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Ho Chi Minh City vs Jakarta 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
🇮🇩 JakartaHo Chi Minh City and Jakarta cost about the same
Living on $1,628 a month in Ho Chi Minh City feels like about $1,679 in Jakarta — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$63.9 vs $67.8
Per month
$1,628 vs $1,679
Local meal
â‚« 55,000 vs Rp 30,000
$2.09 vs $1.84
Taxi 5 km
â‚« 90,000 vs Rp 30,000
$3.42 vs $1.84
At a glance
Foodsimilar
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 50% cheaper
TransportJakarta 23% cheaper
StayHo Chi Minh City 9% cheaper
FunHo Chi Minh City 8% cheaper
- Where Jakarta is clearly cheaper: Taxi (46%↓), Transit (19%↓)
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Beer (57%↓), Cocktail & wine (57%↓), Coffee (27%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Ho Chi Minh City | Jakarta | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | Rp 30,000$1.84 | Jakarta −12% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | Rp 14,000$0.86 | Jakarta −10% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | Rp 180,000$11 | Ho Chi Minh City −14% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | Rp 38,000$2.33 | Ho Chi Minh City −27% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | Rp 50,000$3.07 | Ho Chi Minh City −57% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | Rp 130,000$7.98 | Ho Chi Minh City −57% |
| Bottled water | â‚« 8,000$0.3 | Rp 5,000$0.31 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | â‚« 20,000$0.76 | Rp 13,000$0.8 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | Rp 30,000$1.84 | Jakarta −46% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | â‚« 40,000$1.52 | Rp 24,000$1.47 | similar |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | Rp 3,500$0.21 | Jakarta −19% |
| Scooter rentalper day | â‚« 160,000$6.08 | Rp 97,000$5.95 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | Rp 650,000$39.9 | Ho Chi Minh City −14% |
| Studio rent (month) | â‚« 14,000,000$532 | Rp 9,000,000$552 | similar |
| Laundry | â‚« 32,000$1.22 | Rp 19,000$1.17 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | â‚« 160,000$6.08 | Rp 97,000$5.95 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | Rp 53,000$3.25 | Jakarta −10% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | Rp 150,000$9.2 | Jakarta −10% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | Rp 480,000$29.4 | Ho Chi Minh City −13% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | Rp 97,000$5.95 | Ho Chi Minh City −17% |
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 Jakarta?
Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta cost about the same. Daily budget $63.9 vs $67.8; a month $1,628 vs $1,679.
How do monthly costs compare between Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ho Chi Minh City is about $1,628 and Jakarta about $1,679 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.