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Compare cities › Cebu vs Ho Chi Minh City
Cebu 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
🇵🇠Cebu
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh CityCebu and Ho Chi Minh City cost about the same
Living on $1,393 a month in Cebu feels like about $1,628 in Ho Chi Minh City — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$85.6 vs $63.9
Per month
$1,393 vs $1,628
Local meal
₱ 150 vs ₫ 55,000
$2.63 vs $2.09
Taxi 5 km
₱ 120 vs ₫ 90,000
$2.11 vs $3.42
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 14% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 14% cheaper
TransportCebu 16% cheaper
StayCebu 6% cheaper
FunHo Chi Minh City 18% cheaper
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Hotel night (39%↓), Half-day tour (34%↓), Convenience store (31%↓)
- Where Cebu is clearly cheaper: Taxi (38%↓), Studio rent (month) (34%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Cebu | Ho Chi Minh City | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₱ 150$2.63 | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | Ho Chi Minh City −21% |
| Street food1 item | ₱ 68$1.19 | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | Ho Chi Minh City −20% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₱ 550$9.65 | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | ₱ 140$2.46 | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | Ho Chi Minh City −30% |
| Beerone bottle | ₱ 80$1.4 | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | Ho Chi Minh City −5% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₱ 210$3.68 | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | Ho Chi Minh City −6% |
| Bottled water | ₱ 25$0.44 | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −31% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₱ 63$1.11 | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | Ho Chi Minh City −31% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₱ 120$2.11 | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | Cebu −38% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₱ 94$1.65 | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | Ho Chi Minh City −8% |
| Transitone ride | ₱ 15$0.26 | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₱ 500$8.77 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Ho Chi Minh City −31% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₱ 3,200$56.1 | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | Ho Chi Minh City −39% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₱ 20,000$351 | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | Cebu −34% |
| Laundry | ₱ 94$1.65 | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | Ho Chi Minh City −26% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₱ 380$6.67 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Ho Chi Minh City −9% |
| Haircutcut | ₱ 200$3.51 | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ₱ 560$9.82 | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | ₱ 2,200$38.6 | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −34% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₱ 380$6.67 | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | Ho Chi Minh City −26% |
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, Cebu or Ho Chi Minh City?
Cebu and Ho Chi Minh City cost about the same. Daily budget $85.6 vs $63.9; a month $1,393 vs $1,628.
How do monthly costs compare between Cebu and Ho Chi Minh City?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Cebu is about $1,393 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.