Wondering how far your salary goes in Ho Chi Minh City? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
1-bed apartment (central wards)₫15–30M / mo
Meal, mid-range restaurant₫150–300k
Street-food bowl of phở₫40–60k
Coffee₫35k
Est. single-person monthly₫15M (excl. rent)
Good to know
Population
≈14 million since 1 July 2025, when the city absorbed Bình Dương and Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu; ≈9.9 million in the old city area
Administration
No district tier since 1 July 2025 — the ward (phường) is the unit on your paperwork, and pre-2025 district addresses are obsolete
Official language
Vietnamese, in the southern accent; English is common in the central and Thảo Điền wards and thin elsewhere
Currency
Vietnamese đồng (VND)
Power plug
Types A, C and F, 220 V at 50 Hz
Tipping
Not expected; rounding up is kind
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Ho Chi Minh City checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.