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Hanoi vs Kota Kinabalu cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇻🇳 Hanoi
🇲🇾 Kota KinabaluHanoi is 23% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu
Living on $1,422 a month in Hanoi feels like about $1,526 in Kota Kinabalu — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$57.8 vs $80.5
Per month
$1,422 vs $1,526
Local meal
â‚« 50,000 vs RM 12
$1.9 vs $2.79
Taxi 5 km
â‚« 85,000 vs RM 15
$3.23 vs $3.49
At a glance
FoodHanoi 27% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHanoi 61% cheaper
TransportHanoi 42% cheaper
StayHanoi 15% cheaper
FunHanoi 40% cheaper
- Where Kota Kinabalu is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (18%↓)
- Where Hanoi is clearly cheaper: Beer (67%↓), Cocktail & wine (67%↓), Transit (54%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Hanoi | Kota Kinabalu | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 50,000$1.9 | RM 12$2.79 | Hanoi −32% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 23,000$0.87 | RM 5.4$1.26 | Hanoi −30% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 230,000$8.75 | RM 45$10.5 | Hanoi −16% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | RM 10$2.33 | Hanoi −35% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 30,000$1.14 | RM 15$3.49 | Hanoi −67% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 78,000$2.97 | RM 39$9.07 | Hanoi −67% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | RM 1.5$0.35 | Hanoi −13% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | RM 3.8$0.88 | Hanoi −14% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 85,000$3.23 | RM 15$3.49 | Hanoi −7% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 39,000$1.48 | RM 12$2.79 | Hanoi −47% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | RM 2.5$0.58 | Hanoi −54% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | RM 50$11.6 | Hanoi −48% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 800,000$30.4 | RM 200$46.5 | Hanoi −35% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 12,000,000$456 | RM 1,600$372 | Kota Kinabalu −18% |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | RM 8$1.86 | Hanoi −35% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | RM 30$6.98 | Hanoi −13% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | RM 28$6.51 | Hanoi −47% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 260,000$9.89 | RM 80$18.6 | Hanoi −47% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 660,000$25.1 | RM 180$41.9 | Hanoi −40% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | RM 30$6.98 | Hanoi −29% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Hanoi or Kota Kinabalu?
Hanoi is 23% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu. Daily budget $57.8 vs $80.5; a month $1,422 vs $1,526.
How do monthly costs compare between Hanoi and Kota Kinabalu?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Hanoi is about $1,422 and Kota Kinabalu about $1,526 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.