Canada vs Vietnam Cost of Living: What $4,728 Monthly Savings Actually Means for Families Last updated: October 2025
I’m sitting at my kitchen table in Ottawa at 11:47 PM. My 5-year-old son is finally asleep after his third trip downstairs for water. My 1-year-old daughter had a rough night—teething, probably. My wife is exhausted. And I’m staring at our monthly budget spreadsheet wondering how we’re supposed to save for anything beyond just surviving.
$6,378 per month. That’s what it costs our family of four to exist in Canada right now.
Not thrive. Not build wealth. Just exist.
And here’s the thing that keeps me up at night: this same lifestyle—same quality housing, same quality food, similar healthcare access, similar childcare—costs $1,650 per month in Vietnam.
That’s a $4,728 monthly difference. $56,736 per year.
Let me show you the exact breakdown, because I spent three weeks researching this. Not travel blog fantasy numbers. Real costs. October 2025 data. The kind of information I wish someone had given me years ago.
The Real Numbers: Canada Monthly Costs (Ottawa Region)
Housing: The Budget Destroyer
Our current situation: 3-bedroom house in Ottawa suburbs. Nothing fancy. Built in the 1980s. Needs work.
Monthly mortgage payment: $2,943
That’s based on a $690,000 home price (average for Ottawa) with current mortgage rates around 4.5%. If you bought in the last two years, you know how brutal this market became.
But here’s what most cost comparisons miss:
Property tax: $570 per month
Utilities (electricity, gas, water, internet): $330 per month
Suddenly that “affordable” mortgage becomes $3,843 monthly before you’ve bought a single grocery.
Childcare: The Silent Financial Killer
We have two kids: a 5-year-old son in junior kindergarten and a 1-year-old daughter in daycare.
Thanks to Ontario’s $10-a-day childcare program, we’re paying $440 per month per child. That’s $880 total.
Before this program? We were paying $2,400 monthly. Yes, you read that right.
Even with government subsidies, childcare is one of our biggest expenses. And we’re lucky—we got spots. The waiting lists in Ottawa are 18-24 months long.
Groceries: When Did Food Become a Luxury?
$1,400 per month for a family of four.
That’s not eating out. That’s not buying organic everything. That’s Loblaws, No Frills, Costco—whatever’s on sale.
Groceries increased 5% in 2025 alone. Meat is expensive. Vegetables are expensive. Everything is expensive.
My wife meal plans obsessively. We rarely waste food. And we still spend $1,400 monthly just to feed our family.
Transportation: Car Ownership in Canada
Car insurance: $144 per month (that’s just for one vehicle)
Gas: ~$150 per month
Maintenance and repairs: Amortized to about $100 monthly
We own our car outright, paid off years ago. No car payment. Just insurance, gas, maintenance.
Still costs us about $255 per month minimum.
The Total Canadian Cost: $6,378 Monthly
Let me write that again: Six thousand, three hundred seventy-eight dollars. Every month.
$76,536 per year just for the basics of family life in Canada.
And we’re not living lavishly. We’re middle-class. One income. Trying to save. Struggling like everyone else.
Vietnam Reality: Same Lifestyle, Different Numbers
Now let me show you what shocked me when I started researching Vietnam costs for families.
Housing: The Game-Changer
Modern 3-bedroom townhouse rental in Haiphong (tier-2 city, still developed, still has good infrastructure): $300-400 per month.
Let’s use $350 for calculations.
Utilities (electricity, water, garbage, internet): $60-100 monthly
Let’s use $80.
Total housing costs in Vietnam: $430 per month.
In Canada? $3,843.
That’s $3,413 monthly savings on housing alone. Over one year? $40,956.
Childcare: The Vietnamese Advantage
Full-time nanny in Vietnam: $280-430 per month.
We’re talking about someone who comes to your home, cares for both kids, maybe does some light housework. Speaks English if you hire for that.
Let’s use $350 monthly.
In Canada with subsidized childcare: $880 monthly.
In Vietnam with full-time nanny: $350 monthly.
Savings: $530 monthly. $6,360 annually.
Groceries: Mix of Local and Imported
Here’s where it gets interesting. You can live very cheaply in Vietnam eating local foods. Rice, vegetables, fruit, protein—all incredibly affordable.
