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Cost of Living in Vietnam for Digital Nomads
Vietnam is cheaper than the typical country on Wandurance's index and is best for one of the lowest daily costs in Southeast Asia with fast internet. A Normal lifestyle in a hub city like Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City runs about $43 a day, so a $3,000 fund lasts roughly 69 days.
Vietnam is among the cheapest countries in the calculator that still offers city-standard infrastructure. Da Nang has become the usual pick for remote workers, combining a beach, modern apartments and a growing café-and-coworking scene at prices well under Thailand's. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are bigger, louder and slightly pricier.
The e-visa must be arranged online before you fly, and it is paid, so add that to the first month's costs. Food is the standout bargain: eating well three times a day from local kitchens costs very little.
Common bases: Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hoi An.
What a day costs in Vietnam
Estimated daily spend by lifestyle tier. "Hub city" is a capital or major nomad city, which typically runs above the national average; "smaller town" is below it.
| Lifestyle | Hub city / day | Smaller town / day | Days on $3,000 (hub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frugal | $19.12 | $13.64 | 156 |
| Normal | $43.41 | $30.96 | 69 |
| Lavish | $105.35 | $75.13 | 28 |
Where the money goes
Normal lifestyle, hub city. Coworking and connectivity is optional in the calculator and not included in the daily totals above.
| Category | Per day | Per 30 days | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation Find stays → | $27.32 | $820 | 63% |
| Food | $10.63 | $319 | 24% |
| Local transport | $3.64 | $109 | 8% |
| Basic medical | $1.82 | $55 | 4% |
| Total | $43.41 | $1,302 | 100% |
| Coworking & connectivity (optional add-on) | +$3.64 | +$109 | — |
How long your budget lasts in Vietnam
Whole days, hub-city prices. Leftover money below one full day is not counted.
| Budget | Frugal | Normal | Lavish |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | 52 days | 23 days | 9 days |
| $2,000 | 104 days | 46 days | 18 days |
| $3,000 | 156 days | 69 days | 28 days |
| $5,000 | 261 days | 115 days | 47 days |
| $10,000 | 523 days | 230 days | 94 days |
Plan your stay in Vietnam
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Visa-free stay for US passport holders
90 days · e-Visa required, paid
Paid e-visa (~$25–50) must be arranged online before you fly.
A $3,000 Normal-lifestyle stay (69 days) fits inside this allowance. Rules change; confirm with the official immigration source before you book.
Frequently asked
How much does it cost per day in Vietnam?
On Wandurance's model, a day in Vietnam costs about $19 at a Frugal lifestyle, $43 at Normal and $105 at Lavish, in a major city. Smaller towns run roughly 29% less. These figures cover accommodation, food, local transport and basic medical costs; coworking and connectivity can be added separately.
How long will $3,000 last in Vietnam?
About 69 days at a Normal lifestyle, 156 days if you travel Frugally, or 28 days at a Lavish level. Use the calculator to try your own budget.
How long can US citizens stay in Vietnam without a visa?
Up to 90 days (e-Visa required, paid). Paid e-visa (~$25–50) must be arranged online before you fly. Always confirm current rules with the official immigration source before travelling; they change.
Is Vietnam cheap for digital nomads?
Vietnam ranks 13th cheapest of the 199 countries Wandurance covers and is 35% cheaper than the average for Asia. That puts it in the cheaper half of the world for long-term travel.
How are these estimates calculated?
Wandurance prices a fixed basket of daily costs at local purchasing power using a per-country price index derived from World Bank purchasing-power data, rather than raw exchange rates. Vietnam's index is 26.4 (the United States is 68.8). The numbers are planning estimates, not quotes, and your own habits will move them.