Cost of Living Comparison Between Vietnam and India Cost of Living Comparison Between Vietnam and India

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $699 in Vietnam versus $388 in India.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,100 in Vietnam versus $617 in India.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,501 in Vietnam versus $846 in India.

Living in Vietnam is roughly 80% more expensive than in India on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Vietnam 48% lower, India 71% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in India: monthly costs span $265 to $913, compared to $486$808 in Vietnam. City choice carries more weight in India.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vietnam
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95 ₫51.3K
$2.53 ₹244
-22.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.40 ₫562.7K
$13.73 ₹1,322
55.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.55 ₫119.7K
$4.00 ₹385
13.75%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ₫43.6K
$1.91 ₹184
-13.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₫13.2K
$0.43 ₹41.85
16.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ₫6,997
$0.17 ₹16.11
58.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.91 ₫24.0K
$1.93 ₹186
-52.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₫40.8K
$3.54 ₹341
-56.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vietnam
India
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 ₫36.8K
$0.73 ₹69.9
91.78%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₫23.4K
$0.52 ₹50.1
71.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ₫24.9K
$0.73 ₹69.9
30.14%
Eggs
$1.46 ₫38.4K
$0.95 ₹91.4
53.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.46 ₫301.2K
$5.32 ₹512
115.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.64 ₫95.6K
$3.10 ₹299
17.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.10 ₫265.5K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.74 ₫71.9K
$2.16 ₹208
26.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 ₫27.5K
$0.70 ₹67.7
50.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.31 ₫34.5K
$1.05 ₹101
24.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 ₫29.2K
$0.53 ₹50.8
109.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 ₫29.8K
$0.39 ₹37.66
189.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ₫31.4K
$0.48 ₹46.64
147.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ₫18.8K
$0.52 ₹49.78
36.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₫13.6K
$0.36 ₹34.33
44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.38 ₫36.2K
$4.02 ₹387
-65.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.82 ₫258.1K
$7.28 ₹701
34.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 ₫20.5K
$1.90 ₹183
-58.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 ₫37.4K
$3.03 ₹292
-53.14%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.84 ₹562
-
🚌 Getting Around
Vietnam
India
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ₫8,480
$0.36 ₹34.66
-11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.63 ₫200.6K
$9.84 ₹948
-22.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 ₫18.2K
$0.95 ₹91.8
-27.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 ₫15.9K
$0.30 ₹29.03
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ₫101.4K
$1.79 ₹172
115.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 ₫24.0K
$1.21 ₹117
-24.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K ₫942.0M
$13.9K ₹1.3M
158.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K ₫882.3M
$22.4K ₹2.2M
49.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vietnam
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ₫1.9M
$40.16 ₹3,867
75.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.73 ₫150.8K
$3.76 ₹362
52.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.08 ₫238.8K
$8.04 ₹774
12.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vietnam
India
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.79 ₫573.0K
$16.25 ₹1,565
34.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.24 ₫216.8K
$7.56 ₹728
8.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.94 ₫103.5K
$3.43 ₹330
14.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vietnam
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$243 ₫6.4M
$69.7 ₹6,713
248.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.7K ₫332.6M
$1,852 ₹178.3K
583.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vietnam
India
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.39 ₫956.7K
$25.59 ₹2,463
42.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ₫650.5K
$26.30 ₹2,532
-5.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.3 ₫2.3M
$44.89 ₹4,322
98.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.9 ₫2.2M
$33.20 ₹3,197
146.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vietnam
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$374 ₫9.8M
$174 ₹16.8K
114.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$247 ₫6.5M
$112 ₹10.8K
119.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$787 ₫20.7M
$405 ₹39.0K
94.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$535 ₫14.1M
$258 ₹24.8K
107.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,536 ₫93.0M
$1,263 ₹121.6K
179.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,825 ₫48.0M
$653 ₹62.8K
179.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vietnam
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$407 ₫10.7M
$424 ₹40.8K
-3.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.37
9.02
3.88%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Vietnam: July 14, 2026

Last update for India: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $335 in Vietnam, $127 in India. Capital cities: $329 in Hanoi vs $242 in Delhi.

National salary averages: $342 in Vietnam, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 164% higher in Vietnam.

Dining out costs 82% more in Vietnam.

Public transport is 29% more expensive in India.

Salaries are 16% higher in India, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.

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 $589 per month in India and $647 in Vietnam, there's a 10% 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 is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in India: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Vietnam is consistently higher than in India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
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.

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