But we have kids. Sometimes they want familiar foods. Sometimes we want imported cheese or peanut butter or whatever reminds us of home.
So our Vietnam grocery budget accounts for a mix:
70% local Vietnamese foods: cheap, fresh, delicious
30% imported/Western foods: more expensive but still reasonable
Total monthly grocery estimate: $120-250
Let’s use $185 (middle estimate).
Canada groceries: $1,400 Vietnam groceries: $185
Savings: $1,215 monthly. $14,580 annually.
Transportation: Scooter Life
In Vietnam, most families use electric scooters. They’re efficient, cheap, easy to park, perfect for cities.
Scooter purchase: ~$2,000 one-time (we’d amortize this over time) Monthly insurance: ~$12 Monthly gas/electricity: ~$8
Total transportation: $20 monthly (after initial purchase)
Canada transportation: $255 monthly
Savings: $235 monthly. $2,820 annually.
Healthcare: The Expat Reality
Here’s the part that makes people nervous, and rightfully so.
Vietnam’s local healthcare system is fine for basic needs. But for a family with young kids who want Western-standard emergency care, international health insurance is the answer.
Family of four international health insurance: $500-750 monthly (varies by coverage level)
Let’s use $625 monthly.
Wait—doesn’t Canada have free healthcare?
Yes. But it’s not free. We pay for it through taxes. If you calculate the actual tax portion that funds healthcare for a family earning $70,000-80,000 in Ontario, it’s roughly $400-500 monthly equivalent.
Plus our Canadian dental/vision costs, prescriptions, physiotherapy, mental health services—most of which aren’t covered by provincial health plans.
Realistically, our Canadian healthcare burden (taxes + out-of-pocket) is about $600-700 monthly.
Vietnam international insurance: $625 monthly Canada effective healthcare costs: $650 monthly
Roughly equivalent. Maybe even slightly cheaper in Vietnam with better emergency care access.
Visa Costs
Tourist visa for Vietnam (family of 4):
Multiple-entry 5-year visa: $155 per adult
Children under 14: $25 each
Amortized monthly over 5 years: ~$40 monthly
The Total Vietnam Cost: $1,650 Monthly
Let me break that down again:
Townhouse rental: $350
Utilities: $80
Nanny/childcare: $350
Groceries: $185
Scooter: $20
International health insurance: $625
Visa costs (amortized): $40
Total: $1,650 per month.
Canada total: $6,378 per month.
Difference: $4,728 monthly savings. $56,736 annually.
But Here’s What Nobody Tells You
These numbers are real. They’re researched. They’re based on October 2025 data from expat communities, cost-of-living databases, and real families living this life.
But there are considerations most comparison articles ignore.
The Income Question
Saving $4,728 monthly only matters if you have income in Vietnam.
Option 1: Remote work for Canadian/US company while living in Vietnam Option 2: Build online business/passive income before moving Option 3: Teach English or find local work (much lower income)
We’re pursuing Option 2: building $2,000/month passive income before we move. That way we have location-independent income that supports Vietnamese costs with Canadian/US earning power.
This is called geographic arbitrage. Earn in strong currency, spend in lower-cost location.
The Visa Reality
Tourist visa = 5 years but you can’t work locally or own property.
For long-term living, you need:
Business visa (if you start Vietnamese business)
Investor visa (if you invest minimum amount)
Retirement visa (if you’re 55+)
Family sponsorship (if you have Vietnamese family)
We’re planning tourist visa initially while building our online business, then transitioning to business visa once we establish Vietnamese operations.
The Culture Adjustment
Vietnam is not Canada. Language is different. Culture is different. Parenting norms are different. Traffic is insane. Healthcare protocols are different.
Our kids will face challenges. We’ll face challenges.
This isn’t a fairy tale. It’s a calculated decision based on financial freedom and family quality of life.
The Healthcare Nuance
International insurance is great for emergencies and major care. But:
Pre-existing conditions may not be covered
Some specialists may be harder to find
Medical records transfer can be complicated
Emergency air evacuation coverage is important
Research your insurance options carefully. Read the fine print. Understand exclusions.
