For one person, living is cheaper in Vietnam: $771 a month against $2,589 in Australia, rent and utilities included – about $21,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Vietnam and in Australia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $771 per month in Vietnam vs $2,589 in Australia, rent included.
Vietnam $771
Australia $2,589
A couple spends around $1,212 per month in Vietnam vs $3,789 in Australia, rent included.
Vietnam $1,212
Australia $3,789
A family of three spends $1,653 per month in Vietnam vs $4,990 in Australia, rent included.
Vietnam $1,653
Australia $4,990
📏
The regional cost range is wider in Australia ($1,068–$3,299) than in Vietnam ($459–$895), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Vietnam is roughly 70% lower than in Australia on average.
📊
Vietnam sits 43% below the global median, while Australia is 91% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Vietnam
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96₫50.4K
$17.24A$24.87
-88.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.50₫500.7K
$85.1A$123
-77.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.59₫117.8K
$11.18A$16.13
-58.94%
Cappuccino
$1.65₫42.3K
$4.01A$5.78
-58.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50₫12.7K
$2.90A$4.18
-82.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32₫8,247
$2.30A$3.32
-86.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.99₫25.3K
$7.74A$11.17
-87.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57₫40.4K
$8.16A$11.78
-80.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vietnam
Australia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.48₫38.0K
$1.73A$2.49
-14.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02₫26.1K
$2.69A$3.88
-62.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.96₫24.7K
$2.24A$3.22
-57.14%
Eggs
$1.55₫39.9K
$4.95A$7.13
-68.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.49₫295.0K
$9.42A$13.59
21.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.86₫99.2K
$9.40A$13.56
-58.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.75₫250.3K
$15.30A$22.07
-36.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.85₫73.2K
$3.65A$5.27
-21.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08₫27.7K
$3.08A$4.44
-64.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.30₫33.4K
$3.27A$4.72
-60.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.19₫30.7K
$4.59A$6.62
-74.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14₫29.4K
$2.83A$4.08
-59.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21₫31.2K
$2.26A$3.27
-46.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73₫18.8K
$2.37A$3.43
-69.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49₫12.7K
$1.66A$2.39
-70.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.44₫37.0K
$38.43A$55.4
-96.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.90₫254.1K
$14.21A$20.50
-30.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.85₫21.7K
$4.95A$7.15
-82.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44₫37.0K
$5.13A$7.40
-71.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Vietnam
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32₫8,282
$2.46A$3.56
-86.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.75₫275.9K
$93.0A$134
-88.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85₫21.8K
$3.66A$5.28
-76.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.59₫15.2K
$1.82A$2.62
-67.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.32₫59.5K
$43.83A$63.2
-94.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97₫24.9K
$1.35A$1.94
-28.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K₫783.7M
$29.8KA$43.0K
2.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K₫757.9M
$26.1KA$37.6K
13.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vietnam
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$76.2₫2.0M
$208A$300
-63.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.63₫144.7K
$29.05A$41.90
-80.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.95₫229.8K
$58.7A$84.7
-84.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vietnam
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.75₫532.9K
$56.4A$81.4
-63.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.24₫237.4K
$19.40A$27.99
-52.37%
Cinema Ticket
$3.79₫97.4K
$15.11A$21.79
-74.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vietnam
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$491₫12.6M
$2,113A$3,048
-76.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.7K₫661.2M
$23.1KA$33.3K
11.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vietnam
Australia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.52₫1.0M
$80.0A$115
-50.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.09₫669.9K
$54.2A$78.2
-51.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1₫2.2M
$112A$161
-22.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.8₫2.0M
$125A$180
-37.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vietnam
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$421₫10.8M
$1,620A$2,337
-74.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$281₫7.2M
$1,256A$1,812
-77.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$888₫22.8M
$2,616A$3,774
-66.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$571₫14.7M
$2,007A$2,895
-71.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,763₫96.6M
$8,539A$12.3K
-55.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,051₫52.7M
$6,404A$9,237
-67.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vietnam
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$422₫10.8M
$3,931A$5,670
-89.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.8
5.96
47.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vietnam: November 1, 2026
Last update for Australia: November 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Vietnam
$281 36.4%
Australia
$1.3K 48.5% ↑ 347%$975
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vietnam
$192 24.8%
Australia
$373 14.4% ↑ 94.6%$181
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vietnam
$103 13.4%
Australia
$167 6.4% ↑ 61.4%$63
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vietnam
$91 11.8%
Australia
$296 11.4% ↑ 226%$205
🍽Eating Out
Vietnam
$61 7.9%
Australia
$295 11.4% ↑ 388%$235
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vietnam
$28 3.7%
Australia
$87 3.4% ↑ 206%$58
🚌Getting Around
Vietnam
$16 2.1%
Australia
$116 4.5% ↑ 629%$100
🏠Accommodation & Living
Vietnam
$571 34.5%
Australia
$2K 40.2% ↑ 252%$1.4K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vietnam
$444 26.9%
Australia
$845 16.9% ↑ 90.2%$400
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vietnam
$229 13.9%
Australia
$370 7.4% ↑ 61.4%$141
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vietnam
$96 5.8%
Australia
$325 6.5% ↑ 237%$229
🍽Eating Out
Vietnam
$214 13%
Australia
$1K 20.3% ↑ 373%$799
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vietnam
$66 4%
Australia
$193 3.9% ↑ 192%$127
🚌Getting Around
Vietnam
$32 2%
Australia
$236 4.7% ↑ 630%$204
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $387 in Vietnam vs $1,381 in Australia. For reference, capital cities sit at $435 in Hanoi and $1,761 in Canberra.
💰Average salary: $365 in Vietnam vs $3,863 in Australia. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 257% higher in Australia.
⭐Dining out costs 315% more in Australia.
⭐Public transport is 1114% more expensive in Australia.
⭐Salaries are about 11 times higher in Australia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Australia.
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
Vietnam vs Australia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Australia more expensive than Vietnam?
Vietnam is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 70% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in Australia: a central one-bedroom averages $1,381 versus $387 in Vietnam.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Vietnam – part of why living there is about 70% cheaper overall.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Australia or in Vietnam?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Vietnam, but in Australia it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Australia or to Vietnam?
Vietnam is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.