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Hanoi 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
🇻🇳 Hanoi
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh CityHanoi is 13% cheaper than Ho Chi Minh City
Living on $1,422 a month in Hanoi feels like about $1,628 in Ho Chi Minh City — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$57.8 vs $63.9
Per month
$1,422 vs $1,628
Local meal
â‚« 50,000 vs â‚« 55,000
$1.9 vs $2.09
Taxi 5 km
â‚« 85,000 vs â‚« 90,000
$3.23 vs $3.42
At a glance
FoodHanoi 8% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHanoi 13% cheaper
Transportsimilar
StayHanoi 13% cheaper
Funsimilar
- No big gaps item by item — pick by vibe and weather.
Item by item
| Item | Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh City | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 50,000$1.9 | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | Hanoi −9% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 23,000$0.87 | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | Hanoi −8% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 230,000$8.75 | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | Hanoi −8% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | Hanoi −11% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 30,000$1.14 | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | Hanoi −14% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 78,000$2.97 | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | Hanoi −14% |
| Bottled water | â‚« 8,000$0.3 | â‚« 8,000$0.3 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | â‚« 20,000$0.76 | â‚« 20,000$0.76 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 85,000$3.23 | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | Hanoi −6% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | â‚« 39,000$1.48 | â‚« 40,000$1.52 | similar |
| Transitone ride | â‚« 7,000$0.27 | â‚« 7,000$0.27 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | â‚« 160,000$6.08 | â‚« 160,000$6.08 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 800,000$30.4 | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | Hanoi −11% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 12,000,000$456 | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | Hanoi −14% |
| Laundry | â‚« 32,000$1.22 | â‚« 32,000$1.22 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | â‚« 160,000$6.08 | â‚« 160,000$6.08 | similar |
| Haircutcut | â‚« 91,000$3.46 | â‚« 95,000$3.61 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | â‚« 260,000$9.89 | â‚« 270,000$10.3 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | â‚« 660,000$25.1 | â‚« 670,000$25.5 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | â‚« 130,000$4.94 | â‚« 130,000$4.94 | similar |
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, Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City?
Hanoi is 13% cheaper than Ho Chi Minh City. Daily budget $57.8 vs $63.9; a month $1,422 vs $1,628.
How do monthly costs compare between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Hanoi is about $1,422 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.