📝 The Real Cost of Living Slowly in Vietnam – My Honest Monthly Budget

📝 The Real Cost of Living Slowly in Vietnam – My Honest Monthly Budget
(By Kim Ngân – thekimngan.com)

 
A Quiet Life Has a Cost Too
People often think living in Vietnam is cheap.

And yes, on paper, it might be. But what does cheap really mean when you’re trying to live meaningfully?

After leaving behind the rush of corporate life and choosing to live more slowly here in Saigon, I’ve realized something:
Living simply doesn’t mean living without value. It means living with intention.

So today, I’m opening up my monthly budget—not as a way to show off how little I spend, but to share what it actually costs to live slowly, honestly, and peacefully in Vietnam.

 
1. Home – A Quiet Place We Call Our Own
One of the most important parts of our slow life is the place we live in.

Unlike many who rent, my husband and I live in our own small house tucked in a quiet corner of Ho Chi Minh City. It’s simple, filled with morning light, and surrounded by the soft noise of birds and neighborhood sounds. There’s a small balcony where I grow herbs, and a kitchen where most of our daily joy begins.

There’s no monthly rent, but of course, there are still costs—maintenance, repairs, and the effort it takes to care for a space with love.

We set aside around $50/month for home-related upkeep, even if we don’t pay rent.

 
2. Food – Cooking at Home, Eating Well for Less
We rarely eat out—not because we’re trying to save, but because we simply enjoy cooking at home.
Each morning starts with warm rice, steamed vegetables, and a pot of green tea. Lunch might be a simple canh chua or a stir-fry with seasonal greens. Dinner, often leftovers and soft conversations.

Groceries from the local market usually cost us around $120/month for two people. Everything is fresh, often from the Mekong Delta—my childhood home.

 
3. Transport – Walking, Buses, and the Occasional Grab
We don’t own a motorbike. Living slowly means we walk a lot, and it’s how we notice small things—like how the sunlight plays on the sidewalk or how the smell of bánh mì shifts from one corner to the next.

Most days, we walk or take the bus. Occasionally, we use Grab for convenience.
On average, we spend about $25/month on transport.

 
4. Utilities & Internet – Just Enough to Be Comfortable
Electricity, water, and internet add up to about $35/month.
We don’t use air conditioning all day—just a fan and open windows. The internet is stable enough for remote work and my weekly uploads to YouTube.

Simplicity doesn’t mean discomfort—it just means being aware of what you really need.

 
5. Health & Self-Care – A Little Goes a Long Way
We set aside $30/month for basic health needs, including vitamins, herbal teas, and occasional checkups at local clinics. I also keep a small fund for self-care—essential oils, a massage every now and then, or a quiet coffee alone when I need to recharge.

Taking care of yourself isn’t about spending more. It’s about listening to your body and honoring what it whispers.

 
6. Small Luxuries – Books, Cafés, and Meaningful Things
Even in a quiet life, small luxuries matter.

For me, it’s a beautiful notebook, a new book from the secondhand store, a cup of coffee in a place that smells of wood and rain.

These small joys cost around $40/month. But their value can’t be measured.

 
7. My Honest Monthly Budget – Living on $300–$320
Here’s a breakdown of what we typically spend in a month:

Category                                 Monthly Cost (USD)             

Home Maintenance               $50
Groceries                                $120
Transport                                $25
Utilities & Internet                 $35
Health & Self-Care                 $30
Small Luxuries                         $40
Total                                         $300–$320
This is not a “bare minimum” lifestyle. It’s a conscious one.
Every item on this list is a choice—rooted in values, not sacrifice.

 
💬 “Time is the most generous currency Vietnam gave me.”
– Kim Ngân
 
It’s Not About Money. It’s About Meaning.
Some people move to Vietnam to save money.
I moved to find time again.

Time to cook slowly.
Time to write again.
Time to look out the window and not rush.

If you're dreaming of a life where you can spend less and live more—Vietnam, and a quieter way of living, might just be waiting for you too.

 
📺 Watch the video version of this story here:
👉 “The Real Cost of Living Slowly in Vietnam” – on YouTube

🌿 More real-life stories at thekimngan.com
#thekimngan – Travel Quietly. Live Deeply.

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