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Compare cities › Ho Chi Minh City vs Kathmandu
Ho Chi Minh City vs Kathmandu 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
🇳🇵 KathmanduKathmandu is 33% cheaper than Ho Chi Minh City
Living on $1,628 a month in Ho Chi Minh City feels like about $939 in Kathmandu — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$63.9 vs $48.4
Per month
$1,628 vs $939
Local meal
â‚« 55,000 vs Rs 270
$2.09 vs $2
Taxi 5 km
â‚« 90,000 vs Rs 340
$3.42 vs $2.52
At a glance
FoodKathmandu 13% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 35% cheaper
TransportKathmandu 18% cheaper
StayKathmandu 40% cheaper
FunHo Chi Minh City 29% cheaper
- Where Kathmandu is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (53%↓), Restaurant dinner (27%↓), Taxi (26%↓)
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (52%↓), Beer (47%↓), Cocktail & wine (47%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Ho Chi Minh City | Kathmandu | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | â‚« 55,000$2.09 | Rs 270$2 | similar |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | Rs 120$0.89 | Kathmandu −6% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | Rs 940$6.96 | Kathmandu −27% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | Rs 200$1.48 | Kathmandu −13% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | Rs 340$2.52 | Ho Chi Minh City −47% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | Rs 880$6.52 | Ho Chi Minh City −47% |
| Bottled water | â‚« 8,000$0.3 | Rs 40$0.3 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | â‚« 20,000$0.76 | Rs 100$0.74 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | Rs 340$2.52 | Kathmandu −26% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | â‚« 40,000$1.52 | Rs 200$1.48 | similar |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | Rs 27$0.2 | Kathmandu −25% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Rs 1,100$8.15 | Ho Chi Minh City −25% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | Rs 3,400$25.2 | Kathmandu −26% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | Rs 34,000$252 | Kathmandu −53% |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | Rs 200$1.48 | Ho Chi Minh City −18% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | Rs 680$5.04 | Kathmandu −17% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | Rs 560$4.15 | Ho Chi Minh City −13% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | Rs 1,600$11.9 | Ho Chi Minh City −13% |
| Half-day tourper person | â‚« 670,000$25.5 | Rs 3,400$25.2 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | Rs 1,400$10.4 | Ho Chi Minh City −52% |
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 Kathmandu?
Kathmandu is 33% cheaper than Ho Chi Minh City. Daily budget $63.9 vs $48.4; a month $1,628 vs $939.
How do monthly costs compare between Ho Chi Minh City and Kathmandu?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ho Chi Minh City is about $1,628 and Kathmandu about $939 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.