Hanoi Cost of Living 2026
Vietnam · Big city — far cheaper than the US average. Updated September 2026 Not just the exchange rate: how cheap it feels on your own income, and where a price turns into a rip-off.
Hanoi price table & rip-off thresholds
| Item | Base price | Normal range | Rip-off? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫50,000$1.9 | ₫35,000 – ₫80,000 | ₫96,000+ |
| Street food1 item | ₫23,000$0.87 | ₫13,800 – ₫41,400 | ₫49,680+ |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫230,000$8.75 | ₫161,000 – ₫368,000 | ₫441,600+ |
| Bakery & dessert1 item | ₫36,000$1.37 | ₫21,600 – ₫64,800 | ₫77,760+ |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫40,000$1.52 | ₫24,000 – ₫64,000 | ₫76,800+ |
| Fruit juiceone cup | ₫39,000$1.48 | ₫23,400 – ₫70,200 | ₫84,240+ |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫20,000$0.76 | ₫12,000 – ₫38,000 | ₫45,600+ |
| Bottled water | ₫8,000$0.3 | ₫5,600 – ₫16,000 | ₫19,200+ |
| Beerone bottle | ₫30,000$1.14 | ₫18,000 – ₫51,000 | ₫61,200+ |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫78,000$2.97 | ₫46,800 – ₫132,600 | ₫159,120+ |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫85,000$3.23 | ₫68,000 – ₫136,000 | ₫163,200+ |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫39,000$1.48 | ₫27,300 – ₫70,200 | ₫84,240+ |
| Transitone ride | ₫7,000$0.27 | ₫6,300 – ₫9,100 | ₫10,920+ |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫160,000$6.08 | ₫112,000 – ₫256,000 | ₫307,200+ |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫800,000$30.4 | ₫480,000 – ₫1,280,000 | ₫1,536,000+ |
| Laundry | ₫32,000$1.22 | ₫22,400 – ₫51,200 | ₫61,440+ |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫160,000$6.08 | ₫112,000 – ₫272,000 | ₫326,400+ |
| Haircutcut | ₫91,000$3.46 | ₫54,600 – ₫163,800 | ₫196,560+ |
| Massage1 hour | ₫260,000$9.89 | ₫182,000 – ₫416,000 | ₫499,200+ |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫660,000$25.1 | ₫462,000 – ₫1,056,000 | ₫1,267,200+ |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫130,000$4.94 | ₫104,000 – ₫182,000 | ₫218,400+ |
Base prices start from public cost-of-living data; once 3+ traveler reports come in, the app blends in what travelers actually paid. Rate ₫26,300 per USD, for reference.
Live prices reported in Hanoi
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FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Hanoi for a month?
A short-term studio rental (about $1,034) plus food, coffee, transport and a SIM (about $388) comes to roughly $1,422 a month. A local long-term lease (studio ₫12,000,000) brings it down a lot.
What is a realistic daily budget for Hanoi?
A mid-range room (about $31.3 a night) plus three meals, a coffee and two taxi rides is about $57.8 a day. Hostels and local eateries bring it well under that.
How do I know if a taxi in Hanoi is overcharging?
For 5 km in the city, expect ₫68,000 – ₫136,000. Anything above ₫163,200 is suspicious. The app's Price Check lets you pick the distance and gives a verdict in seconds.
How much is a coffee or a local meal in Hanoi?
Coffee about ₫40,000 ($1.52), a local meal about ₫50,000 ($1.9), dinner at a mid-range restaurant about ₫230,000.