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Compare cities › Ho Chi Minh City vs Kota Kinabalu
Ho Chi Minh City vs Kota Kinabalu 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
🇲🇾 Kota KinabaluHo Chi Minh City is 10% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu
Living on $1,628 a month in Ho Chi Minh City feels like about $1,526 in Kota Kinabalu — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$63.9 vs $80.5
Per month
$1,628 vs $1,526
Local meal
â‚« 55,000 vs RM 12
$2.09 vs $2.79
Taxi 5 km
â‚« 90,000 vs RM 15
$3.42 vs $3.49
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 20% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 55% cheaper
TransportHo Chi Minh City 40% cheaper
Staysimilar
FunHo Chi Minh City 38% cheaper
- Where Kota Kinabalu is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (30%↓)
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Beer (62%↓), Cocktail & wine (62%↓), Transit (54%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Ho Chi Minh City | Kota Kinabalu | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | RM 12$2.79 | Ho Chi Minh City −25% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | RM 5.4$1.26 | Ho Chi Minh City −24% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | RM 45$10.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −9% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | RM 10$2.33 | Ho Chi Minh City −26% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | RM 15$3.49 | Ho Chi Minh City −62% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | RM 39$9.07 | Ho Chi Minh City −62% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | RM 1.5$0.35 | Ho Chi Minh City −13% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | RM 3.8$0.88 | Ho Chi Minh City −14% |
| Taxi5 km in town | â‚« 90,000$3.42 | RM 15$3.49 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | RM 12$2.79 | Ho Chi Minh City −46% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | RM 2.5$0.58 | Ho Chi Minh City −54% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | RM 50$11.6 | Ho Chi Minh City −48% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | RM 200$46.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −26% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | RM 1,600$372 | Kota Kinabalu −30% |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | RM 8$1.86 | Ho Chi Minh City −35% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | RM 30$6.98 | Ho Chi Minh City −13% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | RM 28$6.51 | Ho Chi Minh City −45% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | RM 80$18.6 | Ho Chi Minh City −45% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | RM 180$41.9 | Ho Chi Minh City −39% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | RM 30$6.98 | Ho Chi Minh City −29% |
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 Kota Kinabalu?
Ho Chi Minh City is 10% cheaper than Kota Kinabalu. Daily budget $63.9 vs $80.5; a month $1,628 vs $1,526.
How do monthly costs compare between Ho Chi Minh City and Kota Kinabalu?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ho Chi Minh City is about $1,628 and Kota Kinabalu about $1,526 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.