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Living in Vietnam
Whether you are considering the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City or the more laid back atmosphere of the beach, the lifestyle in Vietnam is beyond comparison. The options of what to do are unlimited and even if you always dine out, go shopping regularly, and treat yourself to the spa once a week, saving money is easy to do.
Below is some general information about living in Vietnam, for more detailed information follow the links in the living section on the toolbar above.
| Restaurants | USD |
| Main course in Vietnamese restaurant | $1.00 - $4.00 |
| Main course in good foreign owned restaurant | $4.00 -$11.00 |
| Coffee | $0.50 |
| Coke | $0.50 |
| Beer (33cl. Bottle) | $1.00 |
| Glass of house wine | $4.00 |
| Bottle of house wine | $16.00 |
| Bars and pubs | USD |
| Beer | $1.00 - $3.00 |
| Coke | $1.00 |
| Gin and tonic | $2.00 - $3.00 |
| Cocktail | $2.00 - $9.00 |
| Whiskey | $2.00 - $9.00 |
| Food and drink | USD |
| Milk 1ltr / 2.11 pints | $1.00 |
| Eggs 12 large | $1.00 |
| Bread 1 loaf | $1.00 |
| Bottled water (1L) | $0.50 |
| Cheese (500g) | $4.00 |
| Cereal | $4.00 |
| Tea bags | $2.00 |
| Bacon (1kg) | $7.00 |
| Ketchup | $2.00 |
| Chocolate bar | $2.00 |
| Ice-cream (1L) | $3.00 |
| Rice - white long grain | $1.00 |
| Sugar - white 1kg | $0.50 |
| Bananas - 1kg | $0.50 |
| Cigarettes - 20 pack imported | $2.00 |
| Cigarettes - 20 pack local | $1.00 |
| Shampoo - 200ml | $2.00 |
| Deodorant - 50ml | $3.00 |
| Household costs per month per person | USD |
| Maid (cleaning, laundry, etc.) | $23.00 |
| Rent - shared house - per month | $190.00 - $460.00 |
| Rent - room only - per month (inc. elec.) | $270.00 - $370.00 |
| Rent - apartment - private | $360.00 - $650.00 |
| Rent - guesthouse | $270.00 - $370.00 |
| Electricity (inc. air-conditioning) - per month, p/p. | $30.00 |
| Telecommunications | USD |
| Telephone land line (monthly rental) | $10.00 |
| Internet monthly connection | $18.00 - $23.00 |
| Purchase of low cost mobile phone | $40.00 |
| 5 minute mobile phone call | $0.30 |
| Getting around the city | USD |
| Taxi - per km | $0.70 |
| Motorbike taxi - per ride | $1.00 |
| Motorbike rental - per month | $46.00 - $65.00 |
| Shopping for men | USD |
| Men's shirts - brand names, made for export | $10.00 - $14.00 |
| Casual trousers — brand names, made for export | $14.00 - $20.00 |
| Trousers - tailor-made | $19.00 - $23.00 |
| Suit - tailor-made | $100.00 |
| Shirt - tailor-made | $14.00 |
| Shopping for women | USD |
| Skirt/ dress - tailor made (not inc. material) | $11.00 -$14.00 |
| Shirt/ blouse — tailor-made (not inc. material) | $11.00 -$14.00 |
| Leisure, entertainment and health | USD |
| Mens shampoo and haircut | $6.00 |
| Womens shampoo and haircut | $11.00 |
| Gym membership - 6 months | $130.00 - $1,000.00 |
| Cinema ticket | $2.00 - $5.00 |
| Internet café - 30 minutes | $0.40 |
| Local doctor's pratice | $5.00 -$10.00 |
| Foreign run health centre | $40.00 -$55.00 |
Cost Guide tips
Vietnam currently uses three separate currencies, gold is used to purchase land and housing, US Dollars are used for luxury items (and is also quoted regularly for many goods), and Vietnam Dong which is used for day to day items. In this guide we have based everything on a US Dollar estimate with an exchange rate of 19,000VND to $1 USD. Prices in this guide are a rough estimate and the exchange rate and prices fluctuate. Bargaining is also a daily part of life in Vietnam, meaning that all prices listed above are estimates and you may need to haggle a little to get what you feel is a fair price. Prices also vary widely depending on how you choose to live, the average expat here usually spends between 8 to 10 million VND (about $500 to $650 USD) a month plus their rent payment. This means that the potential for saving is very high while living in Vietnam, in fact many recent University graduates are able to pay off their student loans while working in Vietnam. However if you want to splurge on some luxury, you won’t have to look far either with 5 star hotels, buffets, spas, and beauty treatment centres located in all major cities.