Cost of Living Comparison Between Vung Tau and Hanoi Cost of Living Comparison Between Vung Tau and Hanoi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $612 in Vung Tau versus $803 in Hanoi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,007 in Vung Tau versus $1,246 in Hanoi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,401 in Vung Tau versus $1,688 in Hanoi.

Living in Vung Tau costs roughly 24% less than in Hanoi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Vung Tau 55% lower, Hanoi 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vung Tau
Hanoi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04 ₫53.1K
$2.03 ₫52.8K
0.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.10 ₫393.7K
$20.81 ₫542.5K
-27.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.87 ₫101.0K
$4.40 ₫114.8K
-12.05%
Cappuccino
$1.79 ₫46.6K
$1.89 ₫49.1K
-5.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₫10.5K
$0.45 ₫11.9K
-11.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ₫8,032
$0.28 ₫7,223
10.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.75 ₫19.5K
$1.13 ₫29.5K
-33.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 ₫26.6K
$1.90 ₫49.5K
-46.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vung Tau
Hanoi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 ₫34.9K
$1.47 ₫38.2K
-8.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 ₫28.5K
$1.01 ₫26.4K
7.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 ₫23.1K
$0.80 ₫20.9K
10.00%
Eggs
$1.61 ₫42.0K
$1.44 ₫37.6K
11.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.78 ₫124.6K
$10.48 ₫273.3K
-54.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.56 ₫92.8K
$3.76 ₫97.9K
-5.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.83 ₫256.2K
$9.79 ₫255.3K
0.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.12 ₫81.3K
$3.07 ₫80.0K
1.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 ₫32.2K
$1.07 ₫27.8K
14.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.66 ₫17.3K
$1.33 ₫34.6K
-50.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.25 ₫32.7K
$1.09 ₫28.4K
14.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 ₫29.3K
$0.98 ₫25.6K
15.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ₫29.9K
$1.11 ₫29.0K
3.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 ₫16.6K
$0.59 ₫15.5K
8.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 ₫11.8K
$0.55 ₫14.4K
-18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.21 ₫31.5K
$1.37 ₫35.6K
-11.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.63 ₫329.2K
$12.27 ₫319.9K
2.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.80 ₫20.9K
$0.95 ₫24.7K
-15.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₫24.3K
$1.67 ₫43.5K
-44.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Vung Tau
Hanoi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.37 ₫9,641
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.26 ₫241.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.69 ₫18.0K
$0.79 ₫20.7K
-12.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 ₫15.5K
$0.57 ₫14.8K
3.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ₫30.7K
$2.27 ₫59.1K
-48.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 ₫22.5K
$0.83 ₫21.6K
3.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1K ₫812.0M
$30.1K ₫785.7M
3.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4K ₫791.3M
$30.3K ₫789.3M
0.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vung Tau
Hanoi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.42 ₫1.2M
$83.9 ₫2.2M
-44.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.77 ₫150.3K
$5.12 ₫133.4K
12.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.87 ₫205.1K
$8.70 ₫226.8K
-9.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vung Tau
Hanoi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.79 ₫437.7K
$24.54 ₫639.7K
-31.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.39 ₫244.8K
$9.30 ₫242.4K
0.97%
Cinema Ticket
$3.49 ₫90.9K
$4.29 ₫111.9K
-18.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vung Tau
Hanoi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$113 ₫3.0M
$790 ₫20.6M
-85.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,669 ₫252.1M
$27.9K ₫728.4M
-65.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vung Tau
Hanoi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.84 ₫543.2K
$50.4 ₫1.3M
-58.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.89 ₫492.4K
$26.16 ₫681.9K
-27.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.3 ₫2.4M
$83.9 ₫2.2M
7.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.0 ₫1.8M
$82.2 ₫2.1M
-17.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vung Tau
Hanoi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$302 ₫7.9M
$410 ₫10.7M
-26.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$201 ₫5.2M
$286 ₫7.5M
-29.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ₫19.2M
$820 ₫21.4M
-10.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$508 ₫13.3M
$531 ₫13.8M
-4.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,376 ₫192.3M
$4,714 ₫122.9M
56.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,378 ₫114.1M
$2,785 ₫72.6M
57.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vung Tau
Hanoi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$580 ₫15.1M
$504 ₫13.1M
15.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.64
8.45
2.25%

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

Last update for Vung Tau: August 29, 2026

Last update for Hanoi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $302 in Vung Tau and $410 in Hanoi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vung Tau pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Vung Tau vs $21.00 in Hanoi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $193 per month, with Vung Tau cheaper across the board.

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
Vung Tau vs Hanoi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Vung Tau and in Hanoi?
Vung Tau and Hanoi differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($612 vs $803 including rent). Vung Tau is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Vung Tau or Hanoi?
Average pay runs 15% higher in Vung Tau, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Vung Tau and in Hanoi?
Rent for a central apartment: $302 in Vung Tau versus $410 in Hanoi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Vung Tau and Hanoi?
Childcare runs $113 in Vung Tau versus $790 in Hanoi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Vung Tau – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $21.00 in Hanoi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $800 go in Vung Tau compared to Hanoi?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Vung Tau gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Vung Tau and Hanoi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Vung Tau or Hanoi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Vung Tau and Hanoi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Vung Tau or Hanoi?
Expats usually find Vung Tau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Hanoi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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