Cost of Living Comparison Between Vietnam and Italy Cost of Living Comparison Between Vietnam and Italy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $698 in Vietnam versus $1,720 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,099 in Vietnam versus $2,626 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,500 in Vietnam versus $3,531 in Italy.

Living in Vietnam costs about 59% less than in Italy on average.

Vietnam (48% below) and Italy (29% above) straddle the global median.

Internal cost variation is higher in Italy: monthly costs span $1,191 to $2,443, compared to $480$804 in Vietnam. City choice carries more weight in Italy.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vietnam
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ₫51.6K
$17.16 €14.96
-88.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.36 ₫562.1K
$81.4 €70.9
-73.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.66 ₫122.7K
$11.60 €10.11
-59.83%
Cappuccino
$1.63 ₫42.9K
$1.98 €1.73
-17.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₫12.9K
$3.00 €2.62
-83.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ₫7,651
$1.36 €1.18
-78.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.91 ₫24.1K
$5.92 €5.16
-84.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 ₫41.4K
$5.25 €4.58
-70.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vietnam
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 ₫37.8K
$1.70 €1.49
-15.29%
White Bread (500g)
$0.89 ₫23.6K
$2.37 €2.07
-62.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ₫24.9K
$3.03 €2.65
-68.65%
Eggs
$1.53 ₫40.4K
$3.95 €3.44
-61.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.67 ₫307.2K
$16.66 €14.53
-29.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ₫96.4K
$12.26 €10.68
-70.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.96 ₫262.1K
$20.06 €17.49
-50.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 ₫72.9K
$2.55 €2.23
8.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 ₫28.4K
$2.20 €1.92
-50.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 ₫35.0K
$2.75 €2.40
-51.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 ₫29.3K
$3.22 €2.81
-65.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 ₫28.7K
$1.94 €1.69
-43.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ₫30.2K
$1.82 €1.59
-36.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ₫18.7K
$1.48 €1.29
-52.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₫12.8K
$0.50 €0.43
-2.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.38 ₫36.2K
$7.13 €6.21
-80.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.71 ₫255.5K
$7.37 €6.43
31.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₫21.3K
$1.76 €1.53
-53.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 ₫38.4K
$2.53 €2.20
-42.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Vietnam
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₫7,834
$1.99 €1.73
-84.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.77 ₫204.5K
$42.32 €36.90
-81.64%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 ₫19.6K
$5.67 €4.94
-86.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 ₫17.3K
$1.52 €1.32
-56.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.91 ₫103.0K
$34.94 €30.46
-88.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 ₫22.0K
$2.09 €1.83
-59.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K ₫943.0M
$32.7K €28.5K
9.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ₫878.8M
$32.9K €28.7K
1.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vietnam
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.5 ₫1.8M
$227 €198
-69.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.51 ₫145.0K
$13.58 €11.84
-59.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.60 ₫226.5K
$31.57 €27.52
-72.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vietnam
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.70 ₫571.1K
$57.7 €50.3
-62.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.20 ₫215.9K
$25.23 €22.00
-67.50%
Cinema Ticket
$3.80 ₫100.1K
$10.59 €9.24
-64.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vietnam
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$244 ₫6.4M
$568 €495
-57.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.3K ₫324.4M
$10.5K €9,187
16.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vietnam
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.61 ₫963.6K
$90.7 €79.0
-59.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.71 ₫650.3K
$40.49 €35.30
-38.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.9 ₫2.3M
$99.8 €87.0
-11.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.4 ₫2.1M
$130 €113
-37.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vietnam
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$376 ₫9.9M
$865 €754
-56.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$246 ₫6.5M
$672 €586
-63.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$801 ₫21.1M
$1,523 €1,328
-47.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$532 ₫14.0M
$1,078 €940
-50.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,533 ₫93.0M
$3,767 €3,284
-6.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,778 ₫46.8M
$2,360 €2,058
-24.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vietnam
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$417 ₫11.0M
$1,949 €1,699
-78.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.37
4.41
112.47%

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

Last update for Vietnam: July 27, 2026

Last update for Italy: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $335 in Vietnam, $743 in Italy. Capital cities: $326 in Hanoi vs $1,334 in Rome.

National salary averages: $341 in Vietnam, $1,912 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 122% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 270% more in Italy.

Public transport is 529% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 461% higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Italy.

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 Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Vietnam?
At $1,817 per month in Italy and $642 in Vietnam, there's a 183% 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 Vietnam: 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 Italy is consistently higher than in Vietnam across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,200 a realistic budget in Italy or in Vietnam?
In Vietnam, $1,200 covers most cities easily; in Italy 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 Italy or to Vietnam?
It depends on what you're after: Vietnam wins on affordability; Italy 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

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