Ho Chi Minh City vs Madrid: cost of living for digital nomads

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Madrid, Spain, 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 52% cheaper than Madrid for a month of nomad living ($1,150 vs $2,400).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $500 in Ho Chi Minh City against $1,250 in Madrid.
  • Madrid scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 8/10).
  • Internet is faster in Madrid: 300 Mbps typical against 90 Mbps.
  • Ho Chi Minh City is tropical; Madrid is mediterranean.

Ho Chi Minh City wins 5 of the measured lines; Madrid wins 2.

LineHo Chi Minh CityMadrid
Monthly total (USD)$1,150$2,400
Rent$500$1,250
Food$320$520
Transport$40$55
Coworking$110$150
Safety (out of 10)8/109/10
Internet (Mbps)90300
Climatetropicalmediterranean
City sizemetrometro
Settinginlandinland
Nomad score (out of 10)9/109/10

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

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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.