🗺️ This article is part of the Tien Thanh Travel Guide cluster.
Before committing to a monthly rental, most guests want to know roughly how much a month here costs beyond rent. Here are the typical expenses, how to estimate them, and a few tips to save money without cutting into quality of life.
Rent, and what it includes
Rates for villas and townhouses at NovaWorld Phan Thiet currently range from 11,000,000 VND to 40,000,000 VND a month (confirmed 30/9/2026, across 24 units currently for rent), depending on housing type, bedroom count, and position within the resort. The most common rate sits around 17,000,000 VND/month.
A villa's monthly rate at NovaWorld Phan Thiet usually already includes the general management fee (security, cleaning of common areas). Electricity, water, and internet are mostly billed separately based on actual usage, so ask clearly whether these are included or billed monthly on top — this is an item easy to overlook when comparing villas.
For families running the AC a lot (especially in the hot dry season), the electricity bill can add up noticeably — ask about the per-unit rate and estimate ahead based on the number of AC units in the villa and your family's usage habits.
Food
A villa with its own kitchen saves you noticeably if you cook — buying groceries at a local market or supermarket is far cheaper than eating out every meal. Dining at restaurants in the tourist areas (Ham Tien, central Mui Ne) runs considerably higher than local, everyday eateries.
A common strategy for long-stay guests: cook breakfast and lunch yourself, and save dinner for eating out — seafood or local cuisine — a few times a week. This balances cost savings with enjoying the local food scene, rather than picking one extreme or the other.
Transport
Renting a motorbike by the month is the most common choice for long-stay guests, since the distance between areas (Tien Thanh – Ham Tien – central Phan Thiet) is too far to walk regularly. Inside NovaWorld, an internal shuttle handles short trips, convenient for moving around within the resort.
For families with young kids or anyone not used to riding a motorbike, consider a self-drive rental car or ride-hailing/taxi services for longer trips, though this costs noticeably more than a motorbike when totaled over a month.
Other daily expenses
Budget for a mobile data/internet SIM, laundry costs if the villa lacks a washing machine, and a reserve for recreational activities in the area such as the water park, sand dune tours, or the fishing village.
An estimated total budget
The table below is a reference estimate for a family of four, moderate spending — actual figures will vary by lifestyle and the specific villa chosen.
| Expense | Notes |
|---|---|
| Rent | Per the chosen villa's rate — see the monthly-rental page |
| Electricity, water | Billed separately based on actual usage |
| Food | Much lower if you cook most meals yourself |
| Monthly motorbike rental | Common choice for daily transport |
| SIM/mobile internet | Ask about a monthly plan — cheaper than daily plans |
| Recreation and sightseeing reserve | Depends on each family's needs |
Saving tips without cutting quality of life
Buying groceries weekly rather than a little at a time daily is usually cheaper, especially for produce and meat bought at a wholesale market. Renting a motorbike monthly is almost always cheaper than daily rates added up. For a villa with a washing machine already included, doing laundry yourself saves far more over a month than using an outside laundry service.
Comparing cost with staying back home
For many international guests, especially from Europe and Russia, the total monthly cost of living in Mui Ne – Phan Thiet (including rent) is often noticeably lower than monthly living costs back home, even factoring in a round-trip flight. This is one of the economic reasons the "extended winter stay" trend keeps growing, rather than just a one- or two-week vacation.
For Vietnamese guests from major cities like Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, living costs in Phan Thiet also tend to be gentler, especially rent and fresh produce, though some tourism services may cost about the same or more depending on the season.
Budgeting for the whole month
An effective way to manage spending is to budget by the week rather than lumping the whole month together — easier to track and adjust in time if any given week runs over. It's worth setting aside roughly 10–15% of your planned budget for unplanned expenses — minor repairs, an unexpected medical cost, or a spontaneous activity.
Families traveling with young kids should budget separately for children's supplies (diapers, formula, baby food), since prices for these can differ from what you're used to back home, both in cost and in which brands are available locally.
Frequently asked questions
Both — many small shops and local markets only take cash, while supermarkets and larger restaurants accept cards or bank transfer.
Rent usually stays fixed per your signed monthly contract; food and tourism service costs can run a bit higher during the year-end peak season.
Exchange to Vietnamese dong right after arrival, since most daily transactions use dong; keep foreign currency only as a backup.
Basic care at local private clinics is generally reasonably priced compared with many countries; see the dedicated healthcare article for long-stay guests for details.
Depends on the item — local products tend to be cheaper, while familiar imported brands may cost about the same or a bit more.
It's best to ask MH Travel directly for an estimate matched to your specific villa and needs, rather than relying only on general averages.
Entertainment and sightseeing costs
Beyond basic living costs, long-stay guests usually set aside extra budget for recreation: the water park inside NovaWorld, sand dune or fishing village tours, or golf for anyone who enjoys it. These activities aren't mandatory but are a worthwhile part of the long-stay experience, so factor them into your budget if you plan to do them regularly.
For families with young kids, spending on kids' activities (water park, play areas) can add up if done often — consider a monthly ticket package if one's available in the area, usually cheaper than paying per visit.
Tracking expenses with an app
Many long-stay guests use an expense-tracking app on their phone to keep a close eye on actual spending versus the original budget, especially useful since converting foreign currency to dong can be confusing if done purely by mental math. Regular tracking helps catch overspending early, in time to adjust for the rest of your stay.
Costs for short trips around the area
Many long-stay guests use their time to visit nearby spots like the flying sand dunes, Fairy Stream, the Mui Ne fishing village, or further afield into Phan Thiet. The cost for these trips is usually modest if you ride your own motorbike, but considerably higher if booked as a guided tour — weigh it against your budget and whether you prefer exploring independently or with a guide.
On weekends, many families choose to simply rest at the villa rather than sightsee nonstop — a sensible way to balance costs across the whole month, since not every month needs a packed activity schedule.
Overall, a month here at a moderate lifestyle (not overly frugal, not extravagant) tends to deliver a good balance between reasonable cost and quality of life — the main reason more and more people are choosing this area for their extended winter stay.
Easily overlooked savings
Many guests forget that buying groceries in larger quantities at wholesale shops or markets is noticeably cheaper than buying a little at a time from the convenience store near the villa. Over a full month, that small difference per purchase adds up to a meaningful amount across the whole stay — enough for a few extra activities during the month, even for a larger family.
