For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $766 in Vietnam, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half 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 Pakistan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Vietnam versus $483 in Pakistan.
Vietnam $766
Pakistan $483
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,214 in Vietnam versus $736 in Pakistan.
Vietnam $1,214
Pakistan $736
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,662 in Vietnam versus $988 in Pakistan.
Vietnam $1,662
Pakistan $988
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Vietnam: monthly costs span $437 to $889, compared to $291–$607 in Pakistan. City choice carries more weight in Vietnam.
🌍
Living in Vietnam is roughly 59% more expensive than in Pakistan on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Vietnam 44% lower, Pakistan 65% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Vietnam
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95₫50.2K
$2.11PKR 583
-7.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.34₫499.0K
$13.97PKR 3,866
38.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.67₫120.5K
$5.50PKR 1,523
-15.09%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.22PKR 616
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.31PKR 1,193
-
Cappuccino
$1.64₫42.3K
$1.97PKR 546
-16.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49₫12.8K
$0.38PKR 105
28.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29₫7,606
$0.23PKR 63.7
26.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.93₫24.1K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58₫40.8K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vietnam
Pakistan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54₫39.6K
$0.87PKR 240
77.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02₫26.3K
$0.60PKR 165
70.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.96₫24.6K
$1.21PKR 335
-20.66%
Eggs
$1.55₫40.0K
$1.21PKR 334
28.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.55₫298.1K
$5.42PKR 1,500
113.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.81₫98.4K
$2.83PKR 783
34.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.99₫257.7K
$5.06PKR 1,400
97.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86₫73.9K
$1.20PKR 331
138.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14₫29.5K
$0.64PKR 176
78.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35₫34.7K
$0.87PKR 241
55.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25₫32.3K
$0.54PKR 149
131.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15₫29.6K
$0.33PKR 91.8
248.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18₫30.4K
$0.39PKR 108
202.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67₫17.2K
$0.37PKR 104
81.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52₫13.4K
$0.41PKR 113
26.83%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.08PKR 575
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.07PKR 296
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.36PKR 652
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.45₫37.5K
$2.14PKR 593
-32.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.42₫243.2K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83₫21.4K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51₫39.1K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Vietnam
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30₫7,645
$0.20PKR 55.0
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.91₫281.5K
$10.01PKR 2,768
8.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.81₫20.8K
$0.88PKR 243
-7.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56₫14.5K
$0.56PKR 155
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.26₫58.4K
$2.22PKR 614
1.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89₫23.0K
$1.29PKR 357
-31.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K₫780.9M
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
70.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K₫749.3M
$24.3KPKR 6.7M
19.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vietnam
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.4₫1.9M
$110PKR 30.5K
-33.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.74₫148.1K
$5.41PKR 1,496
6.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.47₫244.4K
$15.79PKR 4,369
-40.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vietnam
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.24₫548.1K
$18.50PKR 5,119
14.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.95₫231.0K
$11.09PKR 3,067
-19.30%
Cinema Ticket
$3.97₫102.3K
$4.32PKR 1,195
-8.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vietnam
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$445₫11.5M
$56.4PKR 15.6K
689.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.6K₫505.9M
$1,511PKR 418.2K
1197.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vietnam
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.30₫1.1M
$17.56PKR 4,859
140.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.17₫675.3K
$23.58PKR 6,523
10.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.3₫2.2M
$76.7PKR 21.2K
12.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.3₫2.0M
$35.08PKR 9,706
117.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vietnam
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425₫11.0M
$150PKR 41.5K
183.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$275₫7.1M
$87.4PKR 24.2K
215.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$897₫23.1M
$320PKR 88.7K
180.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$576₫14.9M
$190PKR 52.5K
203.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,799₫98.0M
$970PKR 268.5K
291.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,054₫53.0M
$520PKR 144.0K
294.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vietnam
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$413₫10.6M
$192PKR 53.2K
114.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.75
14.1
-37.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vietnam: October 27, 2026
Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 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
$275 36%
Pakistan
$87 18.1% ↓ 68.3%$188
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vietnam
$193 25.2%
Pakistan
$94 19.5% ↓ 51.2%$99
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vietnam
$104 13.6%
Pakistan
$69 14.3% ↓ 33.8%$35
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vietnam
$89 11.6%
Pakistan
$131 27.2% ↑ 48.3%$43
🍽Eating Out
Vietnam
$60 7.9%
Pakistan
$59 12.3% ↓ 1.3%$0.8
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vietnam
$29 3.8%
Pakistan
$27 5.6% ↓ 7%$2
🚌Getting Around
Vietnam
$16 2.1%
Pakistan
$14 3% ↓ 7.8%$1.2
🏠Accommodation & Living
Vietnam
$576 34.6%
Pakistan
$190 19.2% ↓ 67%$386
🛒Groceries & Markets
Vietnam
$448 27%
Pakistan
$228 23% ↓ 49.2%$221
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Vietnam
$231 13.9%
Pakistan
$153 15.5% ↓ 33.8%$78
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vietnam
$94 5.7%
Pakistan
$137 13.9% ↑ 45%$42
🍽Eating Out
Vietnam
$213 12.8%
Pakistan
$186 18.9% ↓ 12.5%$27
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Vietnam
$67 4.1%
Pakistan
$65 6.6% ↓ 2.9%$1.9
🚌Getting Around
Vietnam
$32 1.9%
Pakistan
$29 3% ↓ 8.3%$2.6
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $381 in Vietnam, $137 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $429 in Hanoi vs $261 in Islamabad.
💰National salary averages: $343 in Vietnam, $185 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 178% higher in Vietnam.
⭐Dining out costs 54% more in Vietnam.
⭐Public transport is 43% more expensive in Pakistan.
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 Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Pakistan and Vietnam?
At $483 per month in Pakistan and $766 in Vietnam, Pakistan comes out about 37% cheaper. 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 $381 in Vietnam and $137 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Should I move to Pakistan or to Vietnam?
It depends on what you’re after: Pakistan wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.