Ho Chi Minh City vs Kuala Lumpur: cost of living for digital nomads
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 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 12% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur for a month of nomad living ($1,150 vs $1,300).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $500 in Ho Chi Minh City against $550 in Kuala Lumpur.
- Ho Chi Minh City scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Kuala Lumpur: 100 Mbps typical against 90 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Ho Chi Minh City wins 7 of the measured lines; Kuala Lumpur wins 1.
| Line | Ho Chi Minh City | Kuala Lumpur |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,150 | $1,300 |
| Rent | $500 | $550 |
| Food | $320 | $350 |
| Transport | $40 | $60 |
| Coworking | $110 | $120 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 90 | 100 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | inland | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 9/10 | 8/10 |
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.