Cost of Living in Vietnam vs France: Complete 2026 Comparison

Thinking about leaving France for Vietnam and wondering how much you'll actually save? The cost of living is a legitimate and decisive question for your move abroad. Between popular beliefs and the reality on the ground, there is sometimes a considerable gap.

For most profiles, settling in Vietnam cuts monthly expenses by 40 to 60% compared with living in France, while significantly improving quality of life. But be careful: these savings vary enormously depending on your lifestyle, the city you settle in and your spending choices.

In this in-depth guide, we compare the cost of living in Vietnam and France item by item in 2026, with real figures checked on the ground. You'll discover the expenses where you'll save the most, but also those where Vietnam can surprise you with prices equal to, or even higher than, France.

01Housing: Up to 70% Savings on Your Rent

Housing is generally the biggest saving you can make in Vietnam. The price differences are spectacular, especially in the big cities.

Monthly Rent Comparison

In Paris or Lyon, a decent downtown one-bedroom will easily cost you €1,400. In Da Nang, for €500 (13.5 million VND), you get a modern 80 m² apartment with a pool, gym and sea view. The difference is even more striking if you compare with mid-sized French cities.

Tip: The best deals come from negotiating directly with Vietnamese landlords rather than going through international agencies, which inflate prices by 20-30%. If you don't speak Vietnamese, bring a Vietnamese friend or an interpreter to negotiate.

Utilities and Extra Costs

Utilities are generally cheaper in Vietnam, but some items can come as a surprise:

• Electricity: €0.08-0.12/kWh in Vietnam vs €0.20/kWh in France. Watch out: with the air conditioning running 24/7, your bill can reach €80-150/month (compared with €40-60 in France without AC)
• Water: €5-15/month in Vietnam vs €30-50/month in France
• Fiber internet: €8-15/month (100-200 Mbps) in Vietnam vs €30-45/month in France
• Gas: €8-12 per cylinder (2-3 months) in Vietnam vs €60-100/month in France

To learn more about rent prices specifically, see our complete guide to rent prices in Vietnam.

02Food: Massive Savings or an Expat Trap?

Food is the category where costs vary the most depending on your habits. If you adopt a local lifestyle, your savings will be huge. If you try to recreate your French diet, be ready for some surprises.

Local Food: 70-80% Savings

Eating Vietnamese lets you divide your food budget by 4 or 5:

• Phở (noodle soup): €1-1.50 (27,000-40,000 VND) vs €12-15 for a dish in France
• Bánh mì (sandwich): €0.80-1.20 (20,000-30,000 VND) vs €5-7 in France
• Full street food meal: €2-3 (50,000-80,000 VND) vs €12-20 in France
• Mid-range local restaurant: €5-8/person vs €20-30 in France
• Tropical fruit: €0.50-2/kg depending on the season vs €3-8/kg in France

A couple who eats mostly Vietnamese food will spend €200-300/month, compared with €600-800 in France for an equivalent standard of living.

Imported Products: The Trap to Avoid

Imported Western products are generally 50-150% more expensive than in France:

• French cheese: €25-40/kg vs €15-20/kg in France
• French wine: €15-30 a bottle vs €7-15 in France
• Kellogg's cereal: €8-10 vs €4-5 in France
• Nutella: €7-9 vs €4-5 in France
• Quality ham: €30-40/kg vs €15-20/kg in France

Tip: Korean supermarkets (Lotte Mart, Mega Market) have prices 20-30% lower than specialty expat grocery stores.

Find more details in our article on food prices in Vietnam.

03Transportation: Guaranteed Savings Across the Board

Vietnam is significantly cheaper than France for every type of transportation.

Daily Transportation

Buying a Vehicle

Cars are paradoxically more expensive in Vietnam (high import taxes), but scooters are very affordable:

• New Honda SH scooter: €2,500-3,500 in Vietnam vs €3,500-4,500 in France
• Used scooter: €400-800 for a reliable model
• New Toyota Vios car: €22,000-25,000 in Vietnam vs €18,000-20,000 in France

Most expats opt for a scooter (it's the most common way of getting around), which drastically cuts transportation costs. Scooter insurance: €30-50/year in Vietnam vs €400-600/year in France for equivalent motorcycle insurance.

