Rent: $400/month for a small two bed flat closeish to city centre.

Utilities all/month: Electric: $10 - $20, Water $5 - $10, Internet: $20 - $25, Gas: Never had to pay, Motorbike parking $3

Motorbike rent (it's the only way round town - you'll need one): $50/month

Cost of a meal in a nice western restaurant: $10

Cost of a meal in a cheap western/local restaurant: $5 or less

Cost of the veggie street food I eat for lunch most days: Less than $1

Cost of a beer: $1

Cost of a beer in the cheapest local places: $0.25

Cost of eating in: Unknown (kitchen is too small, cant get ingredients)

Cost of a western gym: $60/month

Cost of a decent local gym: $3 per visit

Prices are rising but its still very cheap. The exchange rate can bounce around a bit making dollar/dong (the local currency) comparisons tricky.

I see that some things haven't change there... I can't remember how much I used to pay for a beer when I was there but I sure miss not being there now! I just wish that I had stayed there when I was station there in 68' Thanks for the info.....I just might get red of all the trash here and moved back over there......Mike

I had to laugh when you quoted those VN War era prices :-)

Yeah, I remember those too. I went to Nam in July 68, stationed in Nha Trang for a while, then An Kha to finish my year, then back to Vietnam to sell cars in the PX in AnKhe, almost starved to death because the 4th Division never came like I'd heard they were, moved to PhuBai to sell cars for awhile and then finally/luckily got a job with the USO.

Worked in the Saigon USO downtown on Nguyen Street. If you ever used one of those 'Call Home' phones that we had in some of the USO clubs, Special Services Clubs, Evac Hospitals, and other places....I ran that program for the USO.

I'm just finishing up a contract teaching English here in S.Korea now. Tired of it and looking all the SE Asian countries to see where the cost of living is best and I can still find some Salsa dancing (my hobby).

Kinda wouldn't mind going back to dear ol' Saigon but still not clear on what the cost of living there is. Saigon is such a 'jungle' it seems. But I guess that's part of the charm, isn't it?

Hope you're doing well wherever you are. Lemme know if you get any good 'intell'.

Regards,
Art williams

For example: 1 USD equals 21,000 VND or 1 UK pound equals 33,000 VND Sept.17, 2011

Rent room: 250.00 USD

Indian Food Set: 110,000 VND

Sandwich at Deli (with cheese/ham/tomato/lettuce) : 90,000 VND

Tea or plain Coffee: 18,000 VND-50, 000 VND (it depends on your choice of locaton

Tea or coffee at 4 star hotel: 100,000 VND

Cocktail at 4 star hotel: 400,000 VND

Buffet Breakfast at 4 star hotel: 400,000 or little more

Lunch Set at nice restaurant: 120,000-190,000

Soda: 40,000 or 50,000

Glass of wine: 90,000 VND- 130,000 VND depending on location

Wet Towelette at restaurants: 2,000 VND

vitamin supplements at GNC : 500,000 VND

movie: bargain matinee on Tuesdays: 30,000 ; Regular movie:40,000-70,000 per person depending on
time of day

motorcycle taxi ride within the downtown area 15,000 VND

Taxi cab ride within City Center 30,0000 VND

A rose at upscale florist: 20-25,000 VND each

A rose at low cost florist: 5,000-6,000 VND each

Vietnamese sandwich at a street stall (not in City Center); 12,000 VNd

Freshly Squeezed Juice at Street Stall: 12,000-15,000 VND

Foreign brand candy bar: 20,000-30,000 VND

Pork Bun at convenience store: 12,000 VND

A pack of gum: 3,000-5,000 VND depending on vendor

Cell phone with charger: 500,000

phone card: (MobiPhone) 100,000