The rent figure on a listing is almost never what leaves your account each month. In Hanoi, a ₫25,000,000 apartment can comfortably cost ₫30–33,000,000 once the bills land. Knowing the difference before you sign is the single biggest thing that separates a calm move from a stressful one.
What sits on top of rent
Most unfurnished and semi-furnished apartments add the same handful of line items every month:
- Management / service fee for the building (lifts, security, common areas)
- Electricity, billed by usage and the biggest summer variable
- Tap water, plus bottled drinking water delivery
- Internet and wifi
- Parking for a car and/or motorbike
- Optional weekly cleaning, often bundled in serviced buildings
Electricity is the one that surprises people
Air-conditioning runs most of the year, and bills climb fast from May to September. A two-bedroom with the AC on daily can run ₫1.5–3,000,000 a month in peak heat. Always ask whether you are billed at the state rate or a landlord-set rate (more on that in our electricity guide).
The Nest rule: see the all-in number first
Every Nest listing shows a True Monthly Cost breakdown, rent plus estimated bills and fees, so you are comparing real numbers, not headline rent. No hidden costs, no surprise invoices, and never a tenant agency fee, because the landlord pays our commission, not you.
Find your apartment the safe way
Verified listings, transparent all-in pricing, English contracts, and no tenant fees. Browse homes or talk to a Nest advisor.
