Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been recognized by a international database as one of the most affordable Southeast Asian cities.
The Cost of Living Index 2018 calculated that Saigon has entered into the top 10 cheapest cities in Southeast Asia at No. 9, while Hanoi locked up the 7th spot on the list, as reported by VnExpress. The Cost of Living Index, conducted by Numbeo, is the world’s largest database of users contributed data about cities and countries around the world.
The city of Valenzuela in the Philippines nabbed the first spot, while the rest of the top ten are all cities in the Philippines and Indonesia.
Numbeo comes up with the index by factoring in the costs of restaurants, housing, groceries and purchasing power in order to create an average cost of living in each city.
Singapore, Bangkok, Makati, Phuket, and Johor Bahru of Malaysia topped the other end of the list as the most expensive cities in Southeast Asia.
Last February, Forbes interviewed 14 travel experts and named Vietnam one of the most affordable destinations to visit in 2017 calling it "a standout among budget-friendly South Asian destinations."
Later in 2017, Ho Chi Minh City was named by Expatistan.com, another database that specializes in compiling costs of living around the globe, one of the most affordable cities for a couple’s night out.
Last September, InterNations’ Expat Insider 2017 survey also found that Vietnam was the most inexpensive country in the world for foreigners.
Vietnam is becoming well-known for its luxury hotels, exquisite and diverse cuisine and stunning sites of natural beauty, all at a low-cost.
[Photo by Nguyen Xuan Trang via VnExpress]
