Her cost of living report came in at $750 for an average month, which includes a studio apartment with maid and laundry service, and a yoga membership. They detail every expense category in their video, as well as provide a comparison to Chiang Mai, Thailand cost of living for their lifestyle (navigate to minute 7:27 to see how they stacked up). However, the first thing you need to know about Vietnam is that it is a one-party communist country with a predominantly agricultural economy. If you are vegan, there are options but you will have to work to find them. For many expats, dining out is cheaper than cooking. Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant. Most people struggle with moving abroad, investing and doing business in Asia. Generally speaking, cookingmeals without meat is always cheaper. However, you can translate this, notarize, and convert your drivers license to a local version. Living cost in vietnam : Hanoi or Saigon or countryside. This could be your very expensive camera dying on you, your wallet getting stolen or the need to book an urgent flight back home, all of which can really set you back. Hi Viet Tran, thanks for dropping by! Rent in Vietnam is, on average, 77.2% lower than in United States. The most iconic sites are quite touristy (think Ha Long Bay), but many other cities are just as pretty but without the huge tourist factor. However, watch out for scam/unlicensed mototaxis posing as Grab and others to con tourists. Expats in Vietnam are generally subjected to a personal income tax (PIT), and the rates are considerably low when compared to the rest of the world. Im sure youve been there, or at least thought of it. What draws in expats, and remote workers, are its less-crowded settings and coffee culture. Motorbike taxis are one of themost common forms of public transportation in Vietnam. Vietnamis generally safe from violent crime, with only petty crimes (like theft) an issue. You also have various choices and the supermarket has a lot of choices for those who want to cook. You are looking at Cost of Living Index by country 2023. Buying your groceriesat the local dry and/or wet marketis alwayscheaperthan shopping in chain supermarkets. Not at a drastic rate, of course. Really appreciate the details on living in Vietnam. For example during TET (Lunar New Year), the prices are higher. One of Vietnams largest cities, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), is a go-to destination for young digital nomads, travel bloggers, and budget travelers. You should also note that the cost of living may differ from city to city. Traffic is intense in big cities and motorcycle accidents are also common; its advisable to carry expat insurance with worldwide coverage or solid travel insurance policy that covers such accidents. Your expenses may be up to $1,000/month if you want to be able to travel, enjoy the nightlife a bit more. If you are not too picky and would be willing to settle for very basic accommodations, you can rent a very nice room for as low as $200.00 a month. The average salary of an ESL teacher in Vietnam is around $1,200 USD per month for a first-time teacher. You can find the different promotion codes for each provider online. July 26, 2021 By: Adam Fayed Expat cost of living in Vietnam 2021 - that will be the topic of today's article. Always ask for the visa to be attached to your passport as there have been instances where travelers with valid visas have been denied entry to Vietnam. It is always best to rent a short term stay or Airbnb during the first days in Vietnam, just to get an idea on the ground before making any commitments. There may be a bit of a learning curve in terms of whats what and how to cook using local ingredients, but theres no better way to learn about the local culture than eating like them. The best thing to do would be to make friends with a local to bring you around in your first few months to show you the ropes in Vietnam, and what the local prices are to avoid being overcharged. When looking for a place to live, its a painless process. Their total costs for a couple came in at a cost of living of $1,251 per month. Like HCMC, Hanoi contains great facilities, from healthcare, shopping malls, epic nightlife and leisure activities. Cost of living in HCMC is also a bit higher, with expats reporting to live from 700 USD to as much as 1,300 USD per month. However, most expats report spending 1,200 USD per month for two people. Check out this detailed article for everything you need to know to startteaching English online. Movetoasia is a community for (future) expatriates, investors or business leaders who wish to improve their personal or professional life by moving to Asia. United States Comparison Cost of living in Vietnam compared to United States These prices were last updated on July 13, 2023. Bars and clubs also carry wine for 4 USD per glass. We have listed ways to find an ESL job here: https://movetovietnam.com/teaching-english-in-vietnam-you-need-to-know/#tab-con-7. Are