Living costs in Vietnam
Updated April 05, 2023
Table of Contents
Currency in Vietnam
Vietnam’s currency is the Vietnam Dong (VND). It is the most common use currency in Vietnam’s daily life and you should exchange some before entering the country. The currency exchange rate between VND and major foreign currencies (for reference only) is as below:Exchanging money

Credit card

ATMs

Living costs in Vietnam
Apart from our program fees that help you get settled in Vietnam, it is suggested that you always carry a certain amount of pocket money to survive here during the time of your program. In most cases, how much you spend depends mostly on what you want to purchase or the service level you want to use. However, in general, the living cost in Vietnam affordable and is around 70% lower than in the US. Do you believe with just US $500/month you will basically have everything you need for your new life abroad, from housing, food, transportation to leisure activities? The following tables reveal the reasons why you can make it happen in Vietnam:Accommodation
By accommodation, we mean a safe and private room which usually consists of the following conditions and is a great shelter for your new life in Vietnam. It is not a place for you to just sleep, but truly your second home abroad. You can check out further details and pictures of the different types of rooms you can choose for your stay in Vietnam here.
Transportation
Once you are in Vietnam, our program coordinator and local buddies will guide you to use some of the most popular means of transportation in the country which you can easily commute to work and travel around by yourself. Fare for each of them is shown as below:
Food & drinks
Even though it mostly depends on what you want to order and whether you want to go out or eat at home, a basic meal in Vietnam will usually cost you from USD 2 to USD 5 only, including. Below are some of the most famous things to eat and drink in Vietnam, you might want to take them as a reference then:
Further information & additional resources
Helpful notes:- An all-in-one guide by one of our interns
- What to do if you have one day in Ho Chi Minh City
- Costs are calculated according to 2021’s current prices, based on city means of transportation and accommodations located in the city center of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang. There will be differences for other cases.
- For a stay shorter than 1 month, there will be hotel choices for accommodation.
- The pricing is for daily expenditures only. Click here for more information about Travelling around Vietnam.
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