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Hanoi vs Vung Tau cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ป๐ณ Hanoi
๐ป๐ณ Vung Tau
At a glance
- Where Vung Tau is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (57%โ), Street food (40%โ), Half-day tour (38%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Vung Tau is easier to travel (3.0 vs 3.2). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Hanoi 4 vs Vung Tau 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Hanoi | Vung Tau | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โซ 70,000$2.66 | โซ 50,000$1.9 | Vung Tau โ29% |
| Street food1 item | โซ 50,000$1.9 | โซ 30,000$1.14 | Vung Tau โ40% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โซ 280,000$10.6 | โซ 200,000$7.6 | Vung Tau โ29% |
| Coffeeone cup | โซ 45,000$1.71 | โซ 45,000$1.71 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | โซ 25,000$0.95 | โซ 22,000$0.84 | Vung Tau โ12% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โซ 120,000$4.56 | โซ 80,000$3.04 | Vung Tau โ33% |
| Bottled water | โซ 8,000$0.3 | โซ 6,000$0.23 | Vung Tau โ25% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โซ 12,000$0.46 | โซ 12,000$0.46 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | โซ 75,000$2.85 | โซ 80,000$3.04 | Hanoi โ6% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โซ 25,000$0.95 | โซ 20,000$0.76 | Vung Tau โ20% |
| Transitone ride | โซ 8,000$0.3 | โซ 9,000$0.34 | Hanoi โ11% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โซ 150,000$5.7 | โซ 130,000$4.94 | Vung Tau โ13% |
| Hotel night3-star | โซ 800,000$30.4 | โซ 800,000$30.4 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | โซ 9,500,000$361 | โซ 7,000,000$266 | Vung Tau โ26% |
| Laundry | โซ 30,000$1.14 | โซ 25,000$0.95 | Vung Tau โ17% |
| SIM card1 week data | โซ 220,000$8.37 | โซ 180,000$6.84 | Vung Tau โ18% |
| Haircutcut | โซ 80,000$3.04 | โซ 50,000$1.9 | Vung Tau โ38% |
| Massage1 hour | โซ 300,000$11.4 | โซ 250,000$9.51 | Vung Tau โ17% |
| Half-day tourper person | โซ 650,000$24.7 | โซ 400,000$15.2 | Vung Tau โ38% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โซ 70,000$2.66 | โซ 30,000$1.14 | Vung Tau โ57% |
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 Vung Tau?
Vung Tau is 12% cheaper than Hanoi. Daily budget $61.4 vs $56.1; a month $1,277 vs $1,092.
Which is easier to travel, Hanoi or Vung Tau?
Vung Tau is easier: Vung Tau 3.0/5 vs Hanoi 3.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Hanoi and Vung Tau?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Hanoi is about $1,277 and Vung Tau about $1,092 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.