What rent and the move cost
Monthly rent and utilities for a one-bedroom, plus the one-time cost of getting there and settling in. The move covers the visa fee, a one-way flight with three extra bags (averaged across five US airports), three weeks of temporary lodging, the apartment move-in, a starter kit for the new place and a 10% cushion.
| City size | Example cities | Rent, 1BR | Utilities | One-time move |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big city | Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi | $500 | $95 | $4,445 |
| Mid-size city | Da Nang, Nha Trang | $469 | $77 | $4,244 |
| Smaller town | Hue, Can Tho | $163 | $43 | $2,759 |
Not included: groceries, transport and health insurance. Amounts in US dollars at the exchange rates in the planner’s data.
Getting in and staying
US citizens need a visitor e-visa, good for up to 90 days.
The planner has no remote-work visa for Vietnam. The option it uses is a visitor e-visa, which isn’t permission to work or live there long term. The application fee in the planner is about $50.
Visa rules change often. Check the official immigration or consular page before you apply. Our sources page explains where these figures come from.
Signing a lease
Plan on about 3 months’ rent up front when you sign: about two months’ deposit plus the first month (a planning estimate; leases vary). In a mid-size city that’s about $1,407.
Language and time zone
Low English proficiency (EF EPI 2025). Expect to use a translation app outside tourist areas. When it’s 9 a.m. in New York, it’s 9 p.m. in Ho Chi Minh City. Keeping full US working hours here means early mornings or late nights.
Worth knowing
A visitor e-visa tops out at 90 days, so a longer stay means leaving and coming back or finding a different visa, which the planner doesn’t cover.
See where you fit
The 1-minute quiz matches your income, savings and the kind of place you want with three of these ten countries. The Expat Relocation Planner builds the full budget for Vietnam with your own airport, household and savings.
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