Hoi An vs Vientiane: cost of living for digital nomads

Hoi An, Vietnam and Vientiane, Laos, 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

  • Vientiane is about 6% cheaper than Hoi An for a month of nomad living ($930 vs $990).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $350 in Vientiane against $400 in Hoi An.
  • Hoi An scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
  • Internet is faster in Hoi An: 100 Mbps typical against 60 Mbps.
  • Both have a tropical climate.

Hoi An wins 3 of the measured lines; Vientiane wins 5.

Frequently asked questions

Which city is cheaper, Hoi An or Vientiane?

Vientiane is cheaper: about $930/month against $990/month in Hoi An, roughly 6% less for a typical remote worker's budget.

Which city is safer, Hoi An or Vientiane?

Hoi An scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 7/10 for Vientiane.

Which has faster internet, Hoi An or Vientiane?

Hoi An has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 60 Mbps in Vientiane.

LineHoi AnVientiane
Monthly total (USD)$990$930
Rent$400$350
Food$280$270
Transport$40$30
Coworking$80$70
Safety (out of 10)8/107/10
Internet (Mbps)10060
Climatetropicaltropical
City sizesmallmid
Settingcoastinland
Nomad score (out of 10)8/106/10

Compare Hoi An with

Compare Vientiane 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. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Hoi An September 10, 2026, Vientiane September 11, 2026.