Vietnam (VN)
Vietnam is a dynamic, rapidly developing Socialist Republic stretching 1,650km down the eastern coast of the Indochinese Peninsula — a country of extraordinary geographical diversity, from the karst mountains of the north and the Red River Delta, through the stunning coastline of the Central region, to the vast Mekong Delta in the south.
Capital: Hanoi
Region: Asia
Language: Vietnamese
Currency: VND (₫)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 22)
Emergency: 113
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Cost of Living
Real prices in Vietnam — 2026 data in VND.
22
Cost of living index
(100 = NYC reference)
Very affordable compared to major global cities. Your money goes a long way here.
Food & Groceries
Rice (Jasmine, 5kg bag) VND 70,000–120,000
Fresh pork (500g) VND 60,000–90,000
Fresh chicken (1kg) VND 70,000–110,000
Fresh fish (500g, local variety) VND 40,000–120,000
Eggs (10 pack) VND 30,000–50,000
Tomatoes (1kg) VND 20,000–40,000
Bread (local bakery loaf) VND 25,000–50,000
Milk (1L, pasteurised, Vinamilk) VND 35,000–60,000
Imported butter (250g, Lurpak) VND 95,000–130,000
Imported cheese (200g, supermarket) VND 150,000–400,000
Bottle of wine (supermarket, Chilean) VND 280,000–600,000
Water (1.5L bottle) VND 8,000–15,000
Dining Out
Bowl of phở at street stall VND 35,000–70,000
Bánh mì sandwich VND 20,000–40,000
Cơm tấm plate (broken rice) VND 40,000–80,000
Bún bò Huế (spicy beef noodle) VND 40,000–80,000
Gỏi cuốn (fresh spring rolls, 2 pcs) VND 25,000–50,000
Bia hơi (draught beer, per glass) VND 5,000–15,000
Cà phê sữa đá (iced milk coffee) VND 20,000–45,000
Latte at specialty coffee shop (The Coffee House, Highlands) VND 55,000–90,000
Lunch at local restaurant (set menu) VND 80,000–150,000/person
Dinner at mid-range restaurant (2 dishes + drink) VND 200,000–400,000/person
Pizza at international restaurant VND 180,000–350,000
Craft beer at expat bar VND 65,000–130,000
Glass of house wine at restaurant VND 150,000–300,000
Rent
Studio apartment (serviced), HCMC District 1 VND 12,000,000–20,000,000/month
1BR apartment (local market), HCMC District 2 (Thảo Điền) VND 10,000,000–18,000,000/month
1BR apartment (serviced), HCMC District 3/7 VND 15,000,000–25,000,000/month
2BR apartment (expat condo), HCMC Bình Thạnh/Thủ Đức VND 20,000,000–40,000,000/month
3BR villa (Thảo Điền, HCMC District 2) VND 50,000,000–120,000,000/month
Studio, Hanoi Old Quarter / Hoàn Kiếm VND 8,000,000–15,000,000/month
1BR apartment, Hanoi Tây Hồ (West Lake) VND 12,000,000–22,000,000/month
2BR apartment, Hanoi Cầu Giấy / Đống Đa VND 15,000,000–30,000,000/month
3BR serviced apartment, Hanoi Tây Hồ VND 30,000,000–60,000,000/month
Traditional Hanoi house (nhà ống) rental VND 20,000,000–50,000,000/month
Transport
GrabBike within city centre (5km) VND 20,000–35,000
GrabCar within city centre (5km) VND 65,000–100,000
Taxi (metered Vinasun/Mai Linh, 10km) VND 100,000–160,000
Bus (city single ticket) VND 7,000–15,000
Metro single ticket (Hanoi/HCMC, 5 stations) VND 12,000–20,000
Petrol (RON95, per litre) VND 23,000–26,000
Motorbike rental (per month) VND 1,500,000–3,000,000
Train Hanoi–Da Nang (soft sleeper) VND 350,000–650,000
Train Hanoi–HCMC (soft sleeper) VND 700,000–1,200,000
Health & Insurance
GP consultation (international clinic) VND 600,000–1,500,000
GP consultation (public hospital, outpatient) VND 40,000–200,000
Specialist consultation (Vinmec, FV Hospital) VND 700,000–2,000,000
Dental check + cleaning (local clinic) VND 300,000–600,000
Dental check (international clinic) VND 800,000–2,000,000
Blood test panel (Vinmec/FV) VND 400,000–1,500,000
Chest X-ray (private hospital) VND 300,000–700,000
International health insurance (basic expat plan/year) VND 15,000,000–50,000,000/year
Pharmacy prescription medicine (generic) VND 50,000–500,000 depending on drug
Utilities
Electricity (with A/C, HCMC, summer) VND 600,000–1,800,000
Electricity (with A/C, Hanoi, winter — reverse cycle) VND 400,000–1,200,000
Water VND 50,000–150,000
Internet (fibre, 100Mbps) VND 200,000–280,000
Mobile SIM plan (4G, 5GB/day, 30 days) VND 100,000–200,000
LPG gas cylinder (12kg) VND 440,000–520,000
Childcare
International school fees (primary, per year) VND 250,000,000–500,000,000
International school fees (secondary, per year) VND 375,000,000–875,000,000
Bilingual school (per year) VND 80,000,000–200,000,000
Vietnamese state school (public) Free
Private tutor (per hour) VND 150,000–400,000
Leisure
Gym membership (local chain, per month) VND 300,000–600,000
Gym membership (California Fitness / premium) VND 900,000–2,000,000/month
Swimming pool access (public, per session) VND 30,000–60,000
Yoga class (drop-in) VND 150,000–350,000
Full-body massage (1 hour, local spa) VND 200,000–400,000
Cinema ticket (CGV, standard) VND 85,000–150,000
Haircut (local barber) VND 50,000–120,000
Women's haircut (salon) VND 150,000–600,000
Cost of Living
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