Understanding Utility Bills in Ho Chi Minh City: A Saigon Cribs Guide

Welcome to your new home in Ho Chi Minh City! As you settle in, understanding your monthly utility bills is key to managing your budget. This guide from Saigon Cribs breaks down what to expect for electricity, water, internet, cable TV, management fees, and parking.

1. Electricity Bill

The way your electricity is billed depends on your rental type:

• Serviced Apartments: Electricity is typically billed at a set rate, usually between 4,000 – 5,000 VND per kWh. This fixed rate simplifies calculations and helps offset the cost of included services such as housekeeping, security, and general maintenance.

• Average Bill (1 person): Expect to pay between 500,000 VND to 1,000,000 VND per month, depending on your usage. Air conditioner use often accounts for 50% or more of the bill. Using less air conditioning will significantly lower your costs.
• Tip: Ensure your apartment has a new air conditioner with inverter technology. These machines are more energy-efficient. Older or poorly maintained units can drastically increase your bill; we’ve seen older machines cost up to 1,500,000 VND for studios due to inefficiency.
• Privately Rented High-Rise Apartments or Houses: You pay the Electric Company (EVN) directly.

• Rates: Electricity is billed on a scaled system based on consumption. Rates start at approximately 1,628 VND per kWh and can go up to 3,000 VND per kWh as your usage increases.
• Average Bill (Privately Rented):

• 1 person: Typically it ranges from 500,000 VND to 1,200,000 VND per month. Higher bills are often seen with professional tenants who work from home and use air conditioning more frequently.
• Families (3-5 people): Average between 1,200,000 VND to 1,800,000 VND per month. These averages apply to properties equipped with newer air conditioning units with inverter technology.

2. Water Bills

Good news! Water bills in Ho Chi Minh City are generally very affordable.

• Average Cost: Typically ranges from 50,000 VND to 100,000 VND (approximately $2-5 USD) per month.
• Serviced Apartments: Usually charge a set rate of 100,000 VND per person living in the apartment.
• Privately Rented Apartments or Houses: Billed by actual usage, with the meter checked monthly. It’s straightforward and easy to manage.

3. Internet Fees

High-speed internet has significantly improved in recent years, with amazing fiber optic packages available, especially in newer high-rise apartment buildings.

• Our Top Choice Provider: Viettel offers excellent high-speed packages. Choose the speed and price that matches your needs.
• Setup Fee: There is a one-time setup fee of 300,000 VND.
• Contract Terms: Service is typically signed under a contract with either 6 months prepayment or 12 months prepayment (often with a promotion of one month free).
• Total Cost Calculation: To get your exact total for internet setup, calculate the monthly fee for your chosen package, add the one-time setup fee, and then multiply by your chosen prepayment term.
• Gaming Note: If you plan to use PlayStation or Nintendo gaming machines, you will likely require a special package to avoid connection issues. Please contact us to arrange the exact plan you need.

4. Cable TV

If you desire cable TV, international channels are readily available.

• Popular English-Speaking Channels: For professional clients, access to channels like CNBC is often important.
• Sports Packages: Football (soccer) fans may want to upgrade to a sports package that shows live games and additional sports channels.
• Smart TV Features: All TVs provided in Saigon Cribs properties will have smart features with Netflix and YouTube pre-installed. Be sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel @saigoncribs for apartment tours and more!

Check TV360 Channel List (Example of available channels)

5. Management Fees (Apartments Only)

Management fees are typically billed per square meter of your apartment.

• Cost Variation: Smaller one-bedroom units will have lower fees than larger 3-bedroom apartments. Fees also vary based on location and the luxury level of the building.

• Luxury high-rises can have higher fees, around 1,800,000 VND per month.
• Countryside apartments with the same square footage might be as low as 400,000 VND per month, reflecting differences in style, quality, and amenities.
• City Center Average (2-3 Bedrooms): For general 2 to 3-bedroom apartments in the city center, plan to pay between 1,500,000 VND to 2,200,000 VND per month for management fees, with other utilities billed on top of that.

6. Parking Fees (Apartments Only)

• Motorbike Parking:

• Economy apartments: Around 50,000 VND per month.
• Luxury high-rise apartments: Up to 150,000 VND per month.
• Car Vehicle Parking Pass (Monthly):

• Ranges from 500,000 VND to 1,200,000 VND per month, depending on the location.
• Important Note: Many city center apartments have limited or no parking available for cars. If you plan to rent with a car parking pass, it’s highly recommended to plan your move at least 3 months in advance with Saigon Cribs to allow time for placement on a waiting list and to ensure vacancy.

Summary of Average Monthly Utility Costs (Estimated Ranges)

Utility Type	Serviced Apartment (1 person)	Private High-Rise/House (1 person)	Private High-Rise/House (Family 3-5 people)
Electricity	500,000 – 1,000,000 VND	800,000 – 1,200,000 VND	1,200,000 – 1,800,000 VND
Water	~100,000 VND (per person)	50,000 – 100,000 VND	50,000 – 100,000 VND
Internet	(Often included in rent)	220,000 – 359,000 VND	220,000 – 359,000 VND
Management Fee	(Often included in rent)	400,000 – 2,200,000 VND	1,500,000 – 2,200,000 VND
Motorbike Parking	(Varies, often included)	50,000 – 150,000 VND	50,000 – 150,000 VND
Car Parking	(Varies, often included)	500,000 – 1,200,000 VND	500,000 – 1,200,000 VND

Note: These are average ranges. Actual costs will depend on individual usage, apartment size, building type, and specific service providers.

Helpful Tips for Paying Bills in Saigon

• Saigon Cribs Support: When renting with Saigon Cribs, you always have a helpful management team to support you with your residential needs and repair requests. Our admins will provide timely payment reminders and detailed information for all your monthly billing.
• Convenience Stores: Paying bills is incredibly easy at any 24-hour convenience store (e.g., Family Mart, Circle K, GS25). Just bring the physical bill or the account number, and you can pay by cash, Visa card, or local bank transfer via QR photo.
• Phone Apps:

• Your local bank account phone app can often be used to pay various bills.
• Popular e-wallet apps like Momo and Payoo are widely used for bill payments.

• High-Rise Apartment Bills: For high-rise apartments, your water bill is typically included with your monthly management fee bill. These are normally billed between the 5th and 15th day of the month.
• Management Fee Payment: You can pay your management fee at the reception desk by cash, card, or local bank QR photo. Luxury high rise apartments have the convenience of paying on property dedicated apartment phone app. Apartment phone apps include features to book amenities, submit repair requests and other services.
• Saigon Cribs Residents: For your convenience, Saigon Cribs residents can ask for a special arrangement to include your management fee with your monthly rental statement, simplifying your payments.

Need Help or Support?

Your new adventure in Saigon is important to us. Contact Saigon Cribs any time you need help or support with your residential needs or understanding your bills.

Saigon Cribs Contact Information:

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