Ho Chi Minh City for a one to three month stay
Ho Chi Minh City, also called Saigon, is Vietnam's biggest city. It has the widest choice of flats, cafes and coworking spaces, and also the heaviest traffic and the hottest weather.
Prices below are rough. They come from travel and cost sites, and none is an official statistic. Anything we could not confirm says "check before you go".
Where to live
- District 1. The busy center, with the most restaurants, rooftop bars and offices.
- Thao Dien. Leafy streets, cafes and brunch spots across the river. A favorite for long stays.
- Binh Thanh. A local feel and good cafes, close to the center.
Rent and monthly costs
Rough figures at about 26,000 dong to the dollar 1:
| Item | Rough monthly cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| One bedroom, Thao Dien | VND 10 to 22 million, about $400 to $870 | Higher for a sublet and for newer buildings 2 |
| One bedroom, asking prices | Up to about $1,200 | One agency listing; asking prices can be negotiable 2 |
| Citywide one bedroom | About $420, or about $560 in the center | Modeled, Feb 2026 3 |
| Coworking desk | About $60 to $150, up to about $350 | Local spaces at the low end, international brands at the high end 4 |
| SIM with data | About VND 150,000, about $6 | A 30 day plan from a store 5 |
| Scooter | VND 1.5 to 3.5 million, about $60 to $135 | Saigon prices 6 |
Typical total for one person: about $970 for a digital nomad and about $1,330 for an expat professional in one modeled snapshot 3. This is a rough sum, not a quote.
Coworking and cafes
Ho Chi Minh City has one of the widest choices of coworking spaces and cafes with strong wifi. A flexible desk in District 1 is listed at $115 to $145 a month by a provider that sells desks 4. Another comparison runs from about $58 at local spaces to about $346 at international operators 4. Visit before you pay for a month.
Weather by month
The wet season usually runs from May to November, and September is the wettest month. December to April is dry 7.
| Month | Daily high (C) | Daily low (C) | Rain (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32 | 23 | 12 |
| February | 33 | 23 | 8 |
| March | 34 | 25 | 18 |
| April | 35 | 26 | 57 |
| May | 35 | 26 | 202 |
| June | 34 | 26 | 224 |
| July | 33 | 25 | 231 |
| August | 33 | 25 | 219 |
| September | 33 | 25 | 490 |
| October | 32 | 25 | 340 |
| November | 32 | 25 | 128 |
| December | 32 | 24 | 41 |
December and January are the most comfortable. March to May is the hottest 7.
Getting there and around
Tan Son Nhat airport is inside the city. Ride apps are everywhere. Traffic is heavy at rush hour, so leave extra time, and walking works well inside one area. A scooter is not needed.
Nearest border run
Moc Bai to Bavet in Cambodia is the usual run. It is 2.5 to 4 hours by bus to the gate, and a bus seat to Phnom Penh costs about $14 to $20 one way. Your new e-visa must name Moc Bai as the entry port 8. The border runs guide has costs and visa notes.
Plan the rest
Work out what your passport gets in the visa check. If your stay is longer than one visa, read about border runs. Then add up your own month in the budget tool.
Questions about staying here
How much should I plan for one month in Ho Chi Minh City?
One modeled snapshot gives about $970 for a nomad and $1,330 for an expat professional 3. Rent and a desk are the swing items. Check before you go.
Which area suits a first month?
Thao Dien and District 1 have the most cafes and coworking spaces. Binh Thanh is calmer and cheaper.
When is the best time to stay?
December to February is drier and a little cooler 7.
How long can I stay on one visa?
An e-visa covers up to 90 days 9. See the visa check for what your passport gets.
Sources
All pages were read on Oct 20, 2026. Most price pages are travel sites that collect user numbers, not official statistics.
- vietnamspot.ru, Nha Trang rent guide (landlords quote in US dollars, about 26,000 dong to the dollar in 2026, rent by area): vietnamspot.ru
- AffordWhere, Thao Dien rents (Jan 2026 figures): affordwhere.com
- worldcostofliving.com, Ho Chi Minh City (Feb 2026, modeled): worldcostofliving.com
- vietnamspot.ru, Ho Chi Minh City coworking (Sep 2026): vietnamspot.ru
- Saily, SIM cards in Vietnam (a 30 day Viettel plan from a store, about VND 150,000): saily.com
- vietnamtourism.com, monthly motorbike rental in Saigon (VND 1.5 to 3.5 million a month): vietnamtourism.com
- Wikipedia, Ho Chi Minh City, climate table: en.wikipedia.org
- Our border runs guide (read Oct 18, 2026): vietnam90days.com
- Wikipedia, Visa policy of Vietnam (e-visa up to 90 days, Phu Quoc 30 days): en.wikipedia.org