04Healthcare: High Quality at Lower Prices

The Vietnamese healthcare system offers excellent value for money, especially in the international private sector.

Consultations and Routine Care

• Private GP visit: €15-30 in Vietnam vs €25-50 in France (doctors who charge above the standard rate)
• Specialist visit: €30-60 in Vietnam vs €50-100 in France
• Full blood work: €30-50 in Vietnam vs €80-150 in France
• X-ray/CT scan: €40-80 in Vietnam vs €100-200 in France
• Dentist (cleaning): €20-35 in Vietnam vs €50-80 in France
• Dental implant: €600-900 in Vietnam vs €1,500-2,500 in France

International Health Insurance

Comprehensive international health insurance costs:

• Individual (30-40 years old): €100-200/month depending on coverage
• Couple: €180-350/month
• Family (2 adults + 2 children): €300-500/month

These rates are generally lower than high-end French supplemental plans, often with broader coverage (Asia + Europe). For everything you need to know about this crucial topic, see our guide to health insurance for expats in Vietnam.

Tip: International hospitals (Family Medical Practice, Vinmec) accept direct billing from most international insurers, so you don't have to pay upfront.

05Education: A Strategic Choice to Budget For

Education is one of the few areas where Vietnam can cost as much as, or even more than, France, depending on your choices.

International Schools

Quality international schools represent a substantial budget:

• Preschool: €6,000-12,000/year in Vietnam vs free (public) or €3,000-6,000/year (private) in France
• Elementary school: €10,000-18,000/year in Vietnam vs free (public) or €4,000-8,000/year (private) in France
• Middle/high school: €15,000-25,000/year in Vietnam vs free (public) or €6,000-12,000/year (private) in France

Budget-Friendly Alternatives

Several options can reduce this cost:

• CNED (French distance learning): €1,000-1,500/year
• Private bilingual Vietnamese schools: €2,000-5,000/year
• Private lessons/tutors: €15-30/hour vs €30-50/hour in France

If you have children, our guide to living in Vietnam as a family gives you everything you need to optimize this part of your budget.

06Leisure and Social Life: Better Quality of Life for Less

Vietnam offers an exceptional quality of life when it comes to leisure, at unbeatable prices.

Sports and Fitness

• Premium gym membership: €30-50/month in Vietnam vs €50-80/month in France
• Yoga class: €5-10/session in Vietnam vs €15-25/session in France
• Tennis (1 hour of court time): €5-10 in Vietnam vs €15-30 in France
• Scuba diving (intro dive): €40-60 in Vietnam vs €80-120 in France

Going Out and Restaurants

• Movie ticket: €3-5 (80,000-130,000 VND) in Vietnam vs €10-13 in France
• Draft beer (local bar): €0.50-1 (15,000-25,000 VND) in Vietnam vs €5-8 in France
• Cocktail (expat bar): €4-7 (100,000-180,000 VND) in Vietnam vs €10-15 in France
• Mid-range Western restaurant: €15-25/person in Vietnam vs €30-50/person in France
• Fine dining restaurant: €40-80/person in Vietnam vs €80-150/person in France

Personal Services

• Housekeeper: €4-6/hour (100,000-150,000 VND) in Vietnam vs €12-18/hour in France
• 1-hour massage: €8-15 (200,000-400,000 VND) in Vietnam vs €50-80 in France
• Hairdresser (men's cut): €3-8 (80,000-200,000 VND) in Vietnam vs €20-35 in France
• Hairdresser (women's cut + color): €30-60 in Vietnam vs €80-150 in France

07Taxes: Optimization Is Possible but Complex

Vietnamese taxation can be advantageous, but it requires the right structure.

Income Tax

Vietnam applies a progressive scale to tax residents:

• 0-5M VND/month (€0-185): 5%
• 5-10M VND/month (€185-370): 10%
• 10-18M VND/month (€370-665): 15%
• 18-32M VND/month (€665-1,185): 20%
• 32-52M VND/month (€1,185-1,925): 25%
• 52-80M VND/month (€1,925-2,960): 30%
• Above 80M VND/month (€2,960+): 35%

In France, the 2026 scale is:

• €0-11,294/year: 0%
• €11,294-28,797/year: 11%
• €28,797-82,341/year: 30%
• €82,341-177,106/year: 41%
• Above €177,106/year: 45%

Tip: By setting up a Vietnamese or foreign company, many expats legally optimize their taxes. Dividends are taxed at 5% in Vietnam compared with 30% (flat tax) in France. Get help from a specialized chartered accountant for this optimization.

