Ho Chi Minh City vs Medellin: cost of living for digital nomads
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Medellin, Colombia, 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 23% cheaper than Medellin for a month of nomad living ($1,150 vs $1,500).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $500 in Ho Chi Minh City against $720 in Medellin.
- Ho Chi Minh City scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Medellin: 100 Mbps typical against 90 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Ho Chi Minh City wins 6 of the measured lines; Medellin wins 2.
| Line | Ho Chi Minh City | Medellin |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,150 | $1,500 |
| Rent | $500 | $720 |
| Food | $320 | $380 |
| Transport | $40 | $45 |
| Coworking | $110 | $120 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 90 | 100 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | inland | mountain |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 9/10 | 10/10 |
Compare Ho Chi Minh City with
Compare Medellin 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.