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Compare cities › Busan vs Ho Chi Minh City
Busan 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
🇰🇷 Busan
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City is 37% cheaper than Busan
Living on $2,048 a month in Busan feels like about $1,628 in Ho Chi Minh City — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$137 vs $63.9
Per month
$2,048 vs $1,628
Local meal
â‚© 9,000 vs â‚« 55,000
$6.52 vs $2.09
Taxi 5 km
â‚© 8,500 vs â‚« 90,000
$6.16 vs $3.42
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 62% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 56% cheaper
TransportHo Chi Minh City 67% cheaper
StayHo Chi Minh City 20% cheaper
FunHo Chi Minh City 64% cheaper
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (81%↓), Massage (79%↓), Haircut (78%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Busan | Ho Chi Minh City | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₩ 9,000$6.52 | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | Ho Chi Minh City −68% |
| Street food1 item | ₩ 4,100$2.97 | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | Ho Chi Minh City −68% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₩ 27,000$19.6 | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | Ho Chi Minh City −51% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₩ 4,500$3.26 | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | Ho Chi Minh City −48% |
| Beerone bottle | ₩ 4,500$3.26 | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | Ho Chi Minh City −59% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₩ 12,000$8.7 | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | Ho Chi Minh City −60% |
| Bottled water | ₩ 1,000$0.72 | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −58% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₩ 2,500$1.81 | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | Ho Chi Minh City −58% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₩ 8,500$6.16 | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | Ho Chi Minh City −44% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₩ 11,000$7.97 | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | Ho Chi Minh City −81% |
| Transitone ride | ₩ 1,500$1.09 | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | Ho Chi Minh City −76% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₩ 33,000$23.9 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Ho Chi Minh City −75% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₩ 100,000$72.5 | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | Ho Chi Minh City −53% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₩ 650,000$471 | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | Busan −12% |
| Laundry | ₩ 5,300$3.84 | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | Ho Chi Minh City −68% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₩ 20,000$14.5 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Ho Chi Minh City −58% |
| Haircutcut | ₩ 23,000$16.7 | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | Ho Chi Minh City −78% |
| Massage1 hour | ₩ 67,000$48.6 | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −79% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₩ 80,000$58 | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −56% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₩ 16,000$11.6 | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | Ho Chi Minh City −57% |
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, Busan or Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City is 37% cheaper than Busan. Daily budget $137 vs $63.9; a month $2,048 vs $1,628.
How do monthly costs compare between Busan and Ho Chi Minh City?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Busan is about $2,048 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.