Expatriate Forums in Vietnam

ivychee

HI :
My name is Ivy.
Currently we are still in Malaysia.
The whole family will be relocated to Vietnam, near HCM.
My hsuband will be work in Hai Phong area.
We need yr help to advise on how much is the salary that we should request to our company in order to settel cost of living in HCM.

family: husband, wife with 3yrs old kid and a small baby
expat.school: company paid.
Type of car wanted: Honda City or Toyota
place stay: try to find as near Hai Phong as well.
Room: 3 bed room.
facility needed: broadband, air-corn.

Pls advise, we are worry that after we confirm to company on this package, we unable cover our expenses.

Thanks
Ivy

somesome · Guest Home Country: countryx

Living Costs in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

For your information, here are some usefull cost information

House / 3 bedroom : From 1000 USD (Reasonnable house) to 3000 USD (Beautifull Villa)

Costs are quoted in USD.
Are of cost Min. Max. Usual
Restaurants
Main course in Vietnamese restaurant $0.5 $4 $3
Main course in good foreign owned restaurant $3.5 $10 $5
Coffee $0.3 $1.5 $0.6
Coke $0.25 $1.5 $0.8
Beer (33cl. Bottle) $0.6 $2.5 $1.6
Bars and nightclubs
Beer $1.5 $3.50 $1.7
Coke $1 $2 $1.2
Gin and tonic $3 $4 $3.5
Household costs
Maid (cleaning, laundry, etc.) - per month $50
Rent - shared house - per month $150 $350 $225
Rent - room only - per month (inc. elec.) $150 $300 $200
Electricity (inc. air-conditioning) - per month $20 $30 $25
Getting around the city
Taxi - per km $0.8
Motorbike taxi - per ride $0.5
Motorbike rental - per month $70
Shopping
For men
Menís shirts - foreign brand names, made for export $8
Casual trousers - foreign brand names, made for export $15
Trousers - tailor-made $25
Suit - tailor made $80
Shirt - tailor-made $12
Adidas/ Nike sports shoes $25
For women
Skirt/ dress - tailor made (depending on material used) $17
Shirt/ blouse - tailor-made (inc. material) $15
Shoes - hand made $35
Doctor consultations
Local doctorís practice (out-patient; visit/ checkup) $12
Foreign run health clinic (out-patient; visit/ checkup) $45

Pharmaceuticals
Imported pharmaceutical products are very cheap and readily available.

Dentists
Reliable, modern, clean and cheap

General
Practically everything is available in Ho Chi Minh City. Costs vary from with those of the West, but as a general rule of thumb, everyday products are cheaper, especially if produced in Vietnam.

noaharkrider · Joined: 21 Apr 2005 Posts: 4 Home Country: NULL

For your information...

very few cars in Vietnam...EVERYONE drives Motorbikes...so you DO see cars but it is rare to have them. Would be more expensive to have a car than just drive around on motorbike...also be careful about traffic.

noaharkrider · Joined: 21 Apr 2005 Posts: 4 Home Country: NULL

wanted to add...I think his idea of housing prices were a bit inflated...

ivychee · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 4:46 pm Post subject:

HI all :
Thanks for yr really clear info.
especially would like to thank "someone", you have provide me a clear picture of " cost of living there"

By the way, is that very difficult to get local maid?
Usually how do those expat. settle their transpotation issue?
buy second hand car? rent car?
To take motorbike to work , how is the security ?
How long we should spend the time to reach HCM from Hai Phong ?
How is the security there? I mean around HCM town?
I have go thro web side before.
I found rental 2 bed room or 3 bed room , the rental is around USD600-USD800.
But I'm not sure how is the house condition.
Do you all have any idea?

Appreaciate if you all can advise me again.

Thanks

bullmarket · Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 6 Home Country: vietnam