Based on a recent report by The Mercer Human Resource Consulting (UK), which ranks cities across the world based on cost of living, even without Starbucks or McDonald's, Hanoi is a pricier place to live than Saigon.
Hanoi, which has outranked Saigon since 2013, jumped 3 spots from last year to 131st, with Saigon in the 135th position, up 6 spots, reports VietNamNet.
Based on data from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, in the first half of 2014, the consumer price index was .31% higher in Hanoi than in Saigon.
As for our ASEAN neighbors, Singapore is the most expensive, followed by Yangon (Myanmar), Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) and Bangkok (Thailand).
Cities on the list are evaluated by prices for more than 200 types of goods and common services, such as housing, transport, food, clothing, household appliances and entertainment facilities.
[VietNamNet // Photo via Andrew Hux]