Ho Chi Minh City vs Koh Phangan: cost of living for digital nomads
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Koh Phangan, Thailand, 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
- Ho Chi Minh City is about 8% cheaper than Koh Phangan for a month of nomad living ($1,150 vs $1,250).
- Both score 8/10 on safety.
- Internet is faster in Ho Chi Minh City: 90 Mbps typical against 60 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Ho Chi Minh City wins 5 of the measured lines; Koh Phangan wins 1.
| Line | Ho Chi Minh City | Koh Phangan |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,150 | $1,250 |
| Rent | $500 | $500 |
| Food | $320 | $350 |
| Transport | $40 | $60 |
| Coworking | $110 | $100 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 90 | 60 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | small |
| Setting | inland | island |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 9/10 | 8/10 |
Koh Phangan
Thai island with a fast-growing nomad scene around Sri Thanu — beaches, wellness, low cost.
Compare Ho Chi Minh City with
Compare Koh Phangan 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.