Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Vietnam and India
For one person, living is cheaper in India: $395 a month against $761 in Vietnam, rent and utilities included – about $4,400 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 India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $763 in Vietnam versus $391 in India.
Vietnam $763
India $391
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,203 in Vietnam versus $620 in India.
Vietnam $1,203
India $620
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,643 in Vietnam versus $849 in India.
Vietnam $1,643
India $849
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $228 to $812, compared to $432–$874 in Vietnam. City choice carries more weight in India.
🌍
Living in Vietnam is roughly 95% more expensive than in India on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Vietnam 43% lower, India 71% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Vietnam
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95₫50.6K
$2.14₹203
-8.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.14₫495.5K
$10.57₹1,004
81.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.72₫122.2K
$3.77₹358
25.20%
Cappuccino
$1.70₫44.1K
$1.76₹167
-3.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₫12.6K
$0.42₹39.67
16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30₫7,687
$0.14₹13.45
114.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.00₫26.0K
$1.95₹186
-48.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56₫40.3K
$3.11₹295
-49.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vietnam
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47₫38.1K
$0.63₹59.6
133.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95₫24.7K
$0.46₹43.45
106.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92₫23.8K
$0.68₹64.3
35.29%
Eggs
$1.49₫38.5K
$0.93₹88.4
60.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.78₫305.0K
$4.83₹458
143.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.81₫98.7K
$2.91₹276
30.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.67₫250.4K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.81₫72.8K
$2.00₹190
40.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11₫28.6K
$0.63₹59.6
76.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.40₫36.3K
$0.98₹92.8
42.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26₫32.6K
$0.51₹48.04
147.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10₫28.4K
$0.36₹34.28
205.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21₫31.2K
$0.39₹36.72
210.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72₫18.7K
$0.43₹41.31
67.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48₫12.4K
$0.29₹27.53
65.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.42₫36.8K
$5.14₹488
-72.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.92₫256.9K
$7.33₹696
35.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87₫22.6K
$1.65₹157
-47.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47₫38.1K
$2.73₹259
-46.15%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.08₹483
-
🚌 Getting Around
Vietnam
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32₫8,167
$0.25₹23.70
28.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.50₫220.1K
$8.49₹806
0.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74₫19.1K
$1.03₹97.9
-28.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.60₫15.6K
$0.25₹23.69
140.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.28₫59.0K
$1.61₹153
41.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95₫24.6K
$1.07₹101
-11.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K₫801.9M
$11.3K₹1.1M
173.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.3K₫759.3M
$20.1K₹1.9M
45.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vietnam
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.8₫1.9M
$37.73₹3,583
92.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.76₫149.2K
$3.58₹340
60.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.52₫246.3K
$6.89₹655
38.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vietnam
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.61₫559.4K
$14.63₹1,390
47.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.95₫231.8K
$7.25₹688
23.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.90₫101.0K
$3.17₹301
23.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vietnam
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$375₫9.7M
$56.5₹5,369
563.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.9K₫514.4M
$1,646₹156.3K
1107.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vietnam
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.55₫1.1M
$22.73₹2,158
87.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.11₫676.0K
$24.04₹2,283
8.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.4₫2.3M
$41.04₹3,898
113.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9₫2.0M
$30.60₹2,906
154.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vietnam
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$407₫10.5M
$144₹13.6K
183.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$272₫7.0M
$91.5₹8,691
196.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$831₫21.5M
$324₹30.8K
156.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$551₫14.3M
$214₹20.3K
158.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,676₫95.2M
$1,200₹114.0K
206.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,896₫49.1M
$619₹58.8K
206.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vietnam
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$410₫10.6M
$440₹41.8K
-6.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.75
8.92
-1.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vietnam: October 18, 2026
Last update for India: October 19, 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
$272 35.7%
India
$92 23.1% ↓ 66.3%$180
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vietnam
$191 25.2%
India
$102 25.8% ↓ 46.7%$89
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vietnam
$105 13.8%
India
$53 13.5% ↓ 49.4%$52
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vietnam
$88 11.6%
India
$48 12.2% ↓ 45.3%$40
🍽Eating Out
Vietnam
$61 8.1%
India
$68 17.1% ↑ 10.1%$6.2
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vietnam
$29 3.9%
India
$21 5.3% ↓ 28.7%$8.4
🚌Getting Around
Vietnam
$14 1.8%
India
$12 3% ↓ 13%$1.8
🏠Accommodation & Living
Vietnam
$551 33.8%
India
$214 24.8% ↓ 61.2%$338
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vietnam
$444 27.2%
India
$220 25.5% ↓ 50.5%$224
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vietnam
$234 14.3%
India
$118 13.8% ↓ 49.4%$116
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vietnam
$94 5.8%
India
$52 6% ↓ 44.8%$42
🍽Eating Out
Vietnam
$214 13.1%
India
$184 21.4% ↓ 14.2%$31
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vietnam
$68 4.2%
India
$49 5.7% ↓ 27.4%$19
🚌Getting Around
Vietnam
$28 1.7%
India
$24 2.8% ↓ 13.1%$3.6
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $376 in Vietnam, $119 in India. Capital cities: $403 in Hanoi vs $267 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $343 in Vietnam, $411 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 216% higher in Vietnam.
⭐Dining out costs 100% more in Vietnam.
⭐Public transport is 17% more expensive in India.
⭐Salaries are 20% higher in India, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
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 India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Vietnam?
At $391 per month in India and $763 in Vietnam, there's a 95% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $376 in Vietnam and $119 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or in Vietnam?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Vietnam it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or to Vietnam?
It depends on what you're after: India wins on affordability; Vietnam may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.