Vietnam is 8.6% cheaper than Thailand

[ASEAN NOW News]

Overall, the cost of living in Vietnam is lower than in Thailand, even in a major city such as Ho Chi Minh City.

 

As an ex-pat, you can expect to pay about 20 to 30% less than you would in Thailand, although not everything will be more affordable.

 

This data is according to figures published in June 2022 by My Life Elsewhere.

 

There are quite a few advantages in living in Vietnam compared to Thailand.

 

For example, you would save on transport costs, entertainment, sports and childcare, but expect to pay a bit more on housing and eating out.

 

Groceries to be fair are almost identical.

 

Of course, this is just a snapshot look at costs, and you are likely to be able to save more by shopping around at food markets or even when condo hunting.

 

PAY 2.8% MORE FOR RESTAURANTS

	THAILAND	VIETNAM
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant	$1.81 ฿61.28	$2.06 ₫46,802	+14.1%
Fast food combo meal McDonalds, or similar	$5.71 ฿193.82	$4.84 ₫109,800	-15.4%
Bottle of Coca-Cola (0.33 liter)	$0.64 ฿21.72	$0.58 ₫13,202	-9.2%
Bottle of water (0.33 liter)	$0.32 ฿10.86	$0.39 ₫8,843	+21.6%
Average			+2.8%

 

 

PAY 0.8% MORE FOR GROCERIES

	THAILAND	VIETNAM
Bread 1 loaf	$1.34 ฿45.51	$0.90 ₫20,407	-33.0%
Local cheese (500 grams)	$7.53 ฿255.49	$7.20 ₫163,492	-4.4%
Milk (1 liter)	$1.66 ฿56.21	$1.43 ₫32,473	-13.7%

 

Eggs 1 dozen	$1.55 ฿52.70	$1.42 ₫32,341	-8.3%
Boneless chicken breast (1 kg)	$2.15 ฿72.94	$3.65 ₫82,782	+69.6%
Apples (1 kg)	$2.39 ฿81.12	$2.75 ₫62,468	+15.0%
Bananas (1 kg)	$1.16 ฿39.25	$1.10 ₫24,906	-5.2%
Oranges (1 kg)	$1.71 ฿57.87	$1.60 ₫36,284	-6.3%
Tomatoes (1 kg)	$1.22 ฿41.47	$0.95 ₫21,538	-22.4%
Potatoes (1 kg)	$1.17 ฿39.74	$1.22 ₫27,589	+3.7%
Onions (1 kg)	$0.91 ฿30.87	$1.04 ₫23,629	+14.3%
Average			+0.8%

 

 

PAY 17.9% LESS FOR TRANSPORTATION

	THAILAND	VIETNAM
Gasoline (1 liter)	$1.23 ฿41.60	$1.11 ₫25,287	-9.2%
Monthly public transit pass	$23.16 ฿785.57	$7.61 ₫172,857	-67.1%
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition)	$33,407.71 ฿1,133,189.57	$41,229.46 ₫936,073,553	+23.4%
Taxi trip in downtown area (8 km)	$6.73 ฿228.41	$5.48 ₫124,379	-18.6%
Average			-17.9%

---

PAY 4.0% MORE FOR HOUSING

	THAILAND	VIETNAM
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$19.03 ฿645.50	$10.34 ₫234,818	-45.7%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$289.36 ฿9,814.94	$370.83 ₫8,419,258	+28.2%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$182.40 ฿6,187.07	$231.89 ₫5,264,842	+27.1%
Utilities for two (65 m2 apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$43.42 ฿1,472.66	$46.24 ₫1,049,838	+6.5%
Average			+4.0%

---

PAY 29.6% LESS FOR CHILDCARE

	THAILAND	VIETNAM
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly	$382.69 ฿12,980.79	$170.02 ₫3,860,038	-55.6%
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters	$10,907.98 ฿369,998.79	$10,518.96 ₫238,822,474	-3.6%
Average			-29.6%

 

