Moving to Vietnam from New Zealand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Zealand to Vietnam — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Zealand to Vietnam, you would find that Vietnam is 53.5% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,152 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly ₫1,124,481,296 in Vietnam to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Vietnamese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Hanoi averages 82°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from New Zealand to Vietnam.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$130,152 → ₫1,124,481,296
To maintain the same standard of living in Vietnam
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 75.7% less
Groceries
pay 39.8% less
Transportation
pay 42.9% less
Housing
pay 69.5% less
Childcare
pay 38.8% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 69.5% less
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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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to Vietnam.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs better than Vietnam across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Vietnam leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
New Zealand performs better than Vietnam across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Vietnam leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
New Zealand performs better than Vietnam across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Hanoi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 79°/66°F (26°/19°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Hanoi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Vietnam
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Vietnam passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa RequiredData: 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 New Zealand?
Yes — Vietnam is on average about 43% cheaper than New Zealand. 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 ₫281,120,324 in Vietnam on a NZ$130,152 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Vietnam?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Vietnam has 21.7 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Vietnam safe for expats?
New Zealand performs better than Vietnam across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Vietnam is 1.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Vietnam compared to New Zealand?
Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 8.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Vietnam, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Vietnam scores 68 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Vietnam compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Hanoi is 82°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Hanoi receives around 64.1 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Vietnam?
The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
