Thailand vs Vietnam: Cost of Living Comparison for Expats

Thailand and Vietnam sit at the top of almost every “best places to live in Southeast Asia” list, and for good reason. Both countries offer warm weather, incredible food, low costs, and well-established expat communities. But they are very different places to live, and the right choice depends on what you actually prioritize — not just how cheap the pad thai or pho is.

This is a data-driven, head-to-head Thailand vs Vietnam cost of living comparison covering rent, food, transport, healthcare, visas, internet, safety, and lifestyle. We will use real numbers, not vibes. By the end, you will know exactly which country fits your budget, your work style, and your day-to-day preferences.

The headline numbers: expats in Thailand report an average monthly spend of $1,000, while Vietnam comes in at roughly $800. But averages hide more than they reveal. Let us break it down category by category.

Overall Snapshot: Thailand vs Vietnam

Before diving into the granular cost breakdown, here is the big-picture view. This table compares the two countries across the metrics that matter most to expats considering a move to Southeast Asia.

At a glance, Vietnam wins on raw cost and Thailand wins on infrastructure and convenience. That pattern holds up across almost every detailed category below.

Cost Breakdown: Where Your Money Goes

The $200 monthly gap between Thailand and Vietnam does not come from one big expense — it comes from dozens of small ones compounding over time. Here is how the core budget categories compare.

Rent: Vietnam’s Biggest Advantage

Rent is the single largest expense for most expats, and this is where Vietnam pulls ahead decisively. A modern one-bedroom apartment in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 or District 2 costs $300–$450 a month. The equivalent in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit or Silom area runs $400–$600. Move to Chiang Mai or Da Nang and both drop significantly — but Vietnam still undercuts Thailand by 15–25% in comparable neighborhoods.

The quality of apartments is increasingly similar. Vietnam has seen a construction boom in recent years, and newer buildings in HCMC and Hanoi rival Bangkok condos for amenities: swimming pools, gyms, 24-hour security, and modern kitchens. Thailand still edges ahead on consistency — the condo market is more mature, and you are less likely to encounter surprises with building management or maintenance.

Food: Both Excellent, Vietnam Cheaper

This is Southeast Asia. The food is extraordinary in both countries, and eating out is absurdly affordable by Western standards. A bowl of pho in Hanoi costs $1.50–$2.50. A plate of pad thai in Bangkok runs $2–$3.50. Street food in Vietnam is roughly 20–30% cheaper than in Thailand across the board.

The gap widens when you cook at home. Grocery costs in Vietnam sit at roughly 30–35% of US levels, while Thailand is closer to 40–45%. Fresh produce, meat, and seafood are cheaper in Vietnamese wet markets. Imported Western goods — cheese, wine, breakfast cereal — carry a premium in both countries, but Thailand has a larger selection thanks to more established international supermarket chains like Tops, Villa Market, and Makro.

Transport: Motorbike Culture vs. Transit Infrastructure

Vietnam runs on motorbikes. In HCMC and Hanoi, two-wheeled traffic is the default mode of transport, and ride-hailing apps like Grab make getting around incredibly cheap — a 5 km ride costs $1–$2. Monthly motorbike rental runs $40–$60. Public transit is limited but expanding; Hanoi’s first metro line opened in 2024, and HCMC’s is under construction.

Thailand has more developed public transport, particularly in Bangkok. The BTS Skytrain, MRT subway, and bus network make car-free living genuinely practical in the capital. Chiang Mai lacks rail transit but has cheap songthaews (shared red trucks) and Grab rides. Monthly transport costs run higher in Thailand ($30–$50 versus $15–$30 in Vietnam), but the experience is more comfortable and less chaotic.

Healthcare: Thailand’s Clear Win

If healthcare quality is a top priority, Thailand is the obvious choice. Bangkok’s private hospitals — Bumrungrad, BNH, Samitivej — are internationally accredited and attract medical tourists from around the world. A doctor’s visit at a private hospital costs $20–$40. Dental work, cosmetic procedures, and specialist care are all available at a fraction of Western prices with comparable quality.

Vietnam’s healthcare system has improved significantly, especially in Hanoi and HCMC. International clinics like Family Medical Practice and Vinmec offer good care, with doctor visits running $30–$60. But the gap between public and private healthcare is wider than in Thailand, and outside major cities, medical facilities can be basic. Expat health insurance is affordable in both countries ($50–$100 per month in Thailand, $40–$80 in Vietnam), but Thailand gives you more peace of mind if something serious happens.

Lifestyle Comparison: Beyond the Budget

Cost is one dimension. The day-to-day experience of living in a country is shaped just as much by infrastructure, culture, community, and convenience. Here is how Thailand and Vietnam compare on the lifestyle factors that rarely show up in spreadsheets.

Internet and Remote Work Infrastructure

Thailand is the more mature remote work destination. Chiang Mai has been the unofficial capital of the digital nomad movement for over a decade, and the infrastructure reflects it: reliable fiber internet averaging 60–100 Mbps, dozens of coworking spaces (Punspace, CAMP, Yellow), and cafes designed for laptop workers. Bangkok has even faster speeds and more coworking options — including WeWork, JustCo, and numerous independent spaces.

Vietnam is catching up quickly. HCMC and Da Nang have seen a surge in coworking spaces, and fiber internet in major cities averages 40–80 Mbps. Hanoi can be spottier, especially in older neighborhoods. The main difference is consistency: Thailand’s internet infrastructure is more reliable during storms and peak hours. If your work depends on uninterrupted connectivity — say, live video calls or streaming — Thailand offers more peace of mind.

