Moving to Vietnam from Maryland

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Maryland to Vietnam — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Maryland to Vietnam, you would find that Vietnam is 70.5% cheaper than Maryland. A $75,000 salary in Maryland would need to be roughly ₫572,000,000 in Vietnam to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Vietnamese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Ho Chi Minh City averages 91°F vs 70°F in Baltimore, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Vietnam cheaper than Maryland?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 82.3% less

Groceries

pay 55.8% less

Transportation

pay 54.1% less

Housing

pay 79.6% less

Childcare

pay 72.8% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 76.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 25843.13 VND (October 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.

What salary do you need in Vietnam?

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 → ₫572,000,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Vietnam

Calculate with your salary →

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Vietnam cost about 52% less than cities in Maryland.

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Maryland to Vietnam, based on official data.

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

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Maryland to Vietnam.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

MD
33.4%
VN
2.4%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

MD
91.6%
VN
84.2%

Maryland 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

MD
3.7%
VN
1.5%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

MD
$69,127
VN
$5,066

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

MD
76.8 yrs
VN
74.7 yrs

Maryland performs better than Vietnam across all family life metrics.

Weather in Vietnam vs Maryland

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Baltimore Rain: 42.4 in/yr (1078 mm)
70° / 53°F

Avg. annual high / low

Ho Chi Minh City Rain: 65.1 in/yr (1653 mm)
91° / 77°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Baltimore Ho Chi Minh City
Jan–Mar 51°/35°F (11°/2°C) 91°/75°F (33°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 94°/79°F (34°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/71°F (31°/22°C) 91°/77°F (33°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 60°/44°F (16°/7°C) 90°/76°F (32°/25°C)
View all months
Month Baltimore Ho Chi Minh City
Jan 46°/32°F (8.0°/-0.1°C) 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.4°C)
Feb 49°/34°F (9.5°/1.2°C) 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.1°C)
Mar 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.5°C) 92°/77°F (33.6°/24.9°C)
Apr 69°/51°F (20.8°/10.4°C) 94°/80°F (34.5°/26.4°C)
May 79°/61°F (26.3°/16.1°C) 95°/80°F (34.9°/26.4°C)
Jun 89°/71°F (31.6°/21.5°C) 92°/78°F (33.5°/25.5°C)
Jul 92°/75°F (33.4°/23.9°C) 91°/77°F (33.0°/25.2°C)
Aug 90°/73°F (32.2°/22.8°C) 91°/77°F (32.9°/25.1°C)
Sep 83°/65°F (28.1°/18.5°C) 91°/77°F (32.6°/25.0°C)
Oct 71°/54°F (21.9°/12.3°C) 90°/77°F (32.3°/25.0°C)
Nov 60°/44°F (15.8°/6.4°C) 90°/77°F (32.4°/24.9°C)
Dec 50°/35°F (9.8°/1.6°C) 89°/75°F (31.6°/23.9°C)

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

Can you move from Maryland to Vietnam?

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 Maryland?

Yes — Vietnam is on average about 70% cheaper than Maryland. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Vietnam?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly ₫143,000,000 in Vietnam on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Vietnam?

Usually fine from major cities in Vietnam. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Vietnam compared to Maryland?

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

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

The average high temperature in Ho Chi Minh City is 91°F, compared to 70°F in Baltimore. Ho Chi Minh City receives around 65.1 in of rainfall per year, while Baltimore gets 42.4 in.

What language do they speak in Vietnam?

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

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At a Glance

VN
Population 6,265,347 101,598,527
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