Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Cost of Living in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Quick answer: As of 2026, living in Ho Chi Minh City costs approximately $790 per month for one person, with city-centre one-bedroom rent averaging $608. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighborhood, and exchange rates.

Ho Chi Minh City is a city in Vietnam, where a single person can expect to spend about $790 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $608 per month, or $323 outside the centre. Internet is fast at around 274 Mbps median download speed. On safety, Ho Chi Minh City scores 68/100 — generally safe for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 88°F and winter highs around 87°F, with roughly 355 sunny days a year.

Top for CoworkingTop for Medical TourismTop for ShoppingTop for Local MarketTop for Night MarketTop for CasinoFamily friendly
Monthly Cost$790≈ $26/day
1BR Rent (Centre)$608
Internet274 Mbps
Safety68/100
Avg Temp88°F

Ho Chi Minh City Cost of Living Breakdown

🍽️ Dining

Inexpensive Restaurant$1.98
Mid-Range Restaurant (2 People)$20.03
McDonald's Combo Meal$4.63
Cappuccino$1.50
Domestic Beer (Restaurant)$1.16
Bottled Water (Restaurant)$0.33

🛒 Groceries

Milk (1 Liter)$1.50
Bread (1 lb Loaf)$0.88
Eggs (12)$1.46
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)$1.65
Apples (1 lb)$1.23
Bananas (1 lb)$0.53
Tomatoes (1 lb)$0.53
Potatoes (1 lb)$0.52
Water (1.5L Bottle)$0.49
Wine (Mid-Range Bottle)$13.35
Cigarettes (Marlboro)$1.35

🚌 Transportation

One-Way Ticket$0.27
Monthly Transit Pass$11.57
Taxi Start$0.77
Taxi (1 Mile)$1.02
Gasoline (1 Liter)$0.86
VW Golf (New)$34,711.98

⚡ Utilities & Tech

Basic Utilities (Monthly)$96.84
Mobile Phone Plan$5.92
Broadband Internet$9.54

🎬 Lifestyle

Gym Membership (Monthly)$20.55
Cinema Ticket$3.47
Preschool (Monthly)$345.66
Intl. Primary School (Annual)$17,962.96

👔 Clothing

Jeans (Levi's 501)$47.25
Nike Running Shoes$97.19

🏠 Housing

Rent 1BR (City Centre)$607.91
Rent 1BR (Outside Centre)$322.54
Rent 3BR (City Centre)$1,162.33
Rent 3BR (Outside Centre)$681.09
Buy Price/sqft (Centre)$398.17
Buy Price/sqft (Outside)$180.49

📊 Summary

Avg Monthly Net Salary$515.57
Mortgage Interest Rate8.59%
Family of 4 (Monthly, excl. rent)$1,662.30
Single Person (Monthly, excl. rent)$467.90

Cost data sourced from Numbeo.

Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Ho Chi Minh City

Internet274 Mbps
Safety68/100
Healthcare63/100
Public Transit40/100
Walkability60/100
Nightlife55/100
Food Scene90/100
Fine Dining30/100
Coffee Culture82/100
Air Quality54/100
Green Spaces30/100
Culture62/100
Beaches70/100
Hiking55/100
Surfing0/100
Coworking Spaces55

Neighborhoods in Ho Chi Minh City

District 1 · Thao Dien (D2) · District 3 · District 7

Communities & Expat Groups

Saigon Digital Nomads

Ho Chi Minh City FAQ

How much does it cost to live in Ho Chi Minh City?

A single person should budget around $790 per month in Ho Chi Minh City, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs. A family of four typically needs about $1,662 per month.

How much is rent in Ho Chi Minh City?

A one-bedroom apartment in central Ho Chi Minh City averages $608 per month, dropping to about $323 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $1,162.

Is Ho Chi Minh City safe?

Ho Chi Minh City scores 68/100 on safety, which is generally safe. Tourist safety is rated 60/100.

How fast is the internet in Ho Chi Minh City?

Median download speeds in Ho Chi Minh City are around 274 Mbps — fast for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 55 coworking spaces in the city.

Does Vietnam offer a digital nomad visa?

Vietnam does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. US passport holders should check current entry requirements before traveling.

What is the weather like in Ho Chi Minh City?

Ho Chi Minh City sees summer highs around 88°F and winter highs near 87°F, with about 355 sunny days and 221 rainy days per year.

Ho Chi Minh City in our travel guides

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