ANN/VIETNAM NEWS – “With the same monthly income of VND18 million (USD720), my family’s quality of life improved dramatically when I moved from HCM City to Binh Duong for work,” said Tran Trong Nhan, originally from Ca Mau in the south.
After two years of living and working in Binh Duong, Nhan noted that his family’s finances had stabilised.
“Living costs, including accommodation, are 20 to 50 per cent higher in HCM City compared to nearby provinces like Binh Duong. On the same salary, my family of three could barely cover basic expenses in the city, with no money left for leisure, travel, or savings,” he explained.
He highlighted housing as a major factor, noting that renting a 20-square-metre room in HCM City costs between VND2.5 and VND4 million (USD100-160) per month, while a similar room in Binh Duong, with better quality, costs only VND1.5 million (USD60). Other expenses, such as kindergarten fees, are also significantly lower in Binh Duong. Thanks to the reduction in costs, Nhan’s family can now save money and spend on leisure activities, including family outings and trips.
Nhan’s experience reflects a growing trend of workers leaving HCM City due to its high cost of living. Rising prices for housing, utilities, and daily necessities are making it increasingly difficult for many families to sustain themselves. Even those with stable jobs and decent incomes find themselves struggling to make ends meet.
Another case is migrant worker Le Van Thuong, 26, from the central province of Thanh Hoa, who recently decided to leave after four years working in HCM City.
Before moving south, Thuong worked for a tourism event organisation in Hanoi.
Attracted by HCM City’s vibrant job market and abundant opportunities for young people, he moved to the city in 2019, just before the Covid-19 pandemic began.
During the pandemic, he faced prolonged social distancing and harsh challenges
After the city reopened, Thuong found work at an event organisation company with a monthly salary of VND15 million (USD600).
However, high living costs in the city left him unable to save or even afford trips back to his hometown for holidays like Tet (Lunar New Year).
“Living in HCM City is expensive. Home rent, food, and other essentials leave no room for savings,” Thuong said.
After weighing his options for more than a week, he decided to move back to his hometown Thanh Hoa, where he found a job offering 20 per cent higher pay than his previous one in the city.
Nhan and Thuong are part of a broader trend that is reshaping the labour landscape in HCM City.
Over the past decade, the city has been a magnet for migrant labour from across Vietnam, thanks to its dynamic economy, infrastructure, and job opportunities.
