Izzy_Cool
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It depends on what your expectations are, but your biggest expense will be International School for your kids. Its NOT cheap...figure $10,000 per kid per year unless they're pre-school. Pre-school and kindergarten is cheaper...about $5,000 per year.
If you like 5-star eateries, expect to pay 5 stars. Figure $85-100 for dinner for 2 with wine at a 5-star.
If you go someplace like The Vine, Pepperonis or Al Fresco's, figure an average of $10 per person plus beverages. By the way, those are all good western restaurants.
If you want to eat Vietnamese style, you can stuff yourself silly on really good food and still have money left over to go shopping.
Best advice, get a maid / cook and let her do the food shopping at the local markets. It costs a lot less than you think and gives you more time to spend with the kids and enjoying life.
(NOTE: Get involved with the local expat community, either the Woman's Club, or other organizations. Find a hobby or you're gonna go nuts...trust me on this.
Forget going out to the movies as DVD's are very cheap (yes, they're pirated. I saw the new Batman movie less than 10 days after it was released in the US). This way you can make some popcorn, toss in a disk and have a good time cheap.
You can do food shopping at Big C which is not overpriced. For western goods, check out Western Canned Goods on Ba Trieu Street, Veggies in West Lake, the Food Market at Hanoi Tower or the little store in Ciputra.
Nightclubs are pricey and really not for families.
Golf will cost you around $50 during the week and $100 on weekends.
So, bottom line - you can have a very nice standard of living by spending less than $1000 per month (including family meals).
I would hope that your husband's package includes a car / driver. If not, you'll be taking taxis everywhere and that can get expensive over time.
If your husband's package does not include health insurance, there are some pretty good packages available here in Vietnam which will cover you both here and abroad. (I pay about $3000 a year for full coverage for my daughter and myself).
If you have any health problems, check out the Hanoi Family Clinic in Van Phuc. All western doctors, top of the line (but the pricing is a little high too. Viet Sing clinic is new, but boasts top of the line equipment and doctors at Vietnamese prices. (I try to avoid Viet-Phap (French Hospital) unless I am close to dying as they make you pay upfront if its an outpatient problem. Also, doctors there are quite unfriendly...no bedside manner at all.)
So, welcome to Hanoi.
Remember to be careful crossing streets! |
cbmaclean
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I read the other answers and honestly I am surprised. The fellow who lives in Vietnam for 16 years is very informed obviously, yet I find it hard to believe that Vietnamese can afford such high prices when I think of all the Vietnamese I met in 1998 there who were earning $30-$60 per month! Many people there in 1998 were making 20,000 dong per day or about $2.00 Canadian.
Then, here were some prices: Approx US prices
Beer $.50
Cheap but good meal: $.75 - $2.50
Clean but cheap hotel with breakfast: $13. per day
taxi ride in car: about $2 for 15 minutes
taxi ride on motorcycle for 15 minute ride about $.75
brand new simple bicycle: $50
all day river tour and 4 tourist stops: $6
Phone calls then to overseas....incredibly expensive....it is much cheaper now I know, but in 1998, they wanted $7US per minute from the Post Office to make a call to Canada.!!! Internet was about $1 for 30 minutes.
It's a very affordable country...I envy you guys...wished I was going...great place to lose weight also...and still eat to your hearts content.
Brock in Vancouver.
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Nguyen Cheng
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Nowadays, cost of living in Hanoi is still lower that many another countries in Asia except house rental. Food, entertainment, transportation... are cheap and good. For house, if you want to look for it, i can help you. Please email me at: info@keytovietnam.com for further information |
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