Rentals in Bangkok are more affordable than in HCMC, even for street food vendors

Room rentals are common in central Bangkok, where I live, and rental prices vary depending on the building's amenities and condition.

Accommodation rentals in the city's center are surprisingly affordable, especially compared to central HCMC, specifically District 1 or District 3. For example, the monthly rent for a 20-square-meter room with basic amenities like a bed, wardrobe, table, and air conditioning is around US$160. More luxurious apartments range from $550–830 per month.

Given how affordable rents are in central Bangkok, there's little need to move to the outskirts for cheaper housing.

In contrast, finding accommodation of similar quality at comparable rents in central HCMC is challenging. This affordability difference is one of the reasons Bangkok—and Thailand as a whole—attracts so many visitors. Tourists and long-term residents alike can easily find reasonably priced places to stay.

Some readers might argue that spending $160 on rent is already too much, but the cost can be split if you share the room with someone else. Additionally, wages in Bangkok are higher than in Vietnam. For example, a bubble tea shop employee I know earns $520 a month. If they share a room with someone else, they would only need to spend one-sixth of their monthly income on rent.

Renting houses and rooms might eventually become more common in Vietnam, but will finding rentals be as simple and convenient as it is now in Bangkok? Bangkok's standardized rental model makes it easy for tenants to find suitable housing, while in Vietnam, this kind of model is still rare.

For example, it's nearly impossible to find a 24-square-meter room in the center of major cities like Hanoi or HCMC, with a bed, mattress, wardrobe, air conditioning, and other amenities for just $160 per month.