The Education Question
Our 5-year-old will need schooling. Options in Vietnam:
Local public schools (Vietnamese language, very affordable)
International schools (English language, $5,000-15,000 per year)
Homeschooling (time-intensive for parents)
This is a major decision we’re still researching. International schools eat into that cost-of-living savings significantly.
The 5-Year Plan: How We’re Actually Doing This
We’re not moving next month. We’re not even moving next year.
Here’s our realistic timeline:
Year 1-2: Build Foundation (Now)
Build $2,000/month passive income through online courses/automation
Learn basic Vietnamese language
Connect with expat families in Vietnam
Save emergency fund ($10,000 minimum)
Research international schools and healthcare
Year 3: Vietnam Research Trip (February 2026)
8-week family trip to Vietnam
Test daily life with kids
Research housing in person
Evaluate schools and healthcare facilities
Confirm the numbers are real
Let kids experience Vietnamese culture
Year 4: Preparation
Increase passive income to $3,000-4,000/month (buffer for security)
Finalize visa strategy
Sell or rent Canadian home
Transition businesses to location-independent model
Kids learn more Vietnamese
Year 5: Phased Relocation
Move to Vietnam with return ticket (3-6 month trial)
Keep Canadian address and banking active
Enroll kids in selected school
Evaluate quality of life
Make final decision: stay or return
This is our plan. It’s not impulsive. It’s not reckless. It’s calculated, researched, and constantly evolving based on new information.
Why This Matters Beyond Just Money
Yes, $56,736 annual savings is massive.
But here’s what that money buys us beyond just lower costs:
Time with our kids. When you’re not stressed about money, you’re more present. Less financial anxiety means more emotional availability.
Career freedom. With lower expenses, I can take risks with my online business I couldn’t take in Canada. I can say no to projects that don’t align with my values.
Slower pace of life. Vietnam isn’t rushing toward retirement. It’s living now. Family meals. Outdoor time. Community connection.
Cultural richness. Our kids will grow up bilingual. They’ll understand a different culture. They’ll see the world beyond Western suburbs.
Financial security paradox. Lower costs mean our emergency fund goes further. Our savings grow faster. We’re actually MORE financially secure in Vietnam than Canada.
The Questions You’re Probably Asking
“What about family back in Canada?”
This is hard. Really hard. Video calls help but aren’t the same. We plan annual trips back. It’s a sacrifice.
“What if your passive income fails?”
That’s why we’re building 2x our minimum needs ($4,000/month target). And keeping skills/credentials that allow us to return to Canadian job market if needed.
“What about your kids’ futures?”
International experience is increasingly valuable. Bilingualism is valuable. Global perspective is valuable. They can always return to Canada for university if they choose.
“Aren’t you running away?”
No. We’re running toward something. Family time. Financial freedom. Cultural richness. There’s a difference between escaping problems and pursuing dreams.
“What if you hate it?”
That’s why Year 5 is a trial period with return option. We’re not burning bridges. We’re testing a hypothesis.
This is Week 4 of 260
I’m documenting this entire journey. Every decision. Every dollar. Every challenge.
Not because I think our path is right for everyone. But because I think information should be free. Planning should be transparent. And maybe our experience helps someone else make better decisions for their family.
$5,000 total budget. 5 years. One goal: Build $2,000/month passive income so we can move to Vietnam where that income goes 3-4x further.
Current spend: $95 of my budget.
Next week, I’m testing an automation tool that might save me 15 hours per week. But it costs $150. That’s 3% of my entire 5-year budget.
Follow along if you want to see how this actually works. No BS. No fantasy. Just a parent trying to build a better life for his family.
Take the Next Step
If you’re considering international relocation with kids, I created a Complete Family Relocation Planning Guide that walks through:
Full cost comparison framework (use for any country)
Healthcare research checklist
Education evaluation system
Visa strategy templates
5-year planning timeline
Risk assessment framework
It’s free. No catch. Just information that took me months to compile.
Join my email list to get it: [link]
And subscribe to this YouTube channel for weekly updates on building passive income with young kids.
Because maybe you’re sitting at your kitchen table at midnight too, wondering if there’s a better way.
There is. Let’s figure it out together.
