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Mohamed Oun
Ho Chi Minh City
#121 of 124
Asia

Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Ho Chi Minh City compare to London?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Ho Chi Minh City is 59% worse off vs in London

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Ho Chi Minh City compared to London, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$13,122
-$114K (-90%) vs London
Based on 164 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$9,710
-$77K (-89%) vs London
Tax Rate: 26%

Community Insights

New

Ho Chi Minh City offers a polarizing but potentially rewarding experience for software engineers, defined largely by extreme contrasts. It is a haven for remote workers and digital nomads who can leverage high Western salaries against a very low cost of living, unlocking a lifestyle of convenience and luxury that would be impossible elsewhere. However, the trade-offs are significant: the pollution and noise are among the worst in the region, and the local job market is largely inaccessible to foreign juniors. It is a city of high energy and chaos—exhilarating for some, exhausting for others.

Resident Sentiment

Current residents, particularly transplants, express a distinct "love-hate" relationship with the city. They are often euphoric about their purchasing power and the friendly local culture, frequently mentioning they "live better here than back home." However, long-term residents often express fatigue over the environmental factors—specifically the worsening air quality and relentless noise. A common sentiment is that HCMC is a fantastic place to spend a few years to save money and have fun, but many eventually leave for cleaner cities like Da Nang or move abroad when they want to settle down or raise children.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

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

Rankings

Cost of Living

Top 5%

#6

of 124 cities

22/100

Current value (lower is better)

Tax Rate

Top 22%

#27

of 124 cities

26%

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Top 32%

#40

of 124 cities

6 events on luma

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Ho Chi Minh City compared to London?

Avg. Property Price
$3,019 / m²
79% cheaper than London
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

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

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Cost of Living
73% cheaper than London
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Ho Chi Minh City

Axon logo
Axon
Microsoft logo
Microsoft
Grab logo
Grab

The Good

  • Incredible Cost of Living Arbitrage: Residents with remote Western salaries report living like "royalty," affording modern apartments with pools and gyms, daily dining out, and domestic help for a fraction of Western costs.
  • Vibrant Food Culture: The street food scene and cafe culture are consistently praised as world-class, affordable, and accessible anywhere in the city.
  • High Energy and Social Life: Expats describe the city as "never sleeping," with a chaotic but infectious energy, making it easy to meet people and find entertainment.
  • Affordable Luxury Housing: While buying is hard for locals, renters can find high-end condos in districts like Thao Dien (District 2) or Binh Thanh for prices that are shockingly low compared to major tech hubs.
  • Convenience: Services like Grab (ride-hailing and food delivery) are extremely cheap and fast, removing much of the friction from daily chores.

The Bad

  • Severe Air Pollution: This is the #1 complaint; the air quality index is frequently unhealthy, leading many residents to wear masks constantly and limit outdoor activities.
  • Extreme Noise Pollution: The constant honking, construction, and karaoke make it difficult to find quiet, leading some to struggle with sleep or concentration without soundproofing.
  • Difficult Local Job Market: Obtaining a work visa is notoriously hard for foreigners unless they are in senior management; companies must prove a local cannot do the job.
  • Chaotic Traffic: Crossing the street is described as an "extreme sport," and commuting by motorbike is stressful and dangerous for the uninitiated.
  • Snatch Theft: While violent crime is low, petty theft (phone snatching from motorbikes) is a common enough concern that residents advise against using phones on the street.
  • Oppressive Heat and Humidity: The weather is relentlessly hot year-round, which can be draining for those not used to tropical climates.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Digital Nomads and Remote Workers earning USD/EUR who want to maximize their savings rate without sacrificing lifestyle. Senior Expat Leaders who have secured a relocation package before arriving. Adventure-seekers who thrive in chaotic, high-energy environments and value food culture over clean air. People who enjoy tropical heat and don't mind a lack of pedestrian infrastructure.

Skip it if...

Junior to Mid-level Developers expecting to find a local job upon arrival; the salaries are low ($13k/year median) and visa sponsorship is rare. Individuals with asthma or respiratory issues due to the poor air quality rank (#124). People who need peace, quiet, and order, or those who are risk-averse regarding traffic safety. Families expecting walkable neighborhoods outside of specific expat enclaves.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather1.5/10-70% vs London
Safety50+12%
Pollution92+59%
Events6-67%
1.5/10TechCities weather score vs 5.0/10 in London

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
32°C(vs 15°C in London)
Average Low
24°C(vs 9°C in London)
Sunshine Hours
2,489h/yr+856h/yr(+52%)
Hottest Month High
34°C(vs 23°C in London)
Coldest Month Low
22°C(vs 4°C in London)
Rainy Days
112/yr+19/yr(+20%)

Community & Quality

Ho Chi Minh City community pulse

Ho Chi Minh City has 6 Luma events listed.

67% fewer events than London.

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#79

of 124 cities

49.6/100

Current value

Comfortable Weather

Bottom 10%

#113

of 124 cities

15/100 weather score

Current value

Home Affordability

Bottom 5%

#119

of 124 cities

≈24.9 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Purchasing Power

Bottom 3%

#121

of 124 cities

Net Income

Bottom 3%

#122

of 124 cities

$9,710/yr

Current value

Pollution Score

Bottom 1%

#124

of 124 cities

92.1/100

Current value (lower is better)

SWE Affordability
24.9 years
11.6 years longer than London
Muggy Days
349/yr+348/yr(+174200%)
Cloud Cover
77%(vs 58% in London)