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Evan Eh! June 16, 2026 1m

Calgary vs. HCMC: Shocking Cost of Living Differences!

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  1. I groceries for one person at 6:00 to I groceries for one person at 6:00 to 800 bucks. I'd utilities, internet. 800 bucks. I'd utilities, internet. 800 bucks. I'd utilities, internet. You're spending $5,000 Canadian a month You're spending $5,000 Canadian a month You're spending $5,000 Canadian a month before you've done anything, you know, before you've done anything, you know, before you've done anything, you know, just to like a basic life before a just to like a basic life before a just to like a basic life before a restaurant meal, before a vacation, restaurant meal, before a vacation, restaurant meal, before a vacation, before any savings, before buying coffee before any savings, before buying coffee before any savings, before buying coffee on the way to work that's literally on the way to work that's literally on the way to work that's literally going to freeze in your hand in the going to freeze in your hand in the going to freeze in your hand in the parking lot. parking lot. parking lot. Okay. Okay. Okay. Now, let me tell you what I actually Now, let me tell you what I actually Now, let me tell you what I actually spend here in Ho Chi Minh, a beautiful, spend here in Ho Chi Minh, a beautiful, spend here in Ho Chi Minh, a beautiful, modern, fast-growing city, an Asian modern, fast-growing city, an Asian modern, fast-growing city, an Asian megacity. One bedroom, two bath condo, megacity. One bedroom, two bath condo, megacity. One bedroom, two bath condo, sorry, not what what am I talking about sorry, not what what am I talking about sorry, not what what am I talking about one bedroom? My bedroom is a one bedroom? My bedroom is a one bedroom? My bedroom is a three bedroom, two bath condo in a safe, three bedroom, two bath condo in a safe, three bedroom, two bath condo in a safe, clean, upper-middle-class part of the clean, upper-middle-class part of the clean, upper-middle-class part of the city, fully furnished, air conditioning, city, fully furnished, air conditioning, city, fully furnished, air conditioning, the kind of place I would have literally the kind of place I would have literally the kind of place I would have literally considered like aspirational in my 20s. considered like aspirational in my 20s. considered like aspirational in my 20s. It rents for about $1,000 a month on the It rents for about $1,000 a month on the It rents for about $1,000 a month on the open market. Could be up to 1,100 or open market. Could be up to 1,100 or open market. Could be up to 1,100 or 1,200 depending on the amenities in the 1,200 depending on the amenities in the 1,200 depending on the amenities in the building. Food isn't a significant building. Food isn't a significant building. Food isn't a significant budget item. A proper meal at a local budget item. A proper meal at a local budget item. A proper meal at a local restaurant is still $2 to $4. A great restaurant is still $2 to $4. A great restaurant is still $2 to $4. A great meal can be 10 to 15, a date night. You meal can be 10 to 15, a date night. You meal can be 10 to 15, a date night. You know, according to my budgeting app, my know, according to my budgeting app, my know, according to my budgeting app, my wife and I spend about $300 a month wife and I spend about $300 a month wife and I spend about $300 a month ordering out or or ordering delivery, ordering out or or ordering delivery, ordering out or or ordering delivery, and we're a family of four.

Summary

The transcript contrasts the high cost of living in Canada with the affordability in Ho Chi Minh City, highlighting significantly lower expenses for housing and food. It uses a family of four's monthly food budget as a key comparison point. The takeaway is that embracing expat life in a developing megacity offers substantial financial advantages for basic living and lifestyle choices.

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