PAY 36.3% LESS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS

	THAILAND	VIETNAM
Domestic/local beer	$1.92 ฿65.01	$0.90 ₫20,546	-52.8%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$1.72 ฿58.20	$1.83 ₫41,442	+6.4%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$3.52 ฿119.27	$1.33 ₫30,289	-62.1%
Monthly membership at local gym	$44.86 ฿1,521.58	$23.21 ₫526,952	-48.3%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$5.07 ฿171.84	$3.82 ₫86,671	-24.6%
Average			-36.3%

 

 

PAY 15.8% MORE FOR CLOTHING

	THAILAND	VIETNAM
Regular jeans Levi's brand	$46.03 ฿1,561.39	$36.93 ₫838,372	-19.8%
Regular dress from H&M or similar store	$28.05 ฿951.33	$35.21 ₫799,394	+25.5%
Running shoes Nike or Adidas	$78.52 ฿2,663.50	$92.94 ₫2,110,185	+18.4%
Men's business shoes (leather)	$64.24 ฿2,178.90	$89.47 ₫2,031,217	+39.3%
Average			+15.8%

 

PAY 4.0% MORE FOR HOUSING

	THAILAND	VIETNAM
Internet connection 50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl	$19.03 ฿645.50	$10.34 ₫234,818	-45.7%
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area	$289.36 ฿9,814.94	$370.83 ₫8,419,258	+28.2%
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center	$182.40 ฿6,187.07	$231.89 ₫5,264,842	+27.1%
Utilities for two (65 m2 apartment) including electric, gas, water, heating	$43.42 ฿1,472.66	$46.24 ₫1,049,838	+6.5%
Average			+4.0%

 

 

PAY 36.3% LESS FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS

	THAILAND	VIETNAM
Domestic/local beer	$1.92 ฿65.01	$0.90 ₫20,546	-52.8%
Cappuccino in mid-range area	$1.72 ฿58.20	$1.83 ₫41,442	+6.4%
Pack of cigarettes Marlboro or similar	$3.52 ฿119.27	$1.33 ₫30,289	-62.1%

 

Monthly membership at local gym	$44.86 ฿1,521.58	$23.21 ₫526,952	-48.3%
Movie ticket to theater/cinema	$5.07 ฿171.84	$3.82 ₫86,671	-24.6%
Average			-36.3%

 

The statistics used to build this comparison by My Life Elsewhere website is calculated using data from users just like you.

 

They average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Page last updated: June 2022.

 

I am sure many of you may have your own rates to compare, so feel free to add your own prices and rates.

 

Join our 3 x a week Vietnam News, Travel and Expat information newsletter and keep up to date. https://aseannow.com/newsletter.php

 

 

[Excel]

So it seems to me if you went Vietnam to solely travel on public transport and eat boneless chicken breast you could live like a millionaire compared to Thailand. ????

[BritManToo]

23 minutes ago, ASEAN NOW News said:

As an ex-pat, you can expect to pay about 20 to 30% less than you would in Thailand, although not everything will be more affordable.

I've found booze and cannabis cheaper in Vietnam, but accommodation and hookers more expensive.

If you're a drunk pot-head, Vietnam will probably be cheaper than Thailand.

[OneMoreFarang]

Do you remember that cute girl from Good Morning Vietnam.

She is Thai.

Nuff said

 

 

[Onerak]

7 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Do you remember that cute girl from Good Morning Vietnam.

She is Thai.

Nuff said

May be Thai actors were easy to recruit than compared to Vietnam. It's a a more than 30 years old movie. 

[KhunLA]

33 minutes ago, Onerak said:

May be Thai actors were easy to recruit than compared to Vietnam. It's a a more than 30 years old movie. 

Or because ...

"The film was mostly shot in Bangkok, Thailand, and at the time, several hundred male students from the International (American) School of Bangkok (ISB) were recruited as extras to perform in the multitude of shots showing American GI's throughout the film. As a courtesy, Robin Williams actually came to ISB and put on a stand up routine for all students in the 10th grade and above."

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093105/trivia/

[teelac777]

Expatistan says Ho Chi Minh City is 24% cheaper than Bangkok.

Looks like the stats here were taken from Expatistan, categories are identical. 

Some comparisons are not really accurate, e.g. every business and many residences offer free WiFi in VN.