Country topic
Cost of living in Vietnam
Prices overall in Vietnam were about 0.28 of United States prices at market exchange rates in 2025 (World Bank price level index 28.01, with the United States at 100). It is an economy-wide average, not a budget for one household. [Cost of living C1] A private guide (verified 13 August 2026) gives one-bedroom rents in Hanoi of VND 10 million to 18.75 million a month in Tay Ho, 8.75 million to 15 million in Hoan Kiem and 5 million to 10 million in Dong Da, and an all-in budget of US$700 to US$1,200 for a single expat in a central area. It cites no sources. An agent advert seen on 15 October 2026 asked VND 21 million a month for a 58 m² one-bedroom in Tay Ho (minimum one-year lease), above that guide's Tay Ho range. [C2] [C10]
What we found
The research, with its sources.
Research information, not advice. Rules change, so check the source before you act on one.
- Prices overall in Vietnam were about 0.28 of United States prices at market exchange rates in 2025 (World Bank price level index 28.01, with the United States at 100). It is an economy-wide average, not a budget for one household. [Cost of living C1]
- A private guide (verified 13 August 2026) gives one-bedroom rents in Hanoi of VND 10 million to 18.75 million a month in Tay Ho, 8.75 million to 15 million in Hoan Kiem and 5 million to 10 million in Dong Da, and an all-in budget of US$700 to US$1,200 for a single expat in a central area. It cites no sources. An agent advert seen on 15 October 2026 asked VND 21 million a month for a 58 m² one-bedroom in Tay Ho (minimum one-year lease), above that guide's Tay Ho range. [C2] [C10]
- The same guide gives Ho Chi Minh City one-bedroom rents of VND 10 million to 20 million in Thao Dien, 8 million to 16 million in District 7 and 4 million to 10 million in Tan Binh and Phu Nhuan, and an all-in budget of US$800 to US$1,400. Its District 1 figures differ between sections. Agent adverts seen on 15 October 2026 asked VND 18 million and 28 million in Thao Dien, 26 million in An Khanh (Thu Thiem) and 32 million in Da Kao, District 1, each for a one-bedroom on a minimum one-year lease; the Masteri Thao Dien advert excludes VAT and a management fee. [C3] [C11] [C12] [C13] [C14]
- A private guide gives Da Nang one-bedroom rents of VND 7.5 million to 13.75 million in My Khe and An Thuong and 3.5 million to 8 million in Lien Chieu, with an all-in budget of US$600 to US$1,000. Its Hai Chau figures differ between sections. An agent advert seen on 15 October 2026 asked VND 14 million for a 40 m² one-bedroom in Phuoc My (Son Tra), with water, service fee and cleaning included. [C4] [C15]
- Private guides give monthly rents of VND 5 million to 10 million in Hoi An's Old Town and 8.75 million to 12.5 million near Nha Trang's Tran Phu Beach, with all-in budgets of US$667 to US$1,200 in Hoi An and US$600 to US$1,000 in Nha Trang. Both guides' figures differ between sections. [C5] [C6]
- The Hanoi guide lists groceries at US$90 to US$160 a month, utilities (electricity, water, internet) US$50 to US$100 and dining out US$70 to US$140. The Ho Chi Minh City guide lists groceries at US$100 to US$180, utilities US$60 to US$120 and dining out US$80 to US$160. All are ranges for a comfortable single expat. [C2] [C3]
- The guides put a typical Grab ride at VND 20,000 to 70,000 in Hanoi and VND 20,000 to 80,000 in Ho Chi Minh City, city buses at VND 6,000 to 20,000 a ride, and semi-automatic motorbike rental at US$50 to US$100 a month. [C2] [C3]
- The Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City guides put private health insurance at US$100 to US$250 a month for a single expat. WHO's service coverage index for Vietnam is 71 out of 100 (2023). Canada says good health care is limited, private clinics are better equipped but can be expensive, and medical evacuation is very expensive. [C2] [C7] [C8]
- Vietnam had 23.71 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people in 2024. That counts subscriptions, not speeds. The guides quote city averages of about 50 Mbps in Hoi An to 150 Mbps in Ho Chi Minh City without sources. [C9] [C5] [C3]
The Fernshore Index
How the Index grades the cost of living.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
97 of 100Strong
Price level 0.280 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Vietnam. Checked 15 October 2026.