you willing to live in a small studio apartment or share a room with others? If youre willing to spend a bit more, 10-12 million dong ($440 $525) will get you a spacious and modern serviced one-bedroom apartment in a prime location. Barring the slow internet speeds, it is an upcoming economy that offers that balance I am personally drawn to. Learn how your comment data is processed. SIM cards are very cheap in Vietnam. To summarize it here, some initial costs you need to consider are: Add up all those things, and you are looking at a budget of around $2000 to 3000+ to move to and get set up in Vietnam, PLUS the cost of your flight. As this small coastal town grows, the retiree communityis also growing. Cost of Living Affordability is a major plus point to living in Vietnam. The cost of living in Vietnam is relatively low. However, the protests happened despite the warning as citizens complained of the high cost of living. But of course, this would depend on other variables such as your line of work and qualifications. Forfancier restaurants, think about $6 and up. His rent set him back $220 a month, and unfortunately he doesnt detail much about where the rest of his expenses went, but with those expenses its safe to assume that he was on an the upscale side of budget backpacker. It also depends on what lifestyle you are planning to have. Cost Of Living Index (Current) Cost Of Living Index By Country. For those who would like to cook their own food, you can expect to shell out anywhere from $1-$3 per meal. Booze lovers rejoice: beer is extremely cheap in Vietnam. The first factor would be the lack of convenience. Foreigners have more options for food and entertainment that are friendlier for expats. If yes, you can expect to pay around $200 deposit plus the first months rental fee ($40) and gas ($10). Da Nang is wealthier than many other Vietnamese cities, and the city is generally clean and quite modern. Plus, whats not to love about year-round warm weather? Most people struggle with moving abroad, investing and doing business in Asia. WARNING! A monthly membership looks at free coffee every day, 24/7 access and even accommodation packages for those late nights. This helps to facilitate money transfers through a foreign bank. The most common food delivery apps in Vietnam are ShopeeFood, Baemin, Grab Food, and Go Food. Glad you found the post useful. Cost of Living in Vietnam: How Much Does it Cost to Live in Hanoi? No matter how conscious you are of your budget you should always have time for different kinds of entertainment and activities. Smaller towns also have internet access, but it can vary a bit more than in the two largest cities. And as a primarily Buddhist nation, Vietnam offers a beautiful contrast of cultural holidays and religious rituals. Expect to pay $1-$2for a dish fromstreet vendors,which you can in almost any commercial or residential area. Hanoi is the most advertised place in Vietnam.Many foreigners own companies huge high rise apartment buildings.Rents start at 20,000,000 per month for a one bedroom one bath apartment up to 100,000,000 vnd for larger apartments.Ho Chi Minh used to be much cheaper but it's quickly catching up with Hanoi.Foreign investments are the reasons why it's become unaffordable in general for both cities. Coffee at fancy cafes will only cost you $2.65. The surveys were conducted by numbeo.com from May, 2011 to February, 2014. To avoid this situation, I recommend that you find a place that is managed by a respectable real estate company or agent (best done through personal recommendations). Insurance for a period of three months with a coverage of $35,000 can cost you $85. Cost is very low for items such as books, cinema, sport and theatre tickets. These estimates are currently based on just a small amount of data. Beer can cost you anywhere from $0.88 to $1.95. They report a averaging $1,292 for each month, which is incredibly similar to what the other Hoi An expat founds, so you know that youll likely come in similarly if you value the same lifestyle! Although there are some touristy spots, it is far less congested than Hanoi or Saigon, and the tourist-factor ensures that you can find expat amenities. Tickets cost as low as $.25 for local buses within the city). And yes, that is definitely a typo! It is more modern than Ha Noi and the weather here is on the more tropical side. Vietnam is stunning. Again, thank you! Before arriving in Vietnam, download a celiac translation card in Vietnamesetomake eating less stressful. Happy Cow has an extensive list of restaurants throughout the country, and this is a good guide totraditional foods you can almost always order vegetarian. Keen to live the digital nomad dream while travelling the world? If you want to get around the city, do consider buying a motorbike or bicycle. This occurrence is not only unique to Vietnam, it can happen anywhere. The faith-based . Healthcare For me, healthcare is