Hanoi vs Seoul: cost of living for digital nomads
Hanoi, Vietnam and Seoul, South Korea, 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 52% cheaper than Seoul for a month of nomad living ($1,050 vs $2,200).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Hanoi against $1,000 in Seoul.
- Seoul scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 8/10).
- Internet is faster in Seoul: 250 Mbps typical against 90 Mbps.
- Hanoi is temperate; Seoul is continental.
Hanoi wins 6 of the measured lines; Seoul wins 2.
| Line | Hanoi | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,050 | $2,200 |
| Rent | $450 | $1,000 |
| Food | $300 | $550 |
| Transport | $40 | $80 |
| Coworking | $90 | $170 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 90 | 250 |
| Climate | temperate | continental |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | inland | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
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.