Vietnam: cost of living

How fast are prices rising in Vietnam?

Prices in Viet Nam were 4.52% higher on average in the first nine months of 2026 than a year earlier, according to the National Statistics Office socio-economic report. Housing, electricity, water, fuel and building materials rose 6.68%, transport 6.06%, and food and catering 4.72%.

Food and catering added 1.69 percentage points to the overall rise, the largest contribution. In September, prices were 4.20% higher than in December 2025. 35.9% of households said rising prices of goods and services had hurt their living standards in the first nine months of 2026.

Official sources: NSO: Socio-economic report, Q3 and 9 months of 2026 (Vietnamese, DOCX)

Are petrol prices rising in Vietnam?

The petrol price index in Viet Nam rose 9.39% in September 2026 compared with August, and diesel prices rose 4.53%, according to the National Statistics Office socio-economic report, after domestic fuel prices were adjusted to follow world prices.

Transport prices rose 3.97% in the month, adding 0.40 percentage points to consumer price inflation. The Ministry of Industry and Trade posts fuel policy news; current pump prices per litre could not be read on its website on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: NSO: Socio-economic report, Q3 and 9 months of 2026 (Vietnamese, DOCX) · Ministry of Industry and Trade

What is the poverty rate in Vietnam?

1.3% of households in Viet Nam were multidimensionally poor in 2025, down from 2.3% in 2024, according to preliminary data in the National Statistics Office Statistical Summary Book 2025. The rate was 0.5% in urban areas and 1.9% in rural areas.

The Northern Midlands and Mountains had the highest rate, 4.6%. Multidimensional poverty uses the government's standard, which counts both income and access to services such as health, education and housing. By the World Bank's international line of US$3.00 a day, 1.6% of people were poor in 2022, according to the World Bank.

Official sources: NSO: Statistical Summary Book of Viet Nam 2025 (PDF) · World Bank: poverty at $3.00 a day, Viet Nam

How fast are school and medical costs rising in Vietnam?

Education prices in Viet Nam rose 1.41% in September 2026 from August, as the new school year began, and medicines and health services rose 0.24%, according to the National Statistics Office socio-economic report.

In the third quarter as a whole, education prices were 3.44% higher than a year earlier and medicines and health services 1.32% higher. The figures are part of the monthly consumer price index.

Official sources: NSO: Socio-economic report, Q3 and 9 months of 2026 (Vietnamese, DOCX)

How fast are prices rising in Vietnam?

3.3%: that is consumer price inflation in Vietnam for 2025, according to the IMF. Its high point since 2005 was 2008, at 23.1%; its low point was 2015, at 0.6%. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 2.2%, and Vietnam placed 7th highest of 24. Of 165 countries with 2025 data, 76th highest.

How much do households in Vietnam spend per person?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2025, is $2,382. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 11th highest of 12 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is $3,794. Of 124 countries with 2025 data, 82nd highest.

How many people in Vietnam live on under $3 a day?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2022, is 1.6%. The peak was 23.7% in 2006 and the low 1.3% in 2020. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 0.4%, and Vietnam placed 2nd highest of 5. Of 72 countries with 2022 data, 30th highest.

What share of Vietnam lives below the poverty line?

In 2022, the share of people below the national poverty line in Vietnam was 4.2%, according to the World Bank. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2006. World rank, highest first: 50th of 52.

What is Vietnam's Gini coefficient?

The World Bank puts the Gini index in Vietnam at 36.1 in 2022. Its high point since 2006 was 2010, at 39.3; its low point was 2014, at 34.8. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 35.5, and Vietnam placed 1st highest of 5. Of 72 countries with 2022 data, 28th highest.

How many people in Vietnam go hungry?

According to the FAO, moderate or severe food insecurity in Vietnam was 9.4% in 2024. The peak was 10.8% in 2022 and the low 6.3% in 2017. It is 12th highest of 17 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 15.4%. Of 135 countries with 2024 data, 94th highest.