See our complete guide to expat taxes in Vietnam to dig deeper into this crucial topic.

Social Security Contributions

Social security contributions in Vietnam (for a local employee) amount to about 22-25% of gross salary (employer + employee), compared with 60-80% in France. For self-employed workers and freelancers, the difference is even more pronounced.

08Real Monthly Budgets: 4 Typical Profiles Compared

Here are indicative budgets for different profiles of expats living in Da Nang.

Profile 1: Single/Couple Without Children - Local Lifestyle

France (mid-sized city):

• One-bedroom rent: €800
• Utilities: €100
• Food: €400
• Transportation: €150
• Health/supplemental insurance: €80
• Leisure: €250
• Miscellaneous: €150 Total: €1,930/month

Vietnam (Da Nang):

• Modern one-bedroom rent: €400
• Utilities: €60
• Food (80% local): €250
• Transportation (scooter): €50
• Health/insurance: €120
• Leisure: €200
• Miscellaneous: €100 Total: €1,180/month

Savings: €750/month (39%)

Profile 2: Couple Without Children - Comfortable Expat Lifestyle

France (big city):

• Two-bedroom rent: €1,400
• Utilities: €150
• Food: €700
• Transportation: €250
• Health/supplemental insurance: €150
• Leisure: €500
• Miscellaneous: €250 Total: €3,400/month

Vietnam (Da Nang):

• Premium two-bedroom rent: €700
• Utilities: €90
• Food (50% local): €450
• Transportation: €80
• Health/insurance: €200
• Leisure: €400
• Miscellaneous: €180 Total: €2,100/month

Savings: €1,300/month (38%)

Profile 3: Family with 2 Children - International School

France (big city):

• Three-bedroom rent: €1,800
• Utilities: €200
• Food: €900
• Transportation: €350
• Health/supplemental insurance: €250
• Education (private): €800
• Leisure: €500
• Miscellaneous: €400 Total: €5,200/month

Vietnam (Da Nang):

• 4-bedroom villa rent: €1,100
• Utilities: €150
• Food: €600
• Transportation: €120
• Health/insurance: €400
• Education (international): €2,000
• Leisure: €400
• Miscellaneous: €300 Total: €5,070/month

Savings: €130/month (2.5%) - The international school wipes out the savings

Tip: If you opt for CNED or a bilingual Vietnamese school, the education budget drops to €300-500/month, bringing the total down to €3,370-3,570/month, or 31-35% savings.

Profile 4: Retired Couple - Comfortable Life

France (mid-sized city):

• Two-bedroom rent: €1,000
• Utilities: €120
• Food: €600
• Transportation: €150
• Health/supplemental insurance: €200
• Leisure: €400
• Miscellaneous: €200 Total: €2,670/month

Vietnam (Da Nang):

• Two-bedroom rent with sea view: €600
• Utilities: €80
• Food: €400
• Transportation: €60
• Health/insurance: €250
• Leisure: €300
• Miscellaneous: €150 Total: €1,840/month

Savings: €830/month (31%)

For more details on this particular profile, see our complete guide to retiring in Vietnam.

09Hidden Costs to Plan For

Some expenses are often underestimated by future expats:

Visa and Residence Permit

• 3-month temporary visa: €25 (single entry) to €50 (multiple entry)
• 1-year temporary residence card (TRC): €300-500 depending on the type
• Annual renewals: €250-400
• Work permit: €150-300

In France, there are no equivalent fees for a French citizen. See our complete guide to Vietnam visas to understand it all.

Trips Back to France

• Vietnam-France round-trip flight: €600-1,200 depending on the season
• Annual budget for 1-2 trips home: €1,200-2,400/person

For a family, this can add up to €100-200/month spread over the year, a cost that doesn't exist when you live in France.

