Utility Costs When Renting in Ho Chi Minh City

When you are comparing apartments in Ho Chi Minh City, the advertised rent is only part of the picture. On top of your monthly rent, you will pay for electricity, water, internet, and a management fee — and if you drive, parking on top of that. These costs vary depending on whether you are renting a standard apartment or a serviced apartment, and they can add anywhere from $100 to $180+ to your monthly expenses.

We have broken down each utility cost below using official EVN tariff schedules, Sawaco water rates, and real rates from buildings we list, so you can budget with confidence.

Summary: When renting an apartment in Ho Chi Minh City, expect to pay 2,710,000–4,830,000 VND/month ($102–$183) on top of your rent for utilities — electricity, water, internet, management fees, and parking. Electricity is the biggest variable (1,200,000–1,700,000 VND/month for a typical 2-bedroom), followed by management fees (960,000–2,480,000 VND/month). Serviced apartments charge higher electricity rates but often include parking and sometimes internet.

Electricity

In most apartment buildings in HCMC, electricity is charged per kilowatt-hour (kWh) based on your meter reading. Vietnam's national utility, EVN (Electricity of Vietnam), uses a tiered pricing system — the more you consume, the higher the rate per kWh:

• 0–50 kWh: 1,984 VND/kWh
• 51–100 kWh: 2,050 VND/kWh
• 101–200 kWh: 2,380 VND/kWh
• 201–300 kWh: 2,998 VND/kWh
• 301–400 kWh: 3,350 VND/kWh
• 401+ kWh: 3,460 VND/kWh

For a typical 2-bedroom apartment (around 80 m²) with two occupants and moderate air conditioning use, expect to consume around 400–450 kWh per month, which works out to roughly 1,200,000–1,250,000 VND ($45–$47). During the hot dry season (March to May), heavier AC use can push consumption to 550–600 kWh, bringing your bill to around 1,600,000–1,700,000 VND ($60–$64).

Important: Not all buildings pass through the official EVN rates. Some buildings — particularly serviced apartments and smaller developments — charge a flat rate of 4,000–4,500 VND/kWh, which is significantly higher than the EVN tariff. Always ask which rate your building applies before signing.

Tip: Air conditioning is by far the biggest electricity draw in HCMC. Setting your AC to 25–26°C instead of 22°C can cut your bill by 30–40%.

Water

Water is charged per cubic meter (m³) using a tiered structure set by Saigon Water (Sawaco). The rates include 5% VAT:

• Up to 4 m³/person/month: 6,700 VND/m³ + VAT = 7,035 VND/m³
• 4–6 m³/person/month: 12,900 VND/m³ + VAT = 13,545 VND/m³
• Above 6 m³/person/month: 14,400 VND/m³ + VAT = 15,120 VND/m³

Since January 2025, HCMC also charges a 30% drainage and wastewater treatment fee on top of the water supply price. This fee is collected through your water bill and applies to all households connected to the city water system.

A household of two people in an 80 m² apartment generally uses about 10–12 m³ per month. With the tiered rate and the drainage surcharge, your water bill comes to around 200,000–230,000 VND ($8–$9).

Some buildings in Thao Dien do not meter water individually. Instead, they charge a flat rate of 120,000–200,000 VND/person/month. This can be cheaper or more expensive than metered billing depending on your usage — check which method your building uses.

Internet

Vietnam has some of the fastest and most affordable internet in Southeast Asia. Most buildings in Thao Dien and surrounding neighborhoods have fiber optic infrastructure from Viettel, VNPT, and FPT. Here are typical home internet plans:

• Viettel Home 1 — 50–100 Mbps: 180,000 VND/month ($7)
• Viettel Home 2 — 100–300 Mbps: 220,000 VND/month ($8)
• Viettel Home 3 — 300 Mbps: 350,000 VND/month ($13)
• VNPT Home Wifi Mesh 6 — 500 Mbps + Mesh: 480,000 VND/month ($18)
• Viettel Home 4 — 1 Gbps: 600,000 VND/month ($23)

For most apartments, Viettel Home 2 at 220,000 VND/month ($8) is the sweet spot — fast enough for streaming and video calls, and affordable. Most providers offer 12-month contracts with free installation. If you are staying short-term, month-to-month plans are available but cost slightly more. Installation usually takes 1–3 days.

