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

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Panama City, Panama, 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 36% cheaper than Panama City for a month of nomad living ($1,150 vs $1,800).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $500 in Ho Chi Minh City against $850 in Panama City.
  • Ho Chi Minh City scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Panama City: 100 Mbps typical against 90 Mbps.
  • Both have a tropical climate.

Ho Chi Minh City wins 7 of the measured lines; Panama City wins 1.

LineHo Chi Minh CityPanama City
Monthly total (USD)$1,150$1,800
Rent$500$850
Food$320$460
Transport$40$50
Coworking$110$140
Safety (out of 10)8/107/10
Internet (Mbps)90100
Climatetropicaltropical
City sizemetrometro
Settinginlandcoast
Nomad score (out of 10)9/108/10

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Panama City

Panama City, Panama.

Compare Ho Chi Minh City with

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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.