Saigon vs. London: Cost of Living for Expats
Saigon vs. London: Cost of Living for Expats
Your Big Uncle is here to give it to you straight. If you’re sitting in London — paying insane rents, crushing taxes, and watching your own city become unrecognizable — then you already know the game is rigged against you. But what if I told you that in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), you can live better for a fraction of the cost, and without funding a government that despises you?
Let’s break it down.
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Housing
London: A basic one-bedroom flat in a decent part of town will run you £1,500–£2,000 per month (and that’s without utilities). Want central London? Expect upwards of £2,500.
Saigon: A modern one-bedroom serviced apartment — fully furnished, Wi-Fi, cleaning included — costs $500–$700/month (£400–£550). Even in the city center, it’s rare to see rent above $1,200 for luxury.
Winner: Saigon. For the price of a shoebox in London, you can live like a king.
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Food & Dining
London: A basic pub meal is £15–£20. A coffee is £3.50–£4.50. Eating out regularly is reserved for the well-off.
Saigon: Street food meals are $2–$3 (£1.50–£2.50). A nice sit-down restaurant runs $5–$10 per person. Coffee? World-class Vietnamese brews for under $2 (£1.50).
Winner: Saigon. Better food, fresher ingredients, and prices that let you eat out every day if you like.
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Transport
London: A monthly Oyster card for Zones 1–3 costs £180+. Taxis and Ubers drain your wallet fast.
Saigon: Grab (their Uber) rides cost $2–$5 (£1.50–£4) for most trips. A monthly motorbike rental is $50–$70 (£40–£55).
Winner: Saigon. Mobility is cheap and easy.
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Healthcare
London: “Free” under the NHS, but you’ll wait weeks for basic appointments and months for specialist care.
Saigon: Private clinics and international hospitals are fast and affordable. A doctor’s visit might cost $20–$30 (£15–£25). Health insurance plans are available at a fraction of UK rates.
Winner: Saigon. Pay a little, get treated immediately.
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Taxes
London/UK: Income tax bands range from 20% to 45%. Add in council tax, VAT, NI contributions — you’re bled dry.
Saigon/Vietnam: Expat taxes are comparatively low, and with the right structuring, many expats legally minimize or even eliminate income tax obligations.
Winner: Saigon. Keep your money, stop funding your own replacement.
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Lifestyle
London: Cold weather, surveillance state, political correctness everywhere you look. Your taxes fund policies that actively undermine you.
Saigon: Warm climate, lower cost of living, booming economy, family-oriented culture. Less ideology, more living.
Winner: Saigon. Life is simply freer.
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Bottom Line
In London, you’re paying more and getting less — all while your money funds a government and a system that doesn’t value you. In Saigon, you can live comfortably on £1,000–£1,500/month ($1,200–$1,800), while the same lifestyle in London would easily cost you £3,000–£4,000+.
The numbers don’t lie. Your future is brighter in Saigon, not London.
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Big Uncle’s Advice: If you’re a British patriot tired of London’s high costs and suffocating politics, take your independence and your capital to Southeast Asia. Here, your money stretches further, your skills are valued, and you can build a real life without the state breathing down your neck.
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