The country
More on Vietnam.
Topics
More about Vietnam.
Questions about Cost of living in Vietnam.
How do prices in Vietnam compare with the United States?
Prices overall in Vietnam are about 0.28 of United States prices at market exchange rates (World Bank price level index, 2025). That is an economy-wide average, not a budget for one household, and it does not show what rent, food or any single item costs.
What do rents cost in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City?
A private guide (verified 13 August 2026) gives one-bedroom rents of VND 10 million to 18.75 million a month in Hanoi's Tay Ho and 10 million to 20 million in Ho Chi Minh City's Thao Dien. Agent adverts seen on 15 October 2026 asked VND 21 million in Tay Ho and 18 million to 28 million in Thao Dien.
What do rents cost in Da Nang, Hoi An and Nha Trang?
Private guides (verified 13 August 2026) give one-bedroom rents of VND 7.5 million to 13.75 million in Da Nang's My Khe, 5 million to 10 million in Hoi An's Old Town and 8.75 million to 12.5 million near Nha Trang's Tran Phu Beach. Each guide's figures differ between sections, so treat them as rough.
How much does a month in Vietnam cost for one person?
A private guide's all-in estimates for a comfortable single expat in a central area are US$700 to US$1,200 in Hanoi, US$800 to US$1,400 in Ho Chi Minh City, and US$600 to US$1,000 in Da Nang. They cite no sources, and costs for couples or families are unknown here.
What does healthcare or health insurance cost in Vietnam?
A private guide puts private health insurance at US$100 to US$250 a month in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for a single expat. Canada says private clinics are better equipped but can be expensive and medical evacuation is very expensive. Treatment prices and cover for older people are unknown here.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [VN C1] Price level index (GDP), Vietnam, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 28.01 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [Cost of living C1] Price level index (GDP), Vietnam, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C2] Living in Hanoi: cost of living, neighborhoods and expat tips, expatlife.ai (private expat guide, not official). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C10] One-bedroom apartment for rent, Soho Heritage West Lake (Tay Ho), Dot Property (private property portal; agent advert, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C3] Living in Ho Chi Minh City: cost of living, neighborhoods and expat tips, expatlife.ai (private expat guide, not official). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C11] One-bedroom apartment for rent, Masteri Thao Dien (Thao Dien), Dot Property (private property portal; agent advert, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C12] One-bedroom apartment for rent, Thao Dien Green (Thao Dien), Dot Property (private property portal; agent advert, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C13] One-bedroom apartment for rent, The Marq (Da Kao, District 1), Dot Property (private property portal; agent advert, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C14] One-bedroom apartment for rent, The River Thu Thiem (An Khanh), Dot Property (private property portal; agent advert, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C4] Living in Da Nang: cost of living, neighborhoods and expat tips, expatlife.ai (private expat guide, not official). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C15] One-bedroom apartment for rent, Duong Dinh Nghe (Phuoc My, Son Tra), Dot Property (private property portal; agent advert, not official). Checked 16 October 2026.
- [C5] Living in Hội An, Vietnam 2026: cost of living, neighborhoods and expat tips, expatlife.ai (private expat guide, not official). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C6] Living in Nha Trang, Vietnam: cost of living, neighborhoods and expat tips, expatlife.ai (private expat guide, not official). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C7] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C8] Vietnam travel advice and advisories, Government of Canada (travel.gc.ca). Checked 15 October 2026.
- [C9] Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Vietnam, International Telecommunication Union, via the World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026.