Cost of Living in Vietnam
What a month actually costs, with rent and salary context
Vietnam is inexpensive by any international comparison, and the gap between a foreign salary and local prices is the main financial reason people stay. Housing in central Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi has risen, and international schooling and private healthcare are the two costs that can undo the arithmetic for a family.
| Statistical authority | General Statistics Office of Vietnam source |
| Serviced 1-bed, central districts | Commonly around USD 500–900 per month |
| Local apartment outside the centre | Commonly around USD 250–450 per month |
| Monthly living cost, single person | Commonly around USD 800–1,300 excluding schooling |
| Personal income tax | Progressive, rising to 35% for residents source |
An indicative monthly budget for one person
| Item | Ho Chi Minh City (USD) | Da Nang (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, serviced 1-bedroom | 700 | 400 |
| Utilities and internet | 70 | 55 |
| Groceries | 230 | 190 |
| Eating out and coffee | 180 | 140 |
| Transport, motorbike or ride-hailing | 60 | 45 |
| Local health insurance contribution | 45 | 40 |
| Indicative total | 1,285 | 870 |
Where the costs actually land
- International school fees are the single largest expense for families and can exceed the whole of an ordinary local salary per child.
- Private hospital care and evacuation cover, discussed under healthcare, are a recurring rather than occasional cost.
- Imported goods, wine, cheese and cars carry high duties, and a car is dramatically more expensive than in most countries.
- Domestic help, transport, eating out and utilities are inexpensive enough that the overall figure remains low even with the above.
Tax residence
An individual present in Vietnam for roughly 183 days in a calendar year or a rolling twelve-month period, or with a regular residence here, is normally treated as tax resident and taxed on worldwide employment income at progressive rates rising to thirty-five per cent. Non-residents are taxed at a flat rate on Vietnam-sourced income.
Employers of foreign staff commonly handle the filing, but the obligation is personal, and tax residence can begin before the work permit does.
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.