Saigon cost7 minute read

Saigon rent cost: what rent and move-in cash should you plan?

By the Vietnam Expat team. Last reviewed 2026-09-22

Saigon rent cost medians for a furnished two-bedroom aimed at foreign renters ran from 810 US dollars, about 20.8 million dong, in Phu Nhuan or District 3 to 1,850 dollars, about 47.4 million dong, in Thu Thiem in January to May 2026 [1][2]. Add the deposit, advance rent and any separate building bills.

Key facts

Who this is for: People comparing long-term furnished apartments in Saigon, especially two-bedroom homes in District 1, District 3, District 4, Binh Thanh, An Phu, Thao Dien, Thu Thiem and Phu My Hung.
Cost: H1 2026 asking-rent medians of 810 to 1,850 US dollars a month, about 20.8 million to 47.4 million dong at the 22 September 2026 reference rate.
Time: RMIT Vietnam says leases commonly run 6 to 12 months. Its student guide describes a 1 to 2 month security deposit and sometimes one month's rent in advance.
Documents: None for this pricing comparison.
What changed recently: The rent sample covers January to May 2026. The currency conversion was refreshed on 22 September 2026 at 25,640 dong per US dollar.
What is still unverified: No signed lease, unit availability, landlord, agent, final rent, deposit return or building-specific fee was checked. The rent table is one agency's asking-price sample.

Saigon rent cost changes with the exact home. For a furnished two-bedroom of 70 to 90 square meters in the areas tracked by VietnamRenty, January to May 2026 median asking rents ran from 810 US dollars in Phu Nhuan or District 3 to 1,850 dollars in Thu Thiem [1].

Those rents exclude management fees and utilities unless the report says otherwise [1]. Dollar conversions below use the State Bank reference rate of 25,640 dong on 22 September 2026, as reported by Vietnam News Agency [2].

What is the Saigon rent cost by area?

The H1 2026 median is lowest in Phu Nhuan or District 3 at 810 US dollars a month and highest in Thu Thiem at 1,850 dollars [1]. The spread is 1,040 dollars, about 26.7 million dong at the 22 September reference rate [1][2].

Landmark 81 and the Vinhomes Central Park towers beside the Saigon River

Area	Furnished two-bedroom ask per month	Dong at 25,640 per dollar [2]
Thu Thiem	1,850 USD	47.4 million VND
District 1	1,600 USD	41.0 million VND
Thao Dien	1,150 USD	29.5 million VND
Binh Thanh	1,120 USD	28.7 million VND
Phu My Hung, District 7	1,080 USD	27.7 million VND
District 4	1,010 USD	25.9 million VND
An Phu	940 USD	24.1 million VND
Phu Nhuan or District 3	810 USD	20.8 million VND

Source: VietnamRenty asking-rent medians for furnished two-bedroom apartments of 70 to 90 square meters in selected foreigner-targeted buildings, active listings from January to May 2026 [1]. VND conversions use the 22 September 2026 reference rate [2]. Checked 2026-09-22.

The table uses the same home size and furniture level in each area. It does not cover every apartment in Ho Chi Minh City. A small local studio costs something else.

The old district names still help with rental searches. For a wider look at routes, flood exposure and current city labels, use our Saigon housing and area checks.

How much cash do you need before move-in?

Plan for two to three months of rent in cash at the start. That covers a one to two month deposit plus one month's rent paid ahead, if both are due. RMIT Vietnam describes this pattern, but the lease sets the terms [4].

Area example	Monthly ask [1]	One-month deposit plus one month ahead	Two-month deposit plus one month ahead
Phu Nhuan or District 3	810 USD	1,620 USD, about 41.5 million VND	2,430 USD, about 62.3 million VND
Thao Dien	1,150 USD	2,300 USD, about 59.0 million VND	3,450 USD, about 88.5 million VND
Thu Thiem	1,850 USD	3,700 USD, about 94.9 million VND	5,550 USD, about 142.3 million VND

Source: our arithmetic from VietnamRenty's H1 2026 medians [1], RMIT's 1 to 2 month deposit and possible one month in advance [4], and the 22 September 2026 reference rate [2]. These are planning examples, not quotes for available homes. Checked 2026-09-22.

A landlord holds the deposit during the lease. Keep it in the move-in cash column instead of monthly spending. RMIT's checklist says the contract should state the amount and the terms for its return [4].

RMIT says leases commonly run 6 to 12 months [3]. A lower monthly quote can still require more starting cash if it has a larger deposit or several months due together.

What can sit outside the advertised rent?

Electricity, water, internet and the management fee may all be separate [3]. VietnamRenty also excludes management fees and utilities from its H1 2026 table unless a listing says otherwise [1].

