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Bangkok vs Ho Chi Minh City cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇹🇭 Bangkok
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh CityBangkok and Ho Chi Minh City cost about the same
Living on $1,556 a month in Bangkok feels like about $1,628 in Ho Chi Minh City — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$71.9 vs $63.9
Per month
$1,556 vs $1,628
Local meal
฿ 70 vs ₫ 55,000
$2.12 vs $2.09
Taxi 5 km
฿ 52 vs ₫ 90,000
$1.58 vs $3.42
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 8% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 44% cheaper
TransportBangkok 7% cheaper
Staysimilar
FunHo Chi Minh City 17% cheaper
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Transit (71%↓), Beer (51%↓), Cocktail & wine (50%↓)
- Where Bangkok is clearly cheaper: Taxi (54%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Bangkok | Ho Chi Minh City | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 70$2.12 | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | similar |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 32$0.97 | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 400$12.1 | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | Ho Chi Minh City −22% |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 80$2.42 | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | Ho Chi Minh City −29% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 90$2.73 | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | Ho Chi Minh City −51% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 230$6.97 | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | Ho Chi Minh City −50% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 10$0.3 | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 25$0.76 | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 52$1.58 | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | Bangkok −54% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 66$2 | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | Ho Chi Minh City −24% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | Ho Chi Minh City −71% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 260$7.88 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Ho Chi Minh City −23% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,400$42.4 | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | Ho Chi Minh City −19% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 16,000$485 | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | Bangkok −9% |
| Laundry | ฿ 50$1.52 | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | Ho Chi Minh City −20% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 260$7.88 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Ho Chi Minh City −23% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 120$3.64 | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 330$10 | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 990$30 | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −15% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 260$7.88 | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | Ho Chi Minh City −37% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City?
Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City cost about the same. Daily budget $71.9 vs $63.9; a month $1,556 vs $1,628.
How do monthly costs compare between Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Bangkok is about $1,556 and Ho Chi Minh City about $1,628 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.