Compare countries · China vs Vietnam
China vs Vietnam
Across 13 comparable indicators: China leads on 6, Vietnam on 7. Which trade-offs matter is yours to weigh; the rows below show where each country wins, with sources.
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Cost of living index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
China
30.5
Better than 79% of countries
Vietnam
26.4
Better than 92% of countries
Vietnam: 13% cheaper overall.
Rent index
Numbeo 2026 (NYC = 100)
China
10.4
Better than 73% of countries
Vietnam
9.9
Better than 76% of countries
Vietnam: 5% cheaper rents.
Peace — Global Peace Index
Institute for Economics & Peace (lower = more peaceful)
China
2.01
Around the global middle
Vietnam
1.77
Better than 74% of countries
Vietnam: more peaceful (1.77 vs 2.01).
Perceived street safety
Numbeo Safety Index 2026
China
76.9
Better than 93% of countries
Vietnam
59.9
Better than 62% of countries
China: higher perceived safety (76.9 vs 59.9).
Human Development Index
UNDP Human Development Report
China
0.788
Better than 61% of countries
Vietnam
0.726
Worse than 55% of countries
China: higher human development (0.788 vs 0.726).
GDP per person (PPP)
World Bank · 2025
China
$29,333
Better than 61% of countries
Vietnam
$18,088
Worse than 55% of countries
China: 62% higher income per person.
Life expectancy
World Bank · 2024
China
78.0 yrs
Better than 71% of countries
Vietnam
74.7 yrs
Around the global middle
China: 3.3 years longer on average.
Healthcare index
Numbeo Healthcare Index 2026
China
69.2
Better than 68% of countries
Vietnam
62.2
Worse than 56% of countries
China: better-rated healthcare (69.2 vs 62.2).
Fixed broadband speed
Ookla Speedtest Global Index
China
212 Mbps
Better than 82% of countries
Vietnam
289 Mbps
Better than 95% of countries
Vietnam: 36% faster fixed internet.
Press freedom
RSF World Press Freedom Index
China
14/100
Worse than 99% of countries
Vietnam
21/100
Worse than 97% of countries
Vietnam: freer press (21 vs 14 of 100).
Happiness
World Happiness Report (Cantril ladder 0–10)
China
6.07
Better than 56% of countries
Vietnam
6.43
Better than 69% of countries
Vietnam: happier on the Cantril ladder (6.43 vs 6.07).
English proficiency
EF English Proficiency Index
China
464
Worse than 74% of countries
Vietnam
500
Worse than 57% of countries
Vietnam: stronger English proficiency (500 vs 464).
Climate pleasantness
Numbeo Climate Index 2026
China
74.4
Worse than 63% of countries
Vietnam
71.1
Worse than 72% of countries
China: more pleasant climate rating (74.4 vs 71.1).
Quick answers
Is China cheaper than Vietnam?
Numbeo's 2026 cost-of-living index (NYC = 100) puts China at 30.5 and Vietnam at 26.4. Vietnam is about 13% cheaper overall.
Is China or Vietnam safer?
On the Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful), China scores 2.01 and Vietnam scores 1.77. Vietnam ranks as the more peaceful of the two.
Which has the higher quality of life, China or Vietnam?
On the UN Human Development Index, China scores 0.788 and Vietnam scores 0.726. China scores higher on this composite of income, health and education. Single indexes hide trade-offs; the full comparison above shows where each country wins.
Deciding between China and Vietnam for real?
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.
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70+ indicators: economy, safety, governance, climate and visas.