Cost outside rent	Published figure	What the figure does not settle
Lift-building management fee	1,800 to 7,000 VND per square meter per month under Decision 86/2024 [5]	The named building's charge and whether the landlord includes it
Management fee for an 80 square meter home	144,000 to 560,000 VND per month, our arithmetic [5]	Parking, maintenance, fire insurance, utilities and communications, which the notice excludes
Household electricity	1,984 to 3,460 VND per kWh across six tiers, effective 10 May 2025 [6]	VAT, the meter arrangement and actual air-conditioning use
FPT GIGA home internet	From 195,000 VND per month for 300 Mbps in August 2026 [7]	Installation, promotions and area-specific pricing

Source: Ho Chi Minh City's Decision 86/2024 notice [5], Quang Ninh Department of Industry and Trade's national household electricity table [6], and FPT Telecom's August 2026 list [7], all checked 2026-09-22.

The six household electricity tiers are 1,984 VND per kWh for the first 50 kWh, 2,050 for 51 to 100 kWh, 2,380 for 101 to 200 kWh, 2,998 for 201 to 300 kWh, 3,350 for 301 to 400 kWh and 3,460 above 400 kWh [6].

A 300 kWh month works out to 739,500 dong before VAT under those tiers [6].

Ask for the last bill and the meter reading method. A tariff table cannot tell you how much air conditioning a specific apartment will use.

Is that advertised Saigon lifestyle budget real?

It is real only if its rent describes the home you would accept and its total includes the cash due before move-in. A 20.8 million dong rent in this comparison is a furnished two-bedroom median for Phu Nhuan or District 3, while 47.4 million points to Thu Thiem [1][2].

The advertised monthly number can leave out a deposit of 1 to 2 months, advance rent, utilities and a management fee [1][3][4]. That is why a 29.5 million dong Thao Dien median can require about 59.0 million to 88.5 million dong before the first month begins [1][2][4].

For food, transport, school and the rest of the month, use our Saigon cost of living by household. The Saigon living costs overview keeps the broader estimates separate from this rent-only comparison.

How much money do you need to live in Ho Chi Minh City?

For housing alone in this matched two-bedroom sample, budget 20.8 million to 47.4 million dong a month, plus separate bills [1][2]. That range does not answer food, transport, insurance, school or travel home. Our Vietnam cost of living calculator covers those categories and can build a fuller monthly total around this rent figure.

One household may fit the low end and another may not. A single person willing to rent a smaller local apartment needs a different data set. A family choosing Thu Thiem or District 1 starts near the upper half of this table [1].

Keep monthly spending and move-in cash in separate columns. Monthly spending holds rent and recurring bills. Move-in cash also holds the deposit and any rent paid ahead.

What is the average rent price for an apartment in Ho Chi Minh City?

We did not find one defensible citywide average for all apartment types. The clean comparison we could verify is area medians of 810 to 1,850 US dollars a month for the same furnished two-bedroom type across eight areas in January to May 2026 [1].

An older apartment block in central Ho Chi Minh City with the Bitexco tower behind

An average without size, furnishing, area and source mixes unlike homes. Here, every row holds size at 70 to 90 square meters and keeps the same furnishing and bedroom count [1]. That makes the area gap readable, but it narrows what the answer covers.

How should you compare two Saigon rent quotes?

Put both quotes into one table with the same fields. Compare the full monthly total, starting cash and daily routes before choosing between them.

Write the monthly rent and the payment currency exactly as quoted.
Add the deposit, months paid ahead and the date each payment is due.
Add electricity, water, internet, parking and the building management fee.
Record usable area, bedrooms, furniture, lease length and early-exit terms.
Travel the work or school route at the hour you would use it.
Visit the unit, then match the landlord, unit and payment recipient before sending money.

The UK government advises people renting in major Vietnamese cities to stay in a hotel first, visit apartments or houses, and check quiet, safety and travel times [8]. RMIT recommends an in-person or video viewing and asking about utility costs at that stage. It lists deposit return terms and repair duties as items the contract should state [4].

What should you check before paying a deposit?

Check the unit, the person receiving money and the written deposit terms before paying. A small deposit needs the same checks as a large one.

The Ministry of Public Security published a report in June 2026 describing a case in which copied room images and details from real posts were used to request 50 percent of one month's rent [9]. That report covers one investigation and does not characterize every cheap listing.

Use the property listing evidence checklist to separate photos, identity, authority and payment details. Leave the move-in cash uncommitted until the quote ties the exact unit to the exact recipient and written terms.

What we could not verify

A citywide apartment average. The matched evidence is an agency's sample of furnished two-bedroom homes in foreigner-targeted buildings, not every home in Ho Chi Minh City.
Signed rents and availability. We did not inspect a current unit, landlord, agent, contract, paid deposit or completed lease.
Building-specific inclusions. The H1 2026 rent report excludes utilities and management fees unless stated, and we did not obtain a bill or fee sheet from a named building.
Deposit and advance terms for a named apartment. The 1 to 2 month deposit and possible one month in advance come from RMIT's student guidance, not a universal rule.
The rate used by a renter's bank or transfer service. The 25,640 dong figure is the State Bank reference rate reported on 22 September 2026, not a guaranteed customer rate.
VAT on the electricity example. The 739,500 dong calculation for 300 kWh uses the published household tiers before VAT, and no renter's meter arrangement was checked.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a furnished two-bedroom apartment in Saigon?

