✦ Compare
Ho Chi Minh City vs
São Paulo
Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.
To keep the same standard of living in São Paulo, BR, you'd need
$98,842 / year
São Paulo, BR is 32% more expensive overall
Category breakdown (São Paulo, BR vs Ho Chi Minh City, VN)
- Housing+45%
- Food & groceries+31%
- Transport+43%
- Utilities+18%
- Healthcare+33%
- Goods & services+24%
Median 1-bed rent
$500 /mo
Ho Chi Minh City, VN overview →
Median 1-bed rent
$650 /mo
São Paulo, BR overview →
▤ Full comparison
| Ho Chi Minh City, VN | São Paulo, BR | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Overall cost index | 45 | 59 |
| Housing | 38 | 55 |
| Food | 42 | 55 |
| Transport | 35 | 50 |
| Utilities | 55 | 65 |
| Healthcare | 45 | 60 |
| Goods & services | 55 | 68 |
| Housing | ||
| Rent, 1-bed centre | $500/mo | $650/mo |
| Rent, 1-bed outside | $320/mo | $420/mo |
| Rent, 3-bed centre | $1,000/mo | $1,300/mo |
| Buy price / m² centre | $3,500 | $2,500 |
| Money & purchasing power | ||
| $1,000 goes as far as | $2,217 | $1,682 |
| Inexpensive meal | $3 | $8 |
| Monthly transit pass | — | $45 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 35% | 27.5% |
| VAT / sales tax | 10% | 17% |
| Corporate tax | 20% | 34% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $500/mo | $600/mo |
| Minimum wage | $200/mo | $280/mo |
| GDP per capita | $4,347 | $10,296 |
| Inflation (annual) | 3.6% | 4.5% |
| Work & digital nomad | ||
| Digital-nomad visa | No | Yes |
| English proficiency | Moderate | Low |
| Coworking spaces | 40 | 50 |
| Time zone | UTC+7 | UTC-3 |
| Quality of life | ||
| Safety index | 60 | 40 |
| Healthcare index | 55 | 65 |
| Pollution index | 65 | 60 |
| Internet speed | 90 Mbps | 150 Mbps |
| Walkability | 40 | 60 |
| Public transport | 35 | 68 |
| Family-friendly | 55 | 55 |
| Tap water | Use caution | Safe to drink |
| Life expectancy | 75 yr | 76 yr |
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | Moderate | High |
| Climate | ||
| January avg | +27 °C | +23 °C |
| July avg | +28 °C | +16 °C |
| Sunny days / year | 220 | 150 |
| Rainfall / year | 1,900 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Connectivity | ||
| Flight to nearest hub | 2 h | 2 h |
Taxes & Economy & salaries: Vietnam vs Brazil. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.
? Frequently asked questions
Moving from Ho Chi Minh City to São Paulo: cheaper or more expensive?
Moving from Ho Chi Minh City to São Paulo, your cost of living will be roughly 32% more expensive. São Paulo’s cost-of-living index is 59 versus 45 for Ho Chi Minh City (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.
Is Ho Chi Minh City cheaper than São Paulo?
São Paulo is about 32% more expensive than Ho Chi Minh City overall — its cost-of-living index is 59 versus 45 for Ho Chi Minh City.
How much do you need to earn in São Paulo to live like in Ho Chi Minh City?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Ho Chi Minh City is worth about $98,842 in São Paulo. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Ho Chi Minh City or São Paulo?
Brazil has the lower top income-tax rate — 27.5% versus 35% in Vietnam.
◷ More comparisons from Ho Chi Minh City
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.