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Compare cities › Ho Chi Minh City vs Medellín
Ho Chi Minh City vs Medellín 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
🇨🇴 MedellínHo Chi Minh City is 20% cheaper than Medellín
Living on $1,628 a month in Ho Chi Minh City feels like about $1,524 in Medellín — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$63.9 vs $93.3
Per month
$1,628 vs $1,524
Local meal
₫ 55,000 vs COL$ 16,000
$2.09 vs $3.9
Taxi 5 km
₫ 90,000 vs COL$ 20,000
$3.42 vs $4.88
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 42% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 28% cheaper
TransportHo Chi Minh City 50% cheaper
StayHo Chi Minh City 7% cheaper
FunHo Chi Minh City 44% cheaper
- Where Medellín is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (27%↓)
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (70%↓), Transit (62%↓), Massage (58%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Ho Chi Minh City | Medellín | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | COL$ 16,000$3.9 | Ho Chi Minh City −46% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | COL$ 7,200$1.76 | Ho Chi Minh City −46% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | COL$ 57,000$13.9 | Ho Chi Minh City −32% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | COL$ 8,200$2 | Ho Chi Minh City −14% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | COL$ 8,200$2 | Ho Chi Minh City −33% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | COL$ 21,000$5.12 | Ho Chi Minh City −32% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | COL$ 2,000$0.49 | Ho Chi Minh City −38% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | COL$ 5,000$1.22 | Ho Chi Minh City −38% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | COL$ 20,000$4.88 | Ho Chi Minh City −30% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | COL$ 12,000$2.93 | Ho Chi Minh City −48% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | COL$ 2,900$0.71 | Ho Chi Minh City −62% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | COL$ 82,000$20 | Ho Chi Minh City −70% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | COL$ 200,000$48.8 | Ho Chi Minh City −30% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | COL$ 1,600,000$390 | Medellín −27% |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | COL$ 8,200$2 | Ho Chi Minh City −39% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | COL$ 33,000$8.05 | Ho Chi Minh City −24% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | COL$ 35,000$8.54 | Ho Chi Minh City −58% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | COL$ 100,000$24.4 | Ho Chi Minh City −58% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | COL$ 140,000$34.1 | Ho Chi Minh City −25% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | COL$ 33,000$8.05 | Ho Chi Minh City −39% |
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 Medellín?
Ho Chi Minh City is 20% cheaper than Medellín. Daily budget $63.9 vs $93.3; a month $1,628 vs $1,524.
How do monthly costs compare between Ho Chi Minh City and Medellín?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ho Chi Minh City is about $1,628 and Medellín about $1,524 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.