Original Vietnamese content is translated by LaoDongAI
Workers work in a factory in the North of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Dinh Trong
Workers work in a factory in the North of Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Dinh Trong

With an income of 20 million VND/month, a family of 4 in Ho Chi Minh City is always in a state of shortage before and after deprivation

ĐÌNH TRỌNG (báo lao động) 03/11/2025 10:17 (GMT+7)

HCMC - Goods and household items are more expensive, the families of 4 workers and civil servants who earn 20 million VND/month have to spend frugally to have enough.

Family income of 20 million/month is not enough to cover expenses

The northern area of Ho Chi Minh City is an industrial development area, with many enterprises building factories. This is also an area that attracts a large number of illegal workers. Mr. Quang Ngoc's wife (37 years old, from Nghe An) has been living in Thoi Hoa ward for more than 10 years.

Mr. Ngoc said that before, the land was cheap, so he and his wife borrowed both sides of the family to buy a plot of land in Group 1, Quarter 2, Thoi Hoa Ward. The family's life has since become less difficult. However, in the past 4 years, the prices of many items have increased, causing the family's income to not be enough to cover, and life has begun to get difficult.

Thu nhap khong tang, trong khi gia ca hang hoa tang khien cuoc song nguoi lao dong dang vat va hon. Anh: Dinh Trong
Income does not increase, while commodity prices increase, making workers' lives more difficult. Photo: Dinh Trong

"I work as a driver, my wife is a worker in My Phuoc. The couple's monthly income is about 20 million but they always fall into a situation of immediate deprivation. Let's calculate the family's expenses for a month: The cost of food for the whole family is about 8 million, the electricity and water bill is about 1.5 million, household appliances and internet tickets are about 1.5 million; the tuition fee for the daughter in grade 6 is 1.5 million, the tuition fee for 3 basic subjects (Literature, Math, English) is 1.5 million, the tuition fee for the daughter in grade 1 is 2 million; the cost of the party and gas for the couple is about 2 million; the cost of supporting both parents is 2 million VND" - Mr. Quang Ngoc shared.

According to Mr. Quang Ngoc, the couple earned 20 million VND and spent 20 million VND, without any excess. His family is always in need first, then again. I didn't dare to buy new furniture, and I didn't dare to change my old phone.

Gia dinh anh Quang Ngoc 4 nguoi chi tieu moi thang het 20 trieu dong. Anh: Dinh Trong
Mr. Quang Ngoc's family of 4 spends 20 million VND per month. Photo: Dinh Trong

Civil servant families also have a hard time

In the central area of Ho Chi Minh City, civil servant families with an income of 25-30 million VND/month are also not enough to spend. Ms. N.T.T.T (Chairman of the Trade Union of a Ward in Ho Chi Minh City) said that she and her husband are both civil servants. She herself is a senior specialist, including Party and union allowances with an income of about 15 million VND/month, while her husband has a lower income.

Her family is living with her parents and has two children, one in primary school and the other in junior high school. On average, the learning cost of primary school students is 1.8 - 1.9 million VND paid to the school and 1.2 million VND for extra English/month. For children in high school, the tuition fee for the school is from 2.1 to 2.3 million VND/month, the tuition fee for extra subjects outside is about 5 million VND, not to mention the costs of learning additional soft skills such as swimming, sports or music...

Every month, her family gives her parents 10 million VND to contribute to food (2.5 million VND/person), electricity, water, and purchases of household items of about 3 million VND/month.

In addition, the hilary expenses are about 2 to 3 million VND/month depending on the time. The money for giving children to watch movies, buy books, or improve their spiritual life is about 1.5 million VND/month. The need to study to improve qualifications and take care of yourself is also about 2 to 3 million VND/month.

"Fortunately, we live with our parents and don't have to spend money on renting a house. Without a supportive and protective parent, it would be difficult to ensure a living and invest in education to meet the needs of society in the future with the current income, said Ms. N.T.T.T.

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