About

  • About Tech Cities Index
  • Methodology
  • FAQ

Tools

  • Salary Converter
  • LinkedIn Network

Built with ❤️ by

Tech Cities Index LogoTech Cities Index
Salary ConverterLinkedIn NetworkAbout
Mohamed Oun
Hanoi
#118 of 124
Asia

Hanoi

Vietnam

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Hanoi compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Hanoi is 74% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Hanoi compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$13,635
-$259K (-95%) vs San Francisco
Based on 230 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$10,090
-$162K (-94%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 26%

Community Insights

New

Hanoi offers a high-contrast lifestyle for software engineers: it is incredibly affordable and culturally rich, but environmentally challenging. The city is a geo-arbitrage paradise for remote workers earning USD or EUR, who can live lavishly on a fraction of their income. However, the trade-off is significant: severe air pollution and chaotic infrastructure are daily realities. Unlike the commercial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi feels more traditional and political, with a quieter (though existing) tech scene. It is not a place to build a career in local corporate tech due to low wages ($13k median), but rather a base to work remotely while soaking in Vietnamese heritage.

Resident Sentiment

Sentiment is deeply polarized: residents typically fall into a "love it or hate it" camp. Transplants love the vibrant energy, the food culture, and the ability to live a high-quality life for very little money (often calling it "golden handcuffs"). However, long-term residents frequently express guilt or anxiety about their health due to the pollution, with many discussing "exit plans" during the worst smog months. There is a consensus that while it's an amazing place to live for a few years, the environmental factors make it a hard sell for a permanent home.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Cost of Living

Top 3%

#4

of 124 cities

20/100

Current value (lower is better)

Tax Rate

Top 21%

#26

of 124 cities

26%

Current value (lower is better)

Safety Index

Top 31%

#38

of 124 cities

66.2/100

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Hanoi compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$2,804 / m²
72% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Hanoi to maintain the same standard of living.

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
78% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Hanoi

Microsoft logo
Microsoft
Axon logo
Axon
Grab logo
Grab

The Good

  • Extremely low cost of living (#4 of 124 cities) allows for high savings rates if earning foreign currency (geo-arbitrage).
  • Rich cultural depth and history compared to the more commercialized Ho Chi Minh City; residents describe it as having more "soul" and "authenticity."
  • Incredible food scene with affordable street food (pho, bun cha) available everywhere at a fraction of Western prices.
  • distinct seasons offer variety (cool winters, warm summers), which some transplants prefer over the eternal heat of the south.
  • Safety from violent crime is high (#38 safety index), making it feel secure for walking around at night.
  • Decent internet speeds and widely available Wi-Fi in cafes make it viable for remote work.

The Bad

  • Severe air pollution (#121 of 124 cities) is a dominant complaint; residents often cite AQI levels that "take years off your life" and necessitate air purifiers.
  • Chaotic traffic and lack of pedestrian infrastructure (sidewalks used for parking) make walking difficult and dangerous.
  • Local tech salaries are significantly lower ($13k median) than Western standards, making it financially unattractive to work for local companies compared to remote work.
  • Visa uncertainty remains a hurdle; strictly speaking, there is no "digital nomad visa," forcing many to rely on frequent visa runs or gray-area tourist visas.
  • Noise pollution is constant from honking, construction, and street activity, which can be draining for those needing quiet to focus.
  • Smaller tech scene than Ho Chi Minh City; fewer meetups and startup events make professional networking harder for expats.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Remote workers and digital nomads who earn foreign currency and want to maximize savings while experiencing a deep, authentic Asian culture. It is ideal for adventurous singles or couples who thrive in high-energy, chaotic environments and appreciate distinct seasons (including a cool winter).

Skip it if...

Asthmatics or anyone with respiratory health sensitivities, as the air quality is consistently poor. Families with young children may find the lack of clean air and walkable sidewalks stressful. Career-focused engineers looking to climb the corporate ladder within local companies will likely be disappointed by the low compensation and smaller tech ecosystem compared to HCMC or Singapore.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather2.1/10-76% vs San Francisco
Safety66+68%
Pollution89+82%
Events0-100%
2.1/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
28°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
Average Low
21°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
Sunshine Hours
1,585h/yr-1477h/yr(-48%)
Hottest Month High
33°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
Coldest Month Low
14°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
Rainy Days
102/yr+54/yr(+110%)

Community & Quality

Hanoi community pulse

Hanoi has 0 Luma events listed.

100% fewer events than San Francisco.

Community Events

Bottom 28%

#90

of 124 cities

0 events on luma

Current value

Comfortable Weather

Bottom 15%

#107

of 124 cities

21/100 weather score

Current value

Home Affordability

Bottom 7%

#116

of 124 cities

≈22.2 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Purchasing Power

Bottom 6%

#118

of 124 cities

Net Income

Bottom 3%

#121

of 124 cities

$10,090/yr

Current value

Pollution Score

Bottom 3%

#121

of 124 cities

89.3/100

Current value (lower is better)

SWE Affordability
22.2 years
17.6 years longer than San Francisco
Muggy Days
249/yr+248/yr(+124200%)
Cloud Cover
57%(vs 34% in San Francisco)