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.

🇻🇳 Vietnam
$761
/mo nomad
🇮🇳 India
$395
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vietnam and in India

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
🍽 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.
Accommodation & Living
Vietnam
$272
India
$92 66.3% $180
Groceries & Markets
Vietnam
$191
India
$102 46.7% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Vietnam
$105
India
$53 49.4% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vietnam
$88
India
$48 45.3% $40
Eating Out
Vietnam
$61
India
$68 10.1% $6.2
Sport & Entertainment
Vietnam
$29
India
$21 28.7% $8.4
Getting Around
Vietnam
$14
India
$12 13% $1.8

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.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Vietnam
🇮🇳 India
🕒 Local time
16:59 4:59 PM
15:29 3:29 PM
1 h 30 min behind Vietnam
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
96,208,984
1,326,093,247
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,105 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.37 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vietnam India 3,000 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Vietnam
  • 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.

Vietnam vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?