Moving to Vietnam from Kentucky

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Kentucky to Vietnam? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Kentucky to Vietnam, you would find that Vietnam is 55.5% cheaper than Kentucky. A $75,000 salary in Kentucky would need to be roughly ₫1,137,800,986 in Vietnam to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Vietnamese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hanoi averages 82°F vs 69°F in Bowling Green, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Kentucky and Vietnam.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 ₫1,137,800,986

To maintain the same standard of living in Vietnam

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 76.6% less

Groceries

pay 42.4% less

Transportation

pay 35.4% less

Housing

pay 76.2% less

Childcare

pay 62.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 67.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 26312.4 VND (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Kentucky to Vietnam.

Living there in 2020
3,335 ↑ 5% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Vietnam · UN DESA

Who's moving to Vietnam?

Top countries of origin for Vietnam's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Vietnam compared to Kentucky.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

KY
38.2%
VN
2.1%

Vietnam performs significantly better than Kentucky across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

KY
87.4%
VN
74.0%

Kentucky performs better than Vietnam across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

KY
3.5%
VN
1.6%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

KY
$50,135
VN
$13,700

Vietnam generally does better on employment & economy, though Kentucky leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

KY
73.5 yrs
VN
75.5 yrs

Vietnam performs significantly better than Kentucky across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bowling Green Rain: 49.9 in/yr (1267 mm)
69° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Hanoi Rain: 64.1 in/yr (1628 mm)
82° / 70°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bowling Green Hanoi
Jan–Mar 52°/31°F (11°/-1°C) 71°/62°F (22°/16°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (25°/13°C) 88°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 87°/64°F (30°/18°C) 90°/78°F (32°/26°C)
Oct–Dec 59°/38°F (15°/3°C) 79°/66°F (26°/19°C)
View all months
Month Bowling Green Hanoi
Jan 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.1°C) 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C)
Feb 50°/30°F (10.0°/-1.3°C) 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C)
Mar 60°/37°F (15.4°/2.8°C) 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C)
Apr 70°/46°F (20.9°/7.6°C) 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.8°C) 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C)
Jun 86°/64°F (30.1°/17.7°C) 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C)
Jul 89°/68°F (31.9°/19.9°C) 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C)
Aug 89°/66°F (31.6°/18.9°C) 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C)
Sep 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.4°C) 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C)
Oct 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C)
Nov 59°/38°F (15.2°/3.1°C) 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C)
Dec 48°/29°F (8.8°/-1.6°C) 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Vietnam. To live, work, or study long-term in Vietnam, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Vietnam's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Vietnam

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United States passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Vietnam.
Vietnam passport

Vietnam passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Vietnam passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Vietnam than Kentucky?

On average Vietnam is about 42% less expensive than Kentucky, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Vietnam?

Budget about ₫284,450,246 for 3 months in Vietnam (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Vietnam?

From major Vietnam cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Kentucky and Vietnam are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Vietnam compared to Kentucky?

Vietnam performs significantly better than Kentucky across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Vietnam compared to Kentucky?

The average high temperature in Hanoi is 82°F, compared to 69°F in Bowling Green. Hanoi receives around 64.1 in of rainfall per year, while Bowling Green gets 49.9 in.

What language do they speak in Vietnam?

The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese. In Kentucky, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

VN
Population 4,339,367 103,808,319
Currency United States Dollar ($) Vietnamese Dong (₫)
Languages English Vietnamese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +84
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 113