Philippines vs Vietnam
Vietnam costs roughly 8% less than Philippines. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Vietnam is approximately 8% less expensive than Philippines based on cost of living including rent. This makes Vietnam a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Vietnam has a FIRE Score of 100/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 59.2, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Vietnam is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $800/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
$2,147/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
About Vietnam
A 1BR near central Hanoi or Saigon runs $400.6, less than half typical US suburban rent, while monthly costs excluding rent sit near $430.8, meaning a couple can live comfortably under $1,200. Fast internet at 343 Mbps supports remote work, and safety metrics beat most Southeast Asian peers. The dealbreaker: no retirement or digital nomad visa exists, so long-term legal residency stays messy regardless of your budget.
$2,169/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Philippines | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 2 — Increased Caution | Level 1 — Normal Precautions |
| Quality of Life Index | 96.9 +1.1 | 95.8 |
| Healthcare Index | 67.3 +6.0 | 61.3 |
| Safety Index | 56.9 | 59.2 +2.3 |
| Cost of Living Index | 28.8 | 26.6 +2.2 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $520.8 | $430.8 +90 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $1,854 | $1,554.9 +299.1 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $332.57 +68.03 | $400.6 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $186.21 +77.34 | $263.55 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $663.94 +182.66 | $846.6 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $362.86 +184.23 | $547.09 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 187.25 Mbps | 343.05 Mbps +155.8 |
Expat taxes filed by specialists
Greenback Expat Tax handles US taxes for Americans living in Vietnam. File confidently from abroad.
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