Hanoi, HCMC among 20 most expensive cities in Southeast Asia
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A new index puts Hanoi 13th and HCMC 15th on the list of 20 most expensive Southeast Asian cities. The new Cost of Living Index for the region has been compiled by Numbeo.com, the world’s largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide. According to Numbeo, a person spends on average $447.25 a month in Hanoi exclusive of rent. For a four-person family, this figure would be $1,601. Hanoi’s cost of living ranks 316th among 440 cities in the world.
Meanwhile, in HCMC, the average monthly expense for a single person excluding rent is $434.94, and $1,562 for a family of four. HCMC ranks 320th out of 440 cities in the world, and is 61.50 percent less expensive than New York.
This year, Singapore, Southeast Asia’s biggest business hub, remains the most expensive city in the region. The city-state is immediately followed by Bangkok of Thailand. Yangon in Myanmar is in third place, a surprise as the city did not even make the top 30 in mid-2018.
Many Southeast Asian capitals are featured in the list, with Phnom Penh of Cambodia ranked fifth, Jakarta of Indonesia, 11th, and Manila of the Philippines, 14th.
Numbeo says that its survey has taken into account several factors including house rents, cost of eating out, and purchasing power needed to live a comfortable life to come with a cost of living index for 20 major cities in Southeast Asia.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is the average monthly cost of living for a single person in Hanoi, excluding rent?
What is the average monthly cost of living for a single person in Hanoi, excluding rent?
A person in Hanoi spends on average $447.25 a month, not including rent. For a four-person family, this figure increases to $1,601 per month.
Q.How do Hanoi and HCMC compare to other cities globally in terms of cost of living?
How do Hanoi and HCMC compare to other cities globally in terms of cost of living?
Hanoi ranks 316th among 440 cities worldwide, while HCMC ranks 320th out of 440. HCMC is also 61.50 percent less expensive than New York.
Q.Which city is considered the most expensive in Southeast Asia according to this index?
Which city is considered the most expensive in Southeast Asia according to this index?
Singapore remains the most expensive city in the region, followed immediately by Bangkok. Yangon in Myanmar surprisingly comes in third place.
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