Visa Options: Both Require Planning

Neither country makes long-term stays effortless, but both offer workable paths for expats who plan ahead.

Thailand offers a 30–60 day visa-free entry for most Western passport holders, extendable by 30 days at immigration. For longer stays, the options include the Tourist Visa (60 days, extendable), the Education Visa (ED, for language study), the Elite Visa (5–20 years, starting at $16,000), and the newer Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa for high earners and remote workers with a minimum income of $80,000 per year. Thailand’s recently introduced Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) offers 180 days for remote workers, with one extension allowed.

Vietnam grants 45-day visa-free entry to citizens of many Western countries. The e-Visa (90 days, single entry) is easy to obtain online. For longer stays, Business Visas (up to 12 months) are available through a sponsoring company or agency. Vietnam does not yet have a dedicated digital nomad visa, though the government has signaled interest. Many long-term expats use a combination of e-Visas and visa runs, though this approach is becoming less reliable as enforcement tightens.

Safety: Both Score Well

Both Thailand and Vietnam are considered safe for expats by regional standards. Violent crime against foreigners is rare in both countries. Petty theft — bag snatching, phone theft on motorbikes — exists in both, particularly in HCMC and crowded Bangkok areas, but is manageable with basic awareness.

Thailand scores slightly higher on the Global Peace Index, and its tourist-oriented infrastructure means you will find English-language police assistance and tourist police stations in major areas. Vietnam has lower rates of street crime in many areas, but the language barrier makes navigating any incident more difficult. Both countries are significantly safer than most Latin American expat destinations.

Weather and Climate

Both countries are tropical, but the experiences differ. Thailand is hot year-round, with three seasons: hot (March–May), rainy (June–October), and cool (November–February). The “cool” season in Chiang Mai is genuinely pleasant, with temperatures in the low 20s Celsius. Bangkok stays hot and humid throughout.

Vietnam spans a wider range. The south (HCMC) is tropical year-round, similar to Bangkok. Central Vietnam (Da Nang, Hoi An) has a distinct rainy season from September to January. Northern Vietnam (Hanoi) has actual cold winters — temperatures can drop to 10°C in December and January, and most apartments lack central heating. If you dislike cold weather, stick to southern Vietnam or Thailand.

Nomad Communities and Social Life

Thailand’s expat and nomad scene is the most established in Southeast Asia. Chiang Mai alone has thousands of long-term remote workers, regular meetups, coworking events, and an entire ecosystem of nomad-focused businesses. Bangkok has a more diverse, cosmopolitan expat community. The islands (Koh Phangan, Koh Lanta) attract seasonal nomads during high season.

Vietnam’s nomad community is younger and growing fast. HCMC has a lively expat scene centered around Districts 1, 2, and 7. Da Nang has emerged as a serious digital nomad hub over the past three years, attracting remote workers with its beach lifestyle and lower costs. Hanoi’s expat community is smaller but tightly knit, with a more culturally immersive feel. If you want a ready-made social infrastructure, Thailand wins. If you want to feel like you are discovering something before it gets crowded, Vietnam has the edge.

Where Thailand and Vietnam Rank Among Southeast Asian Destinations

To put this comparison in context, here is how Thailand and Vietnam stack up against other popular Southeast Asian destinations for expats. This ranking combines affordability, infrastructure, safety, visa accessibility, and quality of life into a single composite score.

So Which Should You Choose?

After all the data, the answer depends on your profile. Here is a straightforward decision framework.

Choose Thailand if:

• Healthcare quality is a top priority — you want world-class hospitals within reach
• You need reliable, fast internet for demanding remote work (video production, live calls, streaming)
• You want a large, established expat community with ready-made social infrastructure
• Convenience matters — you value English signage, tourist-friendly services, and easy navigation
• You can comfortably budget $1,000–$1,500 per month

Choose Vietnam if:

• Maximizing your budget is the primary goal — you want the most value per dollar in Southeast Asia
• You enjoy a rawer, more adventurous expat experience with less tourist-infrastructure hand-holding
• You are drawn to a country in the middle of rapid transformation — booming economy, construction everywhere, energy in the air
• You work asynchronously and do not need perfectly stable internet at all hours
• You want to stretch $600–$1,000 per month into a comfortable lifestyle

Many experienced Southeast Asia expats recommend the same thing: try both. Spend two to three months in each country before committing to a longer stay. The data tells you what to expect on paper. Actually being there tells you which place feels like home.

The Bottom Line

Vietnam is cheaper. Thailand is easier. Both are excellent.

If you are optimizing purely for Thailand vs Vietnam cost of living, Vietnam wins by a meaningful margin — roughly 20% lower across rent, food, transport, and daily expenses. You can live comfortably in HCMC or Da Nang for $800 a month where the equivalent lifestyle in Bangkok or Chiang Mai would cost $1,000.

But cost is not the whole story. Thailand’s superior healthcare, more reliable internet, larger nomad community, and smoother daily experience close that gap for many expats. The extra $200 a month buys real convenience and peace of mind.

The right answer is not a spreadsheet — it is a match between what you need and what each country offers. That is exactly what WhereNext is built to help you figure out. Our scoring engine weights seven dimensions based on your priorities and shows you which countries actually fit — not just which ones are cheapest.

Whether you end up in a Bangkok high-rise or a Saigon alley apartment, you are making a smart move. Southeast Asia remains one of the best regions on earth for expats who want to live well without spending a fortune. The data backs it up. Now go see it for yourself.