Hoi An vs Punakha: cost of living for digital nomads
Hoi An, Vietnam and Punakha, Bhutan, 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
- Punakha is about 7% cheaper than Hoi An for a month of nomad living ($925 vs $990).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $330 in Punakha against $400 in Hoi An.
- Punakha scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 8/10).
- Internet is faster in Hoi An: 100 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
- Hoi An is tropical; Punakha is temperate.
Hoi An wins 3 of the measured lines; Punakha wins 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Hoi An or Punakha?
Punakha is cheaper: about $925/month against $990/month in Hoi An, roughly 7% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Hoi An or Punakha?
Punakha scores higher on safety: 9/10 against 8/10 for Hoi An.
Which has faster internet, Hoi An or Punakha?
Hoi An has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 40 Mbps in Punakha.
| Line | Hoi An | Punakha |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $990 | $925 |
| Rent | $400 | $330 |
| Food | $280 | $290 |
| Transport | $40 | $30 |
| Coworking | $80 | $60 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 100 | 40 |
| Climate | tropical | temperate |
| City size | small | small |
| Setting | coast | mountain |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 8/10 | 4/10 |
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. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Hoi An September 10, 2026, Punakha September 11, 2026.