Cost of living in Vietnam
The cost of living in Vietnam runs at about 30% of US prices, and the official urban poverty line for 2026 is 2,000,000 dong a person a month.
Official prices, where your money goes further, and a budget built from your own rent and insurance. Checked against official sources on Oct 8, 2026.
- Price level
- ~30% of the US Household consumption, 2024. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Poverty line, Urban areas
- VND 2,000,000/mo (about $80) Official, household of 1, 2026. Decree 07/2021; Decree 351/2025. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Poverty line, Rural areas
- VND 1,500,000/mo (about $60) Official, household of 1, 2026. Decree 07/2021; Decree 351/2025. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Tax on a foreign pension
- 0% Social security pensions are not taxed. PwC Tax Summaries. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Build your Vietnam budget
No official source tracks what expats pay in rent, and rent is the biggest line in any budget. So this starts from what is measured, the government's poverty line, and adds your own numbers.
Get rent from current listings in the area you like and a written quote for health insurance at your age.
Your monthly budget
$0
The official poverty line
Vietnam's government sets a national poverty line by income per person a month, used with a check of access to basic services such as health, housing and clean water. For 2026 it stays at 2,000,000 dong in urban areas and 1,500,000 dong in rural areas; from 2027 it rises to 2,800,000 and 2,200,000 dong.
| Area | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Urban areas | VND 2,000,000 (about $80) |
| Rural areas | VND 1,500,000 (about $60) |
Decree 07/2021; Decree 351/2025. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Cost of living questions
How much do I need a month to live in Vietnam?
It depends mostly on rent, which no official source tracks for expats. Add your rent and insurance quotes in the calculator above.
Is Vietnam cheaper than the US?
On average, yes: the World Bank puts household prices in Vietnam at about 30% of US levels (2024). Imported goods, cars and electronics can cost as much as at home or more.
Is it cheaper outside Urban areas?
Living costs are: the official poverty line for Rural areas costs VND 1,500,000 (about $60) against VND 2,000,000 (about $80) (2026).
Is Vietnam cheap to retire in?
Prices run at about 30% of US levels on the World Bank's comparison. The official poverty line for 2026 is 2,000,000 dong a person a month in urban areas, a floor for household income rather than a retiree budget.
What is the cost of living in Da Nang for retirees?
No official retiree budget exists for Da Nang. Vietnam's urban poverty line, which applies to cities such as Da Nang, is 2,000,000 dong a person a month in 2026, rising to 2,800,000 dong from 2027.