Management Fee

The management fee (sometimes called a service charge or maintenance fee) covers building upkeep — security, cleaning, elevator maintenance, gym and pool operation, and common-area utilities. It is charged per square meter of your apartment's floor area.

In Thao Dien, major buildings like Masteri Thao Dien charge around 16,000–22,000 VND/m²/month. Across the buildings we list, the range is wider — from 12,000 to 31,000 VND/m²/month. For an 80 m² 2-bedroom apartment, that translates to roughly 960,000–2,480,000 VND/month ($36–$94).

The variation is significant. Newer buildings with extensive facilities (multiple pools, large gyms, saunas) tend to charge more. Older buildings with basic amenities charge less. This fee is sometimes included in the rent and sometimes billed separately — always clarify this before signing.

Parking

If you have a motorbike — which most expats in HCMC do — expect to pay 130,000–220,000 VND/month ($5–$8) for a dedicated bike parking spot in your building. At Masteri Thao Dien specifically, motorbike parking is around 130,000–175,000 VND/month. Car parking is substantially more, ranging from 1,200,000 to 2,200,000 VND/month ($45–$83).

Some buildings include one motorbike parking spot in the management fee, with additional spots charged extra. If you rent a car, confirm parking availability early — not all buildings have dedicated car spaces.

Serviced Apartments: What Is Different

A common misconception is that Serviced apartments bundle all utilities into the rent. In practice, you pay for electricity, water, and internet separately at serviced apartments too — just like a standard apartment. The key differences are:

• Electricity is often charged at a flat rate (typically 4,000–4,500 VND/kWh) rather than the EVN tiered rate, which means your electricity bill will be higher than in a standard apartment on the same consumption.
• Water may be charged at a flat per-person rate (120,000–200,000 VND/person/month) instead of metered Sawaco rates.
• Motorbike parking is usually included in the rent or management fee, so you do not pay extra for it.
• Internet is sometimes included — many serviced apartments provide building-wide WiFi, though speed and reliability vary. If you need a dedicated fiber connection, you may have to arrange and pay for it yourself.

The main advantage of a serviced apartment is convenience — weekly housekeeping, furnished units, and a front desk — not bundled utilities. When comparing a serviced apartment to a standard apartment, factor in the higher electricity rate to see the true cost difference.

Putting It All Together: Sample Monthly Budget

Here is what a typical month of utilities looks like for a 2-bedroom apartment (80 m²) in a mid-range building in Thao Dien:

For a serviced apartment of similar size, expect to pay electricity, water, and internet on top of rent as well. The difference is that motorbike parking is usually included, and electricity may be charged at a higher flat rate (4,000–4,500 VND/kWh) — so your electricity bill could be 1,600,000–2,000,000 VND ($60–$75) for the same usage.

Questions to Ask Before You Sign

• Is the management fee included in the rent or billed separately? This can make a $50+ difference in your monthly budget.

• What electricity rate does the building charge? Some buildings pass through the official EVN tiered rates; others charge a flat rate of 4,000–4,500 VND/kWh.

• Is water metered or charged at a flat rate? Some buildings charge per person (120,000–200,000 VND/person/month) instead of per m³.

• Is parking included? One motorbike spot is often included, but confirm this in writing.

• What is the internet setup? Some buildings have building-wide WiFi; others require you to arrange your own fiber connection.

Knowing these costs upfront helps you compare apartments accurately. A unit with lower rent but high management fees, marked-up electricity, and separate utility billing can end up costing more than a slightly pricier unit where everything is included.

Want to estimate your own monthly utility costs? Try our utility calculator — adjust for your apartment size, number of occupants, and AC usage to get a tailored estimate.

Tell us your budget and what matters to you — we will help you find a rental where the total monthly cost fits your situation, not just the headline rent.