Moving to Jamaica from Vietnam

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Vietnam to Jamaica, you would find that Jamaica is 2.3 times more expensive than Vietnam overall. A ₫1,972,127,268 salary in Vietnam would need to be roughly JMD18,043,249 in Jamaica to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Jamaican Patois. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

₫1,972,127,268 JMD18,043,249

To maintain the same standard of living in Jamaica

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 2.7 times more

Groceries

pay 2.3 times more

Transportation

pay 3.4 times more

Housing

pay 2.9 times more

Childcare

pay 42.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 3.4 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 VND = 0.006 JMD (July 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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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Jamaica compared to Vietnam.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

VN
1.5
JM
53.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VN
17.7
JM
17.8

Vietnam performs better than Jamaica across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

VN
$690
JM
$869
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2018

affects wait times and access to care

VN
8.3
JM
5.5

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Jamaica leads in health coverage index.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

VN
52.0
JM
22.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

VN
4.3t
JM
2.8t

Jamaica performs significantly better than Vietnam across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

VN
21.7
JM
15.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

VN
18.1%
JM
12.4%

Vietnam generally does better on infrastructure, though Jamaica leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

VN
1.6%
JM
4.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

VN
$13,700
JM
$10,300

Vietnam generally does better on employment & economy, though Jamaica leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

VN
75.5 yrs
JM
75.8 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

VN
14.8
JM
11.2

Jamaica generally does better on family life, though Vietnam leads in literacy rate.

Data: General Department Of Taxation - Ministry Of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Kingston Rain: 32.0 in/yr (813 mm)
89° / 73°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Hanoi Kingston
Jan–Mar 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) 87°/70°F (30°/21°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) 89°/74°F (32°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 79°/66°F (26°/19°C) 88°/73°F (31°/23°C)
View all months
Month Hanoi Kingston
Jan 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C) 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C)
Feb 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C) 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C)
Mar 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C) 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C)
Apr 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C) 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C)
May 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C)
Jun 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C) 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C)
Jul 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C) 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C)
Aug 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C) 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C)
Sep 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C) 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C)
Oct 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C) 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C)
Nov 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C) 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C)
Dec 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C) 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C)

Data: Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, Meteorological Service, Jamaica Meteorological Service, Jamaica

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Vietnam passport

Vietnam passport holder visiting Jamaica

Visa Required
Vietnam passport holders need a visa to enter Jamaica.
Jamaica passport

Jamaica passport holder visiting Vietnam

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

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 Jamaica than Vietnam?

On average Jamaica is around 52% pricier than Vietnam, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Jamaica?

Budget about JMD4,510,812 for 3 months in Jamaica (based on a ₫1,972,127,268 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Jamaica?

Connectivity is usually fine (Jamaica: 15.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Jamaica offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Jamaica safe for expats?

Vietnam performs better than Jamaica across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Jamaica is 53.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Vietnam.

How is healthcare in Jamaica compared to Vietnam?

Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Jamaica leads in health coverage index. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Jamaica, compared to 8.3 in Vietnam. Jamaica scores 74 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vietnam: 68).

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

The average high temperature in Kingston is 89°F, compared to 82°F in Hanoi. Kingston receives around 32.0 in of rainfall per year, while Hanoi gets 64.1 in.

What language do they speak in Jamaica?

The official languages in Jamaica are English and Jamaican Patois. In Vietnam, the official language is Vietnamese.

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At a Glance

VN JM
Population 103,808,319 2,818,596
Currency Vietnamese Dong (₫) Jamaican Dollar (JMD)
Languages Vietnamese English, Jamaican Patois
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +84 +1
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 113 119