VietnamRenty's January to May 2026 medians run from 810 US dollars a month in Phu Nhuan or District 3 to 1,850 dollars in Thu Thiem. At the 22 September 2026 reference rate, that is about 20.8 million to 47.4 million dong. The sample covers furnished homes of 70 to 90 square meters in foreigner-targeted buildings.

Which area has the lowest Saigon rent in this comparison?

Phu Nhuan and District 3 share the lowest median in the eight-area table at 810 US dollars a month, while An Phu follows at 940 dollars. At 25,640 dong per dollar, the pair converts to roughly 20.8 million and 24.1 million dong. These rankings cover one agency's H1 2026 listing sample in selected buildings.

What is the average rent price for an apartment in Ho Chi Minh City?

There is no single average in the evidence used here. For a matched home type, the H1 2026 agency medians span 810 to 1,850 US dollars across eight areas. Showing each area separately avoids mixing neighborhoods and keeps the 70 to 90 square meter, furnished two-bedroom scope attached.

How much money do you need to live in Ho Chi Minh City?

For housing, the low and high area examples are 20.8 million and 47.4 million dong a month, with building bills added separately. A full household budget must include food, transport, insurance and any school costs. Our Saigon cost of living page handles those lines; this page stays with rent and move-in cash.

How much deposit should you budget for a Saigon apartment?

RMIT Vietnam's student housing PDF describes a security deposit of 1 to 2 months' rent, with one month's rent sometimes paid in advance. On the 1,150 dollar Thao Dien median, that produces a planning example of 2,300 to 3,450 dollars due at the start, about 59.0 million to 88.5 million dong on 22 September 2026.

Are utilities included in Saigon apartment rent?

Utilities may be separate. VietnamRenty's H1 2026 table excludes management fees and utilities unless stated, while RMIT names electricity, water, internet and management fees as items that may sit outside rent. FPT advertised a 300 Mbps GIGA plan from 195,000 dong a month in August 2026, but says the price can vary by area.

How much is an apartment management fee in Ho Chi Minh City?

The city's Decision 86/2024 frame runs from 1,800 to 7,000 dong per square meter a month in buildings with lifts. For an 80 square meter apartment, that is 144,000 to 560,000 dong. The notice excludes parking, maintenance, fire insurance, utilities and communications, and a named building may quote another amount or include it in rent.

How long is a common apartment lease in Saigon?

RMIT Vietnam says leases commonly run 6 to 12 months. A longer term does not prove a lower price. Ask for the start date, end date, payment rhythm, early-exit terms and deposit-return conditions in the same document before comparing the monthly rent.

Can you trust a cheap Saigon rental listing?

A cheap listing still needs a viewing and identity checks. In a case reported in June 2026, the Ministry of Public Security described copied room images and genuine post details used to support a request for 50 percent of one month's rent. RMIT recommends an in-person or video viewing before applying.

Why are Saigon rents shown in both US dollars and dong?

The H1 2026 agency report publishes its rent table in US dollars, and we convert it at the 25,640 dong reference rate reported on 22 September 2026. That conversion is for comparison. The lease quote should state its own payment amount, currency and due date.

Sources

VietnamRenty, Ho Chi Minh City apartment rental market report for H1 2026, 2026-09-22. Median asking rents in US dollars for furnished two-bedroom apartments of 70 to 90 square meters in eight foreigner-targeted areas, based on active listings from January to May 2026. Fees and utilities are excluded unless stated.
Vietnam News Agency, reporting the State Bank of Vietnam daily reference rate, 2026-09-22. The State Bank reference exchange rate was 25,640 dong per US dollar on 22 September 2026.
RMIT Vietnam, accommodation guidance for international students, 2026-09-22. Leases commonly run 6 to 12 months, and rent may exclude electricity, water, internet or management fees.
RMIT Vietnam, accommodation advice PDF for international students, 2026-09-22. A security deposit of 1 to 2 months and sometimes one month's rent in advance, plus viewing and contract checks.
Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee portal, Decision 86/2024 management fee notice, 2026-09-22. Apartment management fee frames of 600 to 3,500 dong per square meter without a lift and 1,800 to 7,000 with a lift, excluding other named charges.
Quang Ninh Department of Industry and Trade, national household electricity tariff notice, 2026-09-22. Six household electricity tiers from 1,984 to 3,460 dong per kWh, effective 10 May 2025.
FPT Telecom, home internet price list dated 19 August 2026, 2026-09-22. The GIGA plan is advertised from 195,000 dong a month for 300 Mbps, with actual price varying by area.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Living in Vietnam guidance, 2026-09-22. Guidance for major cities recommends staying in a hotel first, visiting rentals and checking quiet, safety and travel times.
Vietnam Ministry of Public Security, Bac Ninh rental deposit investigation report, 2026-09-22. A reported false-listing method copied web images and real post details, then requested 50 percent of one month's rent as a deposit.