Colombo vs Ho Chi Minh City: cost of living for digital nomads
Colombo, Sri Lanka and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Colombo is about 9% cheaper than Ho Chi Minh City for a month of nomad living ($1,050 vs $1,150).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Colombo against $500 in Ho Chi Minh City.
- Ho Chi Minh City scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Ho Chi Minh City: 90 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Colombo wins 4 of the measured lines; Ho Chi Minh City wins 3.
| Line | Colombo | Ho Chi Minh City |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,050 | $1,150 |
| Rent | $450 | $500 |
| Food | $300 | $320 |
| Transport | $40 | $40 |
| Coworking | $90 | $110 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 40 | 90 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | coast | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 9/10 |
Compare Ho Chi Minh City with
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.