Cost of living in Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam · Southeast Asia · VND · Very cheap

For long-stay travellers and remote workers in Ho Chi Minh City, the realistic monthly figure is roughly $2,346 all-in. That assumes a long-stay rental (~60% of nightly mid-range accommodation), local food prices, public transit and miscellaneous — but excludes flights, visas, and tourist-style activities. For a comparable short-trip figure, see the Ho Chi Minh City travel cost page.

Monthly breakdown

Line itemMonthly (USD)
Long-stay rent equivalent$1,116
Food (eating out + groceries mix)$750
Local transport$240
Miscellaneous$240
All-in monthly$2,346

Local currency: VND. FX snapshot: 2025-05.

Short-trip context

For comparison, a week-long tourist visit at the mid-range tier in shoulder season runs roughly $840 for one person — a much higher per-day rate than the long-stay number above, because hotels charge nightly rates, tourists rely on taxis more, and short-trip activities are bundled into every day.

  • Tourist day rate (mid-range, shoulder): $120/day
  • Long-stay implied day rate: $78/day

Comparable cities

  • Cheaper alternative: Chiang Mai — ~$2,130/mo
  • Similar cost: Cairo — ~$2,346/mo
  • Pricier alternative: Bali — ~$2,508/mo