Thailand and Vietnam are two of the most talked-about EFL destinations on TEFL.com right now — but they offer very different financial propositions. Here's what the numbers actually look like this week.
The salaries
🇹🇭
Thailand
฿32,000 – ฿47,500 / mo
£726–£1,078 / $970–$1,441 / €845–€1,254
Average: ฿38,563 (£875 / $1,169 / €1,018)
🇻🇳
Vietnam
₫49,213,115 – ₫80,000,000 / mo
£1,501–£2,440 / $2,005–$3,260 / €1,746–€2,838
Average: ₫69,239,344 (£2,112 / $2,821 / €2,456)
Take-home pay
Tax rates are simplified estimates for a typical foreign teacher's salary bracket, not precise calculations — actual tax owed depends on progressive brackets, tax treaties, residency status, social insurance contributions, and local practice. Treat as a rough planning figure, not tax advice.
Cost of living
Typical monthly costs — single person, modest lifestyle (local currency, GBP / USD / EUR)
Rent — 1-bed city-centre apartment
🇹🇭
฿11,366 (£258 / $345 / €300)
🇻🇳
₫9,672,131 (£295 / $394 / €343)
Food & groceries
🇹🇭
฿6,211 (£141 / $188 / €164)
🇻🇳
₫5,081,967 (£155 / $207 / €180)
Local transport
🇹🇭
฿661 (£15 / $20 / €17)
🇻🇳
₫524,590 (£16 / $21 / €19)
Going out & socialising
🇹🇭
฿4,053 (£92 / $123 / €107)
🇻🇳
₫3,311,475 (£101 / $135 / €117)
Estimated monthly total
🇹🇭
฿22,291 (£506 / $676 / €588)
🇻🇳
₫18,590,164 (£567 / $758 / €659)
Adjusted for city size: Thailand figures averaged across 7 listing cities (Ubon Ratchathani, UBON RATCHATHANI, Chanthaburi, BKK, Nakon Ratchashima, Pak Chong, Bangkok) — 61% of the national hub baseline; Vietnam figures averaged across 2 listing cities (Binh Duong, Ho Chi Minh City) — 78% of the national hub baseline.
Thailand is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Vietnam, based on typical rent, food and transport costs.
Cost-of-living figures are indicative estimates compiled from publicly available sources including Numbeo, Mercer Cost of Living, and the Economist Intelligence Unit Worldwide Cost of Living survey, and are not sourced from TEFL.com listings.
Monthly savings potential
Estimated net salary minus estimated total monthly living costs (rent, food, transport and socialising combined). A negative figure suggests that role/location may need savings brought from home or a lower-cost lifestyle than assumed here — treat as a rough guide, not a budget.
Benefits breakdown
Each percentage is the share of Thailand's (or Vietnam's) included teaching posts whose listing mentioned the benefit. A missing benefit isn't necessarily unavailable, just not stated in that listing.
The verdict
🇹🇭Thailand
Thailand offers lifestyle, culture, low cost of living. The average teaching salary works out to around ฿38,563 (£875 / $1,169 / €1,018)/mo across 8 job listing(s). Salaries here are more tightly clustered than in Vietnam, making typical earnings fairly predictable. Day-to-day living costs are also roughly 12% lower than in Vietnam, stretching that salary further.
🇻🇳Vietnam
Vietnam is known for low cost, high demand, vibrant lifestyle. The average teaching salary works out to around ₫69,239,344 (£2,112 / $2,821 / €2,456)/mo across 5 job listing(s). Salaries here span a notably wider range than Thailand, from entry-level roles up to the top end of the market. Living costs here tend to run higher than in Thailand, so factor that into the real take-home value.
Thailand or Vietnam? Either way, today's TEFL market offers real choice — and real opportunities to build a life abroad on a teacher's salary. Worth noting: Thailand works out roughly 12% cheaper day-to-day, which can make a real difference to take-home value.
Browse Thailand and Vietnam jobs below and at TEFL.com →
