What if you were born in Vietnam?

If you had grown up in Vietnam instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Ho Chi Minh City could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Islands and boats in Hạ Long Bay. Photo: Taewangkorea, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Vietnam

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in VND and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Vietnam: VND 8,840,000Rs 95,200
Rent (city centre): VND 2,550,000
Transport (public transport): VND 601,000
Food: VND 1,280,000
Saved: VND 1,330,000

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Vietnam: VND 20,310,000Rs 219,000
Rent (suburbs): VND 5,180,000
Transport (public transport): VND 1,380,000
Food: VND 3,450,000
Saved: VND 3,050,000

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Vietnam: VND 32,910,000Rs 354,000
Rent (city centre): VND 8,060,000
Transport (car): VND 3,080,000
Food: VND 4,030,000
Saved: VND 9,220,000

Try it with my own income

A day in Ho Chi Minh City

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Ho Chi Minh City, a city of mild winters around 26°C and hot summers near 31°C.
Commute
Public transport is limited here, so you share rides or use taxis and buses for a longer commute.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
Everything happens in Vietnamese; English is not widely spoken.
Lunch
Lunch might be pho: rice noodle soup with beef or chicken and fresh herbs.
Evening
You get home with VND 3,050,000 saved each month. You stay alert in some areas at night.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast, the mountains and forest trails.

Vietnam compared with Pakistan

	Vietnam	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	1.3× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	75 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	25 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	1.5%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	28°C	26°C
Languages	Vietnamese	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	VND	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Vietnam, living in Vietnam and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Vietnam?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around VND 20,310,000 a month at the same level in Vietnam (about Rs 219,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Vietnam more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 1.3 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Vietnam?

Mainly Vietnamese. English is not widely spoken.

Can I actually move to Vietnam?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Vietnam page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.