an important factor if Im looking at staying somewhere for an extended period. Like most places across Southeast Asia, the cost of living in Vietnam is pretty cheap. How 'Sound of Freedom' Became an Unlikely Box Office - Variety Especially for newcomers in town, co-working spaces offer a sense of community in the sense that youre all most likely on the same journey and it is easier to make friends and meet new people to do things in Vietnam with. Read our guide to keeping a pet in Vietnam. Vietnam is the second-largest coffee distributor in the world, just behind Brazil. Amy and Andrew are British expats, who works as English teachers in Hanoi. Hence, it is best to always save some for a rainy day, and thank me later. Vietnam has become increasingly popular as an expat destination in recent years, and it is now recognized as a safe place for foreigners to live and work. central reference city (that happens to be Prague). The quality of expat life in Da Nang has raised the bar when comparing other expat destinations around the world. The costs of internet service here are quite cheap, to the point that when the apartment or house is vacant, owners often dont even bother having it removed or turned off. I will be packing everything own into a backpack and plan on winging it day to day while Im there. James is a single 30-something male. Select date: Select display column: Select Region: Africa America Asia Europe Oceania More information about these indices Search: Surveys show that expats living in Vietnam earn an average of $6,000 USD per month, and it is rated as one of the better countries to live and work in. It is based on 21,624 prices entered by 2,800 different people. You arent going to save the world overnight, but you might as well be part of the solution and not the problem. What Does it Cost to Live in Vietnam The Nitty Gritty, Moving to Vietnam What You Need To Know. Wherever you might be looking into moving, the cost of living is one of the first things that you should look at. This country had 3500 entries in the past 12 months by 339 different contributors. Isnt that the life? Note, however, that these prices are subject to fluctuations that can vary from time to time. Its easy to find a job teaching English, and many expats living there will tell a tale of coming for a year and staying for life. For long-term stays, do note that you would require a work permit or business visa to officially sign up for an apartment. You can expect there to be a small fee for delivery, or no fee, but the prices will be a little higher than if you go to the restaurant in person. Choosing the company you will subscribe to depends on what you need in your plan. I highly recommend that you take a research trip to Vietnam before you decide to go through the process of moving your life there. Here is the ranking order of destinations from the most expensive to the cheapest: 1) Thailand, 2) Vietnam, 3) Cambodia. Almost all apartments and housing in Vietnam have this installed and ready to go when you move in. Driving a car willtake you forever to get to where you want to go. From north to south, a huge range of traditional dishes ensure you always have something new to eat. Additionally, most landlords offer rental discounts for year-long leases. For example, a flight from Ho Chi Minh to London at a weeks notice can cost you USD $1,600. Required fields are marked *. Prices in current USD. The cost of living in Ha Noi is a bit higher than most places in Vietnam. There are also ride-sharing apps like Uber and Grab. The flip side is that alcohol is quite cheap. Wish the beer is as cheap as $0.05 though! We recommend using 12Go for buying tickets in Vietnam that includes intercity buses, trains, and even domestic flights. Otherwise, try to find a place that only requires a one-month deposit, so it wont be such a big loss if you dont get it back. Thanks a lot friend. There are two main options for a digital nomad in Vietnam looking to work remotely. However, you must know that riding a bicycle in Vietnam comes with risks. Enjoy exploring cultural highlights including temples and historical sites, before dining on delicious Western cuisine and partying the night away. Here, you can live like a king on a paupers budget. Nha Trang is another smaller town has been receiving traction from foreigners. If you love the city life and have the means to afford it, Ho Chi Minh City is a perfect spot. US vs Vietnam: Cost of Living, Salary & Prices comparison Navigating the street food scene is overwhelming at first, but this Jodi shares an extensive post covering everything you need to know about eating street food in Saigon. I remember when I was making my last few steps in deciding to move to Vietnam, I went to various sites to look at how it compared to my home country. the United States ranked 5th vs 139th for Vietnam in the list of the most expensive countries in the world. It's a snapshot of the current indices at a specific point in time.