International Move

The upfront cost of moving:

• 20-foot container (30 m³): €3,000-5,000
• Groupage/shared container (5-10 m³): €1,500-2,500
• Excess airline baggage: €200-800

This one-time cost needs to be factored into your calculation. More information in our guide to international moving to Vietnam.

10Real Purchasing Power: Beyond the Numbers

Statistics only tell part of the story. Real purchasing power in Vietnam often goes beyond the savings you can put a number on.

Better Quality of Life

With an equal or smaller budget, you get access to:

• More spacious housing: a villa with a garden vs an apartment in France
• Home services: a housekeeper 3 times a week, affordable childcare
• Beach access: living by the sea for the price of a suburban apartment
• Climate: savings on heating and winter clothes
• Fresh food: tropical fruit every day, affordable fresh fish

11Vietnam vs France: Final Summary Table

12FAQ: Cost of Living in Vietnam vs France

Can you really live on €1,000/month in Vietnam?

Yes, it's possible if you adopt a local lifestyle and avoid imported products. With €1,000/month, you can rent a decent apartment (€300-400), eat Vietnamese food (€200-250), get around by scooter (€50), and have a modest leisure budget (€150-200). However, this budget doesn't cover comprehensive international health insurance or regular trips back to France. For optimal comfort, we recommend €1,500-2,000/month for a single person. See our complete guide to the cost of living in Vietnam for detailed budgets by profile.

Do Vietnamese salaries make up for the lower cost of living?

Local Vietnamese salaries (€300-800/month for a skilled employee) don't allow the same standard of living as a French salary. The benefit of the low cost of living mainly goes to expats who keep Western income (remote work, freelancing, retirement, passive income). If you work for a local Vietnamese company, your purchasing power will be similar to that of a middle-class Vietnamese person, lower than what you had in France. Expat positions at international companies generally pay €2,000-5,000/month, which allows an excellent standard of living.

In which areas is Vietnam more expensive than France?

Several categories of products and services cost more in Vietnam: new cars (70-100% import taxes), food imported from Europe (cheese, charcuterie, wine: +50 to +150%), quality international education (€10,000-25,000/year/child), certain specific medications not available locally, and high-end electronics (Apple, computers: +10 to +30%). If these items make up a large part of your budget, your savings will be smaller. That's why we recommend gradually shifting your spending toward local products.

How do you handle the euro/Vietnamese dong exchange rate?

The Vietnamese dong (VND) is relatively stable against the euro, with fluctuations of 2-5% per year. Approximate rate in 2026: €1 = 27,000 VND. To minimize exchange fees: use services like Wise (formerly TransferWise) rather than traditional banks (saving 2-4% per transaction), open a local bank account for everyday spending, keep part of your savings in euros, and watch the exchange rate so you can make large transfers at favorable moments. Our guide to opening a bank account in Vietnam explains the whole process in detail.

Do the savings make up for losing French social security?

This is a central question. When you leave France, you lose access to French social security (unless you pay voluntary CFE contributions: €200-400/month). However, comprehensive international health insurance costs €100-250/month for an individual, which is less than the CFE contribution, often with better coverage and faster reimbursements. Since medical care is 40-60% cheaper in Vietnam, you still come out ahead even when paying out of pocket. For a family, the calculation is more complex: with children in international school, overall savings can shrink to 10-20%, or even disappear. That's why we recommend running a personalized simulation before you move.

13Conclusion: Real but Variable Savings

The cost of living in Vietnam is undeniably lower than in France, with average savings of 40 to 60% for most profiles. The most advantageous areas are housing, local food, transportation and personal services. You can live in a villa with a pool for the price of a one-bedroom in the Paris suburbs.

However, these savings vary considerably depending on your lifestyle choices. If you try to recreate your French lifestyle exactly (imported products, international school, a car), your savings will be much smaller, or even nonexistent. The key to a successful move to Vietnam lies in gradually adapting to a hybrid lifestyle: embracing the best of the local culture while keeping some Western comforts.

Beyond the numbers, Vietnam offers a gain in quality of life that is hard to quantify: a pleasant climate all year round, closeness to nature and beaches, a more relaxed pace of life, and opportunities to travel around Asia for less. For many expats, the real wealth isn't just in the money saved, but in the time regained and a more balanced life.