Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam · Asia

Ho Chi Minh City

Tropical & warmFoodNightlifeCulture

Costs last verified

Part of the Cost of Living Abroad guide

Monthly cost

$1,150
Rent
$50043%
Food
$32028%
Transport
$403%
Coworking
$11010%
Other
$18016%
Cheaper than 74% of our costed cities
Compare / source

Estimate for a solo remote worker — verify current local prices.

Studying here? About $780/mo

Studying here? Reckon on roughly 35% less. Shared halls instead of a private flat is most of it, with a meal plan, a student travel pass and a campus you do not have to rent a desk in doing the rest. Phone, insurance and a social life cost the same either way.

At a glance

Safety8/10
Internet90 Mbps
Nomad score9/10

Healthcare, taxes & language

The decisive three for a longer stay in Vietnam.

Healthcare

State health insurance is compulsory for foreign employees on a Vietnamese labour contract of 12 months or more (since 1 July 2025), with exceptions such as intra-company transferees. We found no official route into the scheme for remote workers, the self-employed or retirees, so plan on private cover unless you have a qualifying local job.

Taxes

Taxed. Residents pay PIT on income from inside and outside Vietnam.

English

Low — English is common in tourism, hotels and international business in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, but limited in everyday and rural settings.

Getting in — Vietnam

Full Vietnam guide

Top visa routes, ranked by route score — stay, ease and speed.

Student

DH Student Visa

68SCORE

Up to 1 year, renewable

67SCORE

Up to 90 days, single or multiple entry

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Ho Chi Minh City at a glance

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam costs about $1,150 USD a month for a solo remote worker, with rent at 43% of that budget. The biggest budget line is rent at $500 and the smallest is transport at $40. In our data internet averages 90 Mbps and safety scores 8/10.

Costs verified on November 6, 2026 (Eastern Time).

Questions about Ho Chi Minh City

How much does it cost to live in Ho Chi Minh City?

A solo remote worker in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam spends an estimated $1,150 USD/month on rent, food, transport and coworking, based on our cost-of-living breakdown.

How much is rent in Ho Chi Minh City?

Rent in Ho Chi Minh City is an estimated $500 USD/month in our cost-of-living breakdown.

How fast is the internet in Ho Chi Minh City?

Internet in Ho Chi Minh City averages 90 Mbps in our cost-of-living breakdown.

How much does coworking cost in Ho Chi Minh City?

A coworking space in Ho Chi Minh City costs an estimated $110 USD/month in our cost-of-living breakdown.

Is Ho Chi Minh City safe?

Ho Chi Minh City has a safety score of 8/10 in our cost-of-living breakdown.

What is Ho Chi Minh City's nomad score?

Ho Chi Minh City scores 9/10 on our nomad score, which weighs cost, safety and internet quality for remote workers.

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