Earn Here, Spend ThereWhat is this money worth over there?
Compare cities › Chiang Mai vs Ho Chi Minh City
Chiang Mai 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
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh CityChiang Mai is 41% cheaper than Ho Chi Minh City
Living on $994 a month in Chiang Mai feels like about $1,628 in Ho Chi Minh City — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$53.8 vs $63.9
Per month
$994 vs $1,628
Local meal
฿ 55 vs ₫ 55,000
$1.67 vs $2.09
Taxi 5 km
฿ 52 vs ₫ 90,000
$1.58 vs $3.42
At a glance
FoodChiang Mai 16% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 35% cheaper
TransportChiang Mai 10% cheaper
StayChiang Mai 35% cheaper
FunHo Chi Minh City 8% cheaper
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Transit (71%↓), Cocktail & wine (46%↓), Beer (45%↓)
- Where Chiang Mai is clearly cheaper: Taxi (54%↓), Studio rent (month) (49%↓), Street food (20%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Chiang Mai | Ho Chi Minh City | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 55$1.67 | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | Chiang Mai −20% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 25$0.76 | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | Chiang Mai −20% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 300$9.09 | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 65$1.97 | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | Ho Chi Minh City −13% |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 80$2.42 | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | Ho Chi Minh City −45% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 210$6.36 | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | Ho Chi Minh City −46% |
| 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 | Chiang Mai −54% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 59$1.79 | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | Ho Chi Minh City −15% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 30$0.91 | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | Ho Chi Minh City −71% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Ho Chi Minh City −16% |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,000$30.3 | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | Chiang Mai −11% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 9,000$273 | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | Chiang Mai −49% |
| Laundry | ฿ 44$1.33 | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | Ho Chi Minh City −9% |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Ho Chi Minh City −16% |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 110$3.33 | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | Chiang Mai −8% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 300$9.09 | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | Chiang Mai −11% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 890$27 | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −6% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 240$7.27 | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | Ho Chi Minh City −32% |
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, Chiang Mai or Ho Chi Minh City?
Chiang Mai is 41% cheaper than Ho Chi Minh City. Daily budget $53.8 vs $63.9; a month $994 vs $1,628.
How do monthly costs compare between Chiang Mai and Ho Chi Minh City?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Chiang Mai is about $994 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.