Revealing the 5 provinces with the most expensive living costs in the country

Among the 63 provinces and centrally-run cities, Hanoi continues to hold the leading position with the most expensive cost of living in the country in 2023 at 100%, Ho Chi Minh City ranked 2nd with a SCOLI index equal to 98.44% of Hanoi. Some commodity groups in Ho Chi Minh City have an average price lower than Hanoi, including apparel, hats and footwear at 81.99%; culture, entertainment and tourism at 91.87%; food and catering services at 94.12%; household appliances and equipment at 94.93%.

Hanoi continues to have the highest cost of living index in the country.

Ho Chi Minh City is the nucleus of the Southeast economic region, where training facilities, scientific research, medical centers, abundant skilled human resources, and a regional and international service and trade hub are concentrated.

In addition to the abundant supply of goods to meet the consumption needs of the people, Ho Chi Minh City has promoted the organization of connecting the supply and demand of retail goods, accordingly, the consumer prices of essential goods tend to be lower than in Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh City has some groups of goods with higher average prices than in Hanoi, such as other goods and services at 120.52%; education at 116.86%; beverages and tobacco at 114.52%.

Ranked third in the country is Quang Ninh with a SCOLI index equal to 97.94% of Hanoi. Among 11 main groups of consumer goods and services, Quang Ninh has 6 groups of goods with an average price lower than Hanoi, including the culture, entertainment and tourism group. Among 11 main groups of consumer goods and services, Quang Ninh has 6 groups of goods with an average price lower than Hanoi, including the culture, entertainment and tourism group at 84.38%; post and telecommunications at 91.74%; household appliances and equipment at 92.4%; transportation at 93.7%; clothing, hats, shoes at 95.9%; food and catering services at 97.01%.

Quang Ninh has the third most expensive location in the country because it is a modern service and industrial province, one of the dynamic and comprehensive development centers, a tourism center, a marine economic center, a gateway to the key economic region of the North and the whole country.

Next is Hai Phong, ranked 4th with a SCOLI index of 96.07% in 2023. Hai Phong's price level is high in the country because Hai Phong is one of the 5 largest cities in Vietnam, a city with a diverse commercial organization system with the active participation of all economic sectors.

Some commodity groups in Hai Phong have lower average prices than Hanoi: Education by 86.18%; culture, entertainment and tourism by 87.47%; garments, hats and footwear by 87.56%; food and catering services by 94.46%; medicine and medical services by 94.72%.

Binh Duong ranks 5th in the country with a SCOLI index of 94.25% in 2023, an increase of 3 levels of expensiveness compared to 2022. Most of Binh Duong's product groups are lower than Hanoi.

The five localities with the lowest prices in the country are Ben Tre, Nam Dinh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang and Gia Lai.

The spatial cost of living index (SCOLI) is a relative indicator (in %) reflecting the difference in prices of goods and consumer services serving people's daily lives.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/lo-dien-5-tinh-thanh-co-chi-phi-sinh-hoat-dat-do-nhat-ca-nuoc-311960.html