How Much Is a Student’s Monthly Cost? Reasonable Spending

Overview of a student’s monthly cost in big cities

When entering university life, managing spending becomes an extremely important skill for students to be able to live comfortably while still ensuring financial balance. Each big city has a different living cost, depending on the choice of accommodation, food, travel and personal needs. Below is a reference comparison table of the average (estimated) living cost of students in 3 big cities:

Detailed spending table for students in Ho Chi Minh City (Updated 2025)

Ho Chi Minh City is a dynamic city with many living choices, so students need to clearly grasp the average spending level to proactively plan finances. Let’s find out now.

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Rent and fixed living costs

According to Dan Tri newspaper, the average living cost of students in Ho Chi Minh City currently ranges from 2–7 million VND/month. This is considered the common level for students studying at universities in the city. In which:

• Electricity: 3,800-4,000 VND/kWh
• Water: 100k/person
• Internet: 100k/person

This figure depends on the type of accommodation, the living area and the living habits of each person. Because landlords or rental units will charge different prices. Specifically, the rent that students need to pay is as follows:

A student’s monthly cost with daily food money

For students, food money accounts for a significant part of the total monthly cost. You can choose to cook yourself to save because it is much cheaper than eating out, while also ensuring better nutrition. However, if the study schedule is packed, eating out is still a convenient choice, especially when you know the cheap food areas around the school.

If cooking yourself, students only need about 80,000 VND/day. If eating out, this figure can reach 100,000 VND/day (including snacks and drinks). On average, each month you will spend from 2,400,000 VND to 3,000,000 VND on food.

Travel and transport costs

A student’s monthly travel cost is also quite flexible. If choosing the bus, you only spend about 200,000 VND/month. In the case of using a motorbike, the spending usually falls around 500,000 VND/month, including both fuel and parking.

Study and self-development costs

Besides tuition, students need to prepare a budget for university study costs such as textbooks, photocopied materials and study tools. In addition, to improve skills, many people invest more in foreign-language, soft-skill and informatics courses to serve their career goals.

At HUFLIT, students always receive financial accompaniment through the 13-billion-VND Student Support Fund each year. This is a programme that lends to students to cover tuition at 0% interest. The borrow – repay mechanism is designed flexibly, suitable to each individual’s ability. This is also evidence of HUFLIT’s commitment to supporting students in overcoming difficulties in studying and standing firm on the integration journey.

Other monthly cost items of students

Besides the fixed items, students also face arising costs such as buying clothes, cosmetics, or entertainment activities such as watching movies, going out, short trips. Besides, costs for going home, weddings and funerals, visiting the sick and health care can also appear unexpectedly. Estimated for 1 month, you will need from 1-2 million VND for these arising items.

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The secret to managing spending and saving a student’s monthly cost

When starting university life, managing spending reasonably will help students save from 300,000-500,000 VND each month . Below are the suggestions to help you control costs while studying.

Budgeting by the 50/20/30 rule

The 50/20/30 rule is a simple but extremely effective personal budgeting method for students. Accordingly, 50% of income is used for essential needs such as food, travel and rent; 20% is for saving or long-term investment.

30% you will use for personal wants such as entertainment, shopping or meeting friends. When budgeting this way, students can reallocate items such as food, travel, entertainment, education or savings to be more balanced.

Using a spending management app

Spending management apps are useful tools that help students track income and expenses every day. Some popular apps include Money Lover (easy-to-use interface, many advanced features), Misa Money (multi-device sync, clear spending reports) and Sổ Thu Chi (simple, light, suitable for beginners). Each app has its own advantages, but in general they all help students clearly grasp their cash flow and avoid overspending.

Taking advantage of the incentives for students

The student card brings many benefits and helps you save costs each month. Students get discounts on movie tickets, bus tickets or incentives at fashion stores, bookstores or study apps. In addition, students can also register for telecommunications packages or bank accounts specifically for students at a lower fee than usual.

Finding a suitable part-time job

Part-time work is a common way for students to increase income and reduce financial pressure. Some suitable jobs include tutoring, serving at cafés – restaurants, and sales staff. Or you can do content – design – page management if you have the skills.

However, students need to pay attention to balancing study and work to avoid affecting study results. Most universities, including HUFLIT, have a student support centre that provides reliable job information, helping you find a suitable and safe job.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

As a new student, surely you have many concerns about how much money you need for 1 mont or what to prepare when starting university life. Let’s find out right below.

How much money should first-year students have upon enrolment?

First-year students should prepare about 10–20 million VND upon enrolment to cover the initial expenses. These fees include first-semester tuition, enrolment fees, uniforms, rental deposit,… Depending on the school and area, this total amount can vary. However, in general you should prepare in advance so as not to fall into a shortage when just arriving in the city.

Is a spending level of 3 million/month in Ho Chi Minh City enough?

It can be enough if you know how to spend reasonably. The 3-million level is most suitable for students living in a dormitory or a shared rented room, saving on rent. However, you still need to build a specific spending plan and avoid unnecessary arising items to ensure you don’t burn through your money at the end of the month.

What policies does HUFLIT have to financially support students?

HUFLIT currently implements many scholarship programmes and financial incentives for new students and current students. Besides the familiar scholarships maintained annually such as Nâng bước thủ khoa and Tự hào sinh viên HUFLIT, this year the school also adds many special policies. For example:

• Preference 1 Scholarship: 50% reduction of first-semester tuition for candidates who choose HUFLIT as their first preference.
• Experience Scholarship: 20% reduction of full-course tuition for students of 9 fields: Artificial Intelligence; Oriental Studies; Japanese Language; Tourism & Travel Service Management; Hotel Management; Accounting; Auditing; Economic Law; Law.
• Talented New Student Scholarship: Supporting a reduction of 20% – 50% – 100% of full-course tuition, depending on the candidate’s achievements.
• 13-billion-VND Student Support Fund: In 2025, HUFLIT maintains a financial support fund worth 13 billion VND each year for students to cover tuition.

A student’s monthly cost can vary depending on needs and lifestyle, but planning spending reasonably will help you be more proactive in study life. By prioritising important items and living economically, you can still ensure all your needs without financial pressure. Apply HUFLIT’s tips in this article right away!

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