🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $654 in Tetouan versus $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $970 in Tetouan versus $1,300 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,287 in Tetouan versus $1,773 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
🙂Living in Tetouan costs roughly 21% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tetouan51% lower, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.26MAD 30.04
$2.03₫53.3K
60.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.97MAD 175
$22.91₫602.2K
-17.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.16MAD 65.9
$4.69₫123.3K
52.67%
Cappuccino
$1.73MAD 15.90
$1.69₫44.5K
2.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66MAD 6.05
$0.50₫13.2K
32.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33MAD 3.00
$0.28₫7,267
17.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.68MAD 24.72
$0.99₫26.0K
170.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24MAD 29.79
$1.50₫39.3K
116.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87MAD 8.01
$1.48₫38.9K
-41.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25MAD 2.28
$1.03₫27.0K
-75.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55MAD 14.24
$0.98₫25.9K
58.16%
Eggs
$1.80MAD 16.60
$1.41₫36.9K
27.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.65MAD 42.78
$11.88₫312.3K
-60.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.58MAD 51.3
$3.60₫94.7K
55.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.45MAD 96.2
$10.55₫277.4K
-0.95%
Apples(1kg)
$1.24MAD 11.45
$2.76₫72.6K
-55.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30MAD 11.97
$1.10₫28.9K
18.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.65
$1.30₫34.1K
-44.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75MAD 6.90
$1.16₫30.6K
-35.34%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65MAD 5.99
$1.17₫30.7K
-44.44%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.17
$1.17₫30.9K
-42.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45MAD 4.17
$0.70₫18.4K
-35.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65MAD 5.95
$0.51₫13.4K
27.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04MAD 37.15
$1.27₫33.3K
218.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.91MAD 82.0
$12.32₫323.8K
-27.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75MAD 16.07
$0.85₫22.3K
105.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06MAD 18.92
$1.49₫39.1K
38.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47MAD 4.29
$0.28₫7,437
67.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.34MAD 123
$10.75₫282.6K
24.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53MAD 4.88
$0.67₫17.7K
-20.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07MAD 9.85
$0.69₫18.2K
55.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.42MAD 31.53
$2.99₫78.7K
14.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56MAD 14.36
$0.82₫21.7K
90.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1KMAD 341.5K
$37.5K₫986.5M
-1.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KMAD 225.2K
$33.6K₫882.4M
-27.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.41MAD 390
$84.8₫2.2M
-50.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.21MAD 94.0
$6.06₫159.4K
68.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.02MAD 368
$9.14₫240.3K
337.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.08MAD 130
$20.73₫544.9K
-32.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.55MAD 116
$9.37₫246.5K
33.94%
Cinema Ticket
$3.87MAD 35.63
$4.26₫111.9K
-9.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$44.65MAD 411
$273₫7.2M
-83.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,150MAD 47.4K
$13.8K₫362.4M
-62.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.27MAD 177
$42.85₫1.1M
-55.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.66MAD 430
$27.36₫719.2K
70.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.5MAD 548
$97.6₫2.6M
-39.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.9MAD 634
$87.1₫2.3M
-20.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$217MAD 1,999
$526₫13.8M
-58.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183MAD 1,687
$307₫8.1M
-40.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$478MAD 4,404
$1,090₫28.7M
-56.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$273MAD 2,517
$668₫17.6M
-59.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,160MAD 10.7K
$4,497₫118.2M
-74.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$807MAD 7,425
$1,791₫47.1M
-54.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tetouan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$429MAD 3,953
$509₫13.4M
-15.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.35
9.14
-52.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tetouan: May 30, 2026
Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $217 in Tetouan and $526 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) pays 19% 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 $162 vs $198 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 26% 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 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
On paper, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) earns 19% less. 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 vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Rent for a central apartment: $217 in Tetouan versus $526 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 $654 per month in Tetouan versus $826 in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Tetouan vs Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
A monthly transit pass in Tetouan runs roughly 24% 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 $1,000/month in Tetouan or Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Tetouan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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 $654 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 26% less than in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.