HCMC living costs cheaper than many Southeast Asia peers

The average monthly cost of living, including rent, food, transportation and other utilities, for a single person in HCMC was P39,608 (Philippine peso, or $819), according to data culled by the Malaysia-based firm across six popular Southeast Asian cities.

Kuala Lumpur was the cheapest destination with a monthly cost of living at P38,314 ($792).

Singapore has the most expensive cost of living at P119,732 ($2,474), followed by Bangkok, Manila and Jakarta.

"There was a significant gap between the overall expenses of Filipinos living in Manila and its ASEAN neighbors with a "comparable economic state," the report said.

HCMC, home to 13 million people including migrants, has consistently been the most popular tourist destination in Vietnam, with its modern skyscrapers, French colonial buildings and war relics.

Around 90,000 foreigners lived and worked in Vietnam, mainly in Hanoi and HCMC, as of last year, according to official data.

Ho Chi Minh City topped a list of 10 most affordable destinations for American expats with typical monthly costs of $462.62 per person, according to an InterNations survey released last year.