Hanoi vs San Jose: cost of living for digital nomads
Hanoi, Vietnam and San Jose, Costa Rica, 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
- Hanoi is about 45% cheaper than San Jose for a month of nomad living ($1,050 vs $1,900).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Hanoi against $900 in San Jose.
- Hanoi scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Hanoi: 90 Mbps typical against 80 Mbps.
- Hanoi is temperate; San Jose is tropical.
Hanoi wins 7 of the measured lines; San Jose wins 0.
| Line | Hanoi | San Jose |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,050 | $1,900 |
| Rent | $450 | $900 |
| Food | $300 | $480 |
| Transport | $40 | $55 |
| Coworking | $90 | $140 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 90 | 80 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | inland | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 8/10 | 8/10 |
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.