Cost of Living in Vietnam (2026)

COL Index: 26.9% of U.S. national average · Updated for 2026

Cost of Living Index

26.9%

vs U.S. average (100%)

Relative Cost

Very Low

Compared to U.S.

Currency

VND

Salary Data

10 Jobs

Top 10 highest paying

Top 10 Jobs in Vietnam — COL-Adjusted Salaries

Rank	Job Title	Local Salary	COL-Adjusted (VND)
1	Surgeons / Doctors	36,743,972–120,183,410 VND/mo	136,601,200–446,786,000 VND/mo
2	Judges	30,875,144–101,045,924 VND/mo	114,782,600–375,640,600 VND/mo
3	Lawyers	25,006,315–81,908,439 VND/mo	92,964,000–304,495,200 VND/mo
4	Bank Managers	23,551,866–77,060,276 VND/mo	87,553,800–286,461,200 VND/mo
5	Chief Executive Officers	22,071,900–72,212,113 VND/mo	82,042,000–268,452,600 VND/mo
6	Chief Financial Officers	20,591,935–67,363,949 VND/mo	76,555,600–250,418,600 VND/mo
7	Orthodontists	19,851,952–65,067,451 VND/mo	73,787,000–241,884,200 VND/mo
8	College Professors	17,657,520–57,667,623 VND/mo	65,633,600–214,376,000 VND/mo
9	Pilots	14,723,106–48,226,464 VND/mo	54,737,000–179,273,200 VND/mo
10	Marketing Directors	13,243,140–43,378,301 VND/mo	49,225,200–161,264,600 VND/mo

* COL-adjusted salary is shown in VND, restated at the purchasing power implied by the cost of living index for Vietnam.

Salary vs. Cost of Living by Category in Vietnam

Category	Avg. Salary (Local)	COL-Adjusted (VND)	Purchasing Power
AI & Machine Learning	35,366,074 VND	131,470,400 VND	+272%
Finance & Accounting	34,957,807 VND	129,946,400 VND	+272%
Business Administration	38,963,921 VND	144,856,200 VND	+272%
Advertising	29,614,621 VND	110,083,600 VND	+272%
Architecture	30,045,852 VND	111,683,800 VND	+272%
Automotive & Car Industry	28,969,050 VND	107,696,000 VND	+272%
Aviation	35,672,273 VND	132,613,400 VND	+272%
Banking	41,898,335 VND	155,752,800 VND	+272%
Construction	28,667,954 VND	106,578,400 VND	+272%
Counseling	28,555,680 VND	106,146,600 VND	+272%
Customer Service	22,962,431 VND	85,369,400 VND	+272%
Education & Teaching	29,987,164 VND	111,480,600 VND	+272%
Energy	32,584,759 VND	121,132,600 VND	+272%
Engineering	27,351,294 VND	101,676,200 VND	+272%
Manufacturing	31,257,893 VND	116,205,000 VND	+272%
Fitness & Sports	20,793,516 VND	77,292,200 VND	+272%
Hospitality	29,737,101 VND	110,540,800 VND	+272%
Healthcare	77,391,992 VND	287,705,800 VND	+272%
Human Resources	28,895,052 VND	107,416,600 VND	+272%
Import & Export	22,449,547 VND	83,464,400 VND	+272%
Insurance	32,508,209 VND	120,853,200 VND	+272%
Information Technology	29,446,211 VND	109,474,000 VND	+272%
Law & Legal Services	45,623,766 VND	169,595,800 VND	+272%
Marketing	32,048,909 VND	119,151,400 VND	+272%
Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology	41,285,936 VND	153,466,800 VND	+272%
Public Relations	26,843,513 VND	99,796,600 VND	+272%
Procurement	29,647,793 VND	110,210,600 VND	+272%
Quality Control	26,026,981 VND	96,748,600 VND	+272%
Real Estate	34,472,991 VND	128,143,000 VND	+272%
Sales	34,932,291 VND	129,870,200 VND	+272%
Telecommunications	25,981,051 VND	96,596,200 VND	+272%

Cost of Living in Vietnam — Overview

The cost of living in Vietnam is 26.9% of the U.S. national average. This makes Vietnam a more affordable destination compared to the United States. Your salary goes further here, especially for housing, food, and services.

Purchasing Power in Vietnam

A salary with the purchasing power of the U.S. national average works out at approximately 9,442,373,800 VND in Vietnam for the same standard of living. This means your money goes further in Vietnam, making it an attractive destination for remote workers and expats.

Cost of Living Categories in Vietnam

Housing

Housing in countries with a cost index of 26.9% tends to be the largest expense, often consuming 30-40% of income. Rent, utilities, and property costs vary significantly between urban and rural areas.

Food

Groceries and dining out in countries at 26.9% COL can vary widely. Local markets offer lower prices while imported goods cost more. Cooking at home is generally more affordable.

Transportation

Public transit and fuel costs in a 26.9% COL country. Many countries have efficient public transportation systems that reduce the need for personal vehicles.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs and insurance in 26.9% COL countries. Some countries have universal healthcare systems that significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

Education

Education and childcare costs vary greatly with COL index. Public education is often subsidized while international schools charge premium fees.

Utilities

Electricity, water, internet, and other essential services. Weather patterns affect utility usage and costs significantly.

Clothing

Apparel costs in 26.9% COL environments. Imported brands cost more while local clothing is generally affordable.

Entertainment

Leisure activities and entertainment expenses. Costs for cinema, dining, and recreational activities scale with the overall COL index.

Salary Overview — Top 10 Jobs

Monthly salary in VND · singhyogendra.com.np

Surgeons / Doctors36,743,972 – 120,183,41078,463,691 VND
Judges30,875,144 – 101,045,92465,960,534 VND
Lawyers25,006,315 – 81,908,43953,457,377 VND
Bank Managers23,551,866 – 77,060,27650,306,071 VND
Chief Executive Officers22,071,900 – 72,212,11347,142,007 VND
Chief Financial Officers20,591,935 – 67,363,94943,977,942 VND
Orthodontists19,851,952 – 65,067,45142,459,702 VND
College Professors17,657,520 – 57,667,62337,662,572 VND
Pilots14,723,106 – 48,226,46431,474,785 VND
Marketing Directors13,243,140 – 43,378,30128,310,721 VND

singhyogendra.com.np

Top Paying Jobs in Vietnam

See the full list of highest paying careers and salaries in Vietnam.

Best Paying Jobs in Vietnam

Take-Home Pay in Vietnam

Estimate your after-tax salary and see how much you keep after deductions in Vietnam.

Take-Home Pay in Vietnam

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living in Vietnam?

The cost of living in Vietnam is 26.9% of the U.S. national average. This means it is less expensive than living in the average U.S. city.

How is the cost of living in Vietnam calculated?

The cost of living index is based on prices for housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and other goods and services compared to the U.S. national average of 100.

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Vietnam?

Salaries in Vietnam should be adjusted by the cost of living index to keep the same purchasing power. A salary equivalent to the U.S. national average corresponds to roughly 9,442,373,800 VND in Vietnam.