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Compare cities › Ho Chi Minh City vs Istanbul
Ho Chi Minh City vs Istanbul cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh City
🇹🇷 IstanbulHo Chi Minh City is 100% cheaper than Istanbul
Living on $1,628 a month in Ho Chi Minh City feels like about $2,598 in Istanbul — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$63.9 vs $154
Per month
$1,628 vs $2,598
Local meal
₫ 55,000 vs ₺ 300
$2.09 vs $7.32
Taxi 5 km
₫ 90,000 vs ₺ 230
$3.42 vs $5.61
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 68% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 68% cheaper
TransportHo Chi Minh City 55% cheaper
StayHo Chi Minh City 47% cheaper
FunHo Chi Minh City 56% cheaper
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Cocktail & wine (73%↓), Beer (73%↓), Street food (72%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Ho Chi Minh City | Istanbul | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | ₺ 300$7.32 | Ho Chi Minh City −71% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | ₺ 140$3.41 | Ho Chi Minh City −72% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | ₺ 900$22 | Ho Chi Minh City −57% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | ₺ 150$3.66 | Ho Chi Minh City −53% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | ₺ 200$4.88 | Ho Chi Minh City −73% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | ₺ 520$12.7 | Ho Chi Minh City −73% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | ₺ 15$0.37 | Ho Chi Minh City −17% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | ₺ 38$0.93 | Ho Chi Minh City −18% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | ₺ 230$5.61 | Ho Chi Minh City −39% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | ₺ 160$3.9 | Ho Chi Minh City −61% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | ₺ 27$0.66 | Ho Chi Minh City −60% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | ₺ 820$20 | Ho Chi Minh City −70% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | ₺ 3,500$85.4 | Ho Chi Minh City −60% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | ₺ 28,000$683 | Ho Chi Minh City −22% |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | ₺ 82$2 | Ho Chi Minh City −39% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | ₺ 410$10 | Ho Chi Minh City −39% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | ₺ 350$8.54 | Ho Chi Minh City −58% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | ₺ 1,000$24.4 | Ho Chi Minh City −58% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | ₺ 1,400$34.1 | Ho Chi Minh City −25% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | ₺ 620$15.1 | Ho Chi Minh City −67% |
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, Ho Chi Minh City or Istanbul?
Ho Chi Minh City is 100% cheaper than Istanbul. Daily budget $63.9 vs $154; a month $1,628 vs $2,598.
How do monthly costs compare between Ho Chi Minh City and Istanbul?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ho Chi Minh City is about $1,628 and Istanbul about $2,598 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.