly 15% 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 Tetouan or in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
At $693 in Tetouan versus $850 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tetouan but tight or insufficient in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). The gap between the two cities makes Tetouan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tetouan or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tetouan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $693 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tetouan hard to pass up.
How safe is Tetouan compared to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Safety-wise, Tetouan 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 Tetouan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.