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Compare cities › Boracay vs Ho Chi Minh City
Boracay 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
🇵🇠Boracay
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City is 20% cheaper than Boracay
Living on $1,759 a month in Boracay feels like about $1,628 in Ho Chi Minh City — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$94.4 vs $63.9
Per month
$1,759 vs $1,628
Local meal
₱ 200 vs ₫ 55,000
$3.51 vs $2.09
Taxi 5 km
₱ 110 vs ₫ 90,000
$1.93 vs $3.42
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 34% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 29% cheaper
TransportBoracay 15% cheaper
StayHo Chi Minh City 13% cheaper
FunHo Chi Minh City 18% cheaper
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Hotel night (43%↓), Local meal (40%↓), Street food (40%↓)
- Where Boracay is clearly cheaper: Taxi (44%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Boracay | Ho Chi Minh City | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₱ 200$3.51 | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | Ho Chi Minh City −40% |
| Street food1 item | ₱ 90$1.58 | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | Ho Chi Minh City −40% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₱ 680$11.9 | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | Ho Chi Minh City −20% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₱ 160$2.81 | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | Ho Chi Minh City −39% |
| Beerone bottle | ₱ 100$1.75 | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | Ho Chi Minh City −24% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₱ 260$4.56 | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | Ho Chi Minh City −24% |
| Bottled water | ₱ 24$0.42 | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −28% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₱ 60$1.05 | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | Ho Chi Minh City −28% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₱ 110$1.93 | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | Boracay −44% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₱ 98$1.72 | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | Ho Chi Minh City −12% |
| Transitone ride | ₱ 17$0.3 | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | Ho Chi Minh City −11% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₱ 520$9.12 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Ho Chi Minh City −33% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₱ 3,400$59.6 | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | Ho Chi Minh City −43% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₱ 26,000$456 | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | Boracay −14% |
| Laundry | ₱ 86$1.51 | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | Ho Chi Minh City −19% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₱ 340$5.96 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ₱ 210$3.68 | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ₱ 590$10.4 | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | ₱ 2,300$40.4 | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −37% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₱ 340$5.96 | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | Ho Chi Minh City −17% |
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, Boracay or Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City is 20% cheaper than Boracay. Daily budget $94.4 vs $63.9; a month $1,759 vs $1,628.
How do monthly costs compare between Boracay and Ho Chi Minh City?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Boracay is about $1,759 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.