The top 5 provinces and cities with the highest cost of living in the country have been revealed.

Hanoi, the capital city, is breathtakingly beautiful with the white blossoms of the crape myrtle tree. Hanoi: As the weather starts to get warmer, electronics supermarkets are aggressively offering discounts on cooling products.

Hanoi earned over 25,487 billion VND from tourism in the first quarter of 2024.

Among the 63 provinces and centrally-governed cities, Hanoi continues to hold the leading position with the highest cost of living in the country in 2023 at 100%, followed by Ho Chi Minh City with a SCOLI index of 98.44% of Hanoi. Some product categories in Ho Chi Minh City have lower average prices than Hanoi, including clothing, hats and footwear at 81.99%; culture, entertainment and tourism at 91.87%; food and catering services at 94.12%; and household equipment and appliances at 94.93%.

Lộ diện 5 tỉnh thành có chi phí sinh hoạt đắt đỏ nhất cả nước

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

Ho Chi Minh City is the heart of the Southeast economic region, home to training and scientific research facilities, medical centers, and a large pool of skilled human resources. It serves as a major regional and international hub for services and trade.

Besides having an abundant supply of goods to meet the consumer needs of the people, Ho Chi Minh City has promoted the organization of supply and demand connections in retail, resulting in lower consumer prices for essential goods compared to Hanoi. However, Ho Chi Minh City has some groups of goods with higher average prices than Hanoi, such as other goods and services (120.52%), education (116.86%), and beverages and tobacco (114.52%).

Quang Ninh ranks third nationwide with a SCOLI index of 97.94%, the same as Hanoi. In the 11 main consumer goods and services groups, Quang Ninh has 6 groups with lower average prices than Hanoi, including culture, entertainment, and tourism (84.38%); postal and telecommunications (91.74%); household equipment and appliances (92.4%); transportation (93.7%); clothing, hats, and footwear (95.9%); and food and food services (97.01%).

Quang Ninh has the third most expensive location in the country due to its status as a modern service and industrial province, one of the most dynamic and comprehensive development centers, a tourism hub, a marine economic center, and a gateway to the key economic region of Northern Vietnam and the entire country.

Next is Hai Phong, ranking 4th with a SCOLI index of 96.07% in 2023. Hai Phong's prices are high nationwide because it is one of the five largest cities in Vietnam, a city with a diverse commercial system and active participation from all economic sectors.

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

Binh Duong ranked 5th nationwide with a SCOLI index of 94.25% in 2023, an increase of 3 positions in terms of expensiveness compared to 2022. Most product categories in Binh Duong were cheaper than in 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 (expressed as a percentage) reflecting the price differences of consumer goods and services used in people's daily lives.

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