Vietnam vs Costa Rica — Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Updated March 2026
Vietnam has a cost of living index of 30.0 with average 1BR rent around $470/mo, while Costa Rica sits at 64.0 with rent near $720/mo. Below is the full side-by-side breakdown for digital nomads, expats and remote workers weighing a move.
| Metric | Vietnam | Costa Rica | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortgage Interest Rate | 10.50% | 8.50% | Costa Rica |
| Savings Account Interest Rate | 5.20% | 4.50% | Vietnam |
| Credit Card Interest Rate (APR) | 25.0% | 36.0% | Vietnam |
| Average Rent (1BR City Centre) | US$470/mo | US$720/mo | Vietnam |
| Real Estate Price (per m²) | US$3,800/m² | US$2,200/m² | Costa Rica |
Summary
Vietnam has a higher mortgage rate than Costa Rica at 10.50% vs 8.50%. Rental costs in Vietnam average $470/month compared to $720 in Costa Rica, while the cost of living index sits at 30.0 versus 64.0. Overall, the two countries trade strengths across financial and lifestyle metrics.
Which is better for you?
Take the 30-second quiz to find your best match.
Start quiz →Full country profiles
Also compare
How we calculate this
Cost of living, rent, mortgage, savings and tax figures combine official sources (World Bank, central banks, national statistics offices) with crowdsourced price data, refreshed regularly. Full breakdown: read our methodology.
Want to compare more countries?
Build your own side-by-side with any two countries in our database.
Open the compare tool →