Compared to other cities in Asia or even South East region, Hanoi is quite cheap to live in. Especially when you plan to retire or just want to write a new chapter of your life, this place is definitely worth your consideration. The living cost in Hanoi is not similar to that in Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces in Vietnam. How much you spend here also depends on your lifestyle, your eating and shopping habits, type of housing you desire to settle in, kind of transportation means you use, etc. The following list will give you a general ideas of how much common things in Hanoi cost including food, accommodation, transportation, phone, etc. that can help you plan your budget before moving here.
Housing prices
It’s interesting that there is a variety of housing types can meet demands of both people afford cheap living and those want to enjoy luxury life. Finding a nest in Hanoi is hard or easy sometimes is affected by the timing and location you are moving to. Check out the list of common housing types and their price below. This is the average price, it can vary on different locations, sizes and included services, amenities.
The rent cost ranges from $300 to $2,000 based on particular type. For example, a serviced apartment is between $400 and $600, an apartment is around $450 (basic) to $1,000 (high-end) and a house should be over $800. Location also has an effect on the unit’s price. For instance, an 80-sqm apartment in Vinhomes Metropolis (Ba Dinh District), Sun Grand City 69B Thuy Khue or D’. Le Roi Soleil Tan Hoang Minh Quang An can be double as that in Discovery Complex (Cau Giay District) because they are near numerous public amenities.
All these kinds of housing are offered on Alphahousing website where you can shop for whatever you can afford. From $500 apartment unit in the city center to $2,000 villa on the suburb, They all cover in our listings and be supportive in case you want to deal with the landlord for some percents off.
Apart from the rent, you may pay monthly electricity and water bills in case your landlord does not include them in the monthly rent. Price of electricity is 1,500 – 4,000 VND/KW while that of tap water is 6,000 – 8,000 VND per cubic metre. A lease often prolongs at least 6 months and it is considered normal that the lessor requires a 1-year contract. See this as a benefit since basically, the longer the lease is, the more discount you can enjoy.
Food and drink prices
There is not much price difference when you cook at home or eat out; however, that relies on where you eat. Street vendors are very popular in Hanoi and can satisfy your appetite at $1-$2 per serving. It is not hard for you to taste any Hanoi specialties on the sidewalk, even famous shacks have been there for decades. When entering a casual restaurant with air-conditioner, you also only pay around $4 for a meal including drinks. A fancier one near tourist attractions and especially in the Old Quarter is a little more expensive – about $6 per serving.
Nevertheless, it’s still acceptable for foreigners who may pay more in their countries for the same quality dish. If you love cooking, eating at home is also a good idea. All fresh ingredients could be bought at local markets in the morning and convenient stores. Shopping at market is certainly cheaper, but it also depends on your bargain skills so that you will not be overcharged. One more option is getting home-made food delivered. A lot of online shops now follow the trend to make cooked food and deliver to you once you make orders, which is fast and convenient for busy people. Shipping fee can be free if you place large valued order.
Besides, alcohol like wine and beer is reasonable at grocery stores and supermarkets ($0.5 for a beer bottle and $5 – $10 for a wine bottle). In bars or clubs, cocktails and other hard liquor are quite expensive – often double as those bought in stores.
Transportation prices
In Hanoi, it’s not recommended for foreigners to drive car at all. First, you are not along with traffic rules and habits of Vietnamese, which can’t ensure safety. Second, regular traffic jams will keep you stuck if you plan to drive to work. Third, car parking in Hanoi is not always easy to find.
Instead, you should take other mobile transportation means. Motorbike is the most popular one here and almost Vietnamese and travellers utilise motorbike to get around. A used motorbike costs around $250 to $500 and can be easily found on motorbike forums, secondhand vehicle websites, Facebook groups, etc. Fuel price is inexpensive, too, less than $1 per litre; so you can drive all week long with $5 of fuel.
Another choice is bus that is not really fast but friendly, efficient and cheap. One route ticket within the city is $0.25 only and it can be even cheaper if you buy monthly fare. Phone apps are another reliable option with 2 giants in Vietnam, they are Grab and Go-Viet. They let you use your smartphone to book a car, taxi or motorbike taxi on the apps, then pay by card or in cash. Using the apps is very convenient since you can track the driver’s location, know exactly how much you have to pay and communicate very little with local people who probably don’t speak foreign languages.
The cost is relatively reasonable when you have promotion code, sometimes short track is totally free. Some other sport lovers may choose a bike which costs roughly $30 to move around. Although it is fun, healthy and cheap, it is also dangerous at the same time because there is no separate bike lanes and traffic lights.
Hanoi is honestly a very cheap place to live as long as you know where to get the goods and services you want as well as strictly follow personal budget. A network of friends, either local residents or expats, also helps you get familiar with this lovely city. Hope that some above tips are helpful to you when you prepare for a new life here.
