Moving to Vietnam from South Carolina
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Carolina to Vietnam? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Carolina to Vietnam, you would find that Vietnam is 58.1% cheaper than South Carolina. A $75,000 salary in South Carolina would need to be roughly ₫995,450,879 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 66°F in Columbia, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between South Carolina and Vietnam.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → ₫995,450,879
To maintain the same standard of living in Vietnam
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 80.0% less
Groceries
pay 51.2% less
Transportation
pay 34.6% less
Housing
pay 80.1% less
Childcare
pay 60.6% 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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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from South Carolina to Vietnam.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Vietnam compared to South Carolina.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Vietnam performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
South Carolina 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
share of people below the poverty line
Vietnam generally does better on employment & economy, though South Carolina leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Vietnam performs significantly better than South Carolina 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Columbia | Hanoi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 47°/28°F (8°/-2°C) | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 76°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/65°F (30°/18°C) | 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 55°/36°F (13°/2°C) | 79°/66°F (26°/19°C) |
View all months
| Month | Columbia | Hanoi |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°/22°F (4.3°/-5.3°C) | 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C) |
| Feb | 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.3°C) | 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C) |
| Mar | 56°/35°F (13.3°/1.7°C) | 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C) |
| Apr | 67°/46°F (19.3°/7.6°C) | 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C) |
| May | 75°/55°F (24.0°/12.9°C) | 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C) |
| Jun | 85°/65°F (29.2°/18.1°C) | 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C) |
| Jul | 90°/69°F (32.0°/20.4°C) | 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C) |
| Aug | 88°/67°F (31.3°/19.6°C) | 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C) |
| Sep | 80°/58°F (26.6°/14.5°C) | 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C) |
| Oct | 68°/47°F (20.0°/8.1°C) | 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C) |
| Nov | 55°/37°F (12.7°/2.6°C) | 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C) |
| Dec | 42°/25°F (5.6°/-3.8°C) | 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
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 holder visiting Vietnam
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Vietnam passport holder visiting United States
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 South Carolina?
On average Vietnam is about 50% less expensive than South Carolina, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Vietnam?
Budget about ₫248,862,720 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 South Carolina and Vietnam are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Vietnam compared to South Carolina?
Vietnam performs significantly better than South Carolina across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Vietnam compared to South Carolina?
The average high temperature in Hanoi is 82°F, compared to 66°F in Columbia. Hanoi receives around 64.1 in of rainfall per year, while Columbia gets 46.3 in.
What language do they speak in Vietnam?
The official language in Vietnam is Vietnamese. In South Carolina, the official language is English.
