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Compare cities › Ho Chi Minh City vs Melbourne
Ho Chi Minh City vs Melbourne 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
🇦🇺 MelbourneHo Chi Minh City is 345% cheaper than Melbourne
Living on $1,628 a month in Ho Chi Minh City feels like about $6,213 in Melbourne — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$63.9 vs $324
Per month
$1,628 vs $6,213
Local meal
â‚« 55,000 vs A$ 22
$2.09 vs $14.7
Taxi 5 km
â‚« 90,000 vs A$ 22
$3.42 vs $14.7
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 83% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 76% cheaper
TransportHo Chi Minh City 87% cheaper
StayHo Chi Minh City 78% cheaper
FunHo Chi Minh City 82% cheaper
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Transit (91%↓), Scooter rental (88%↓), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (87%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Ho Chi Minh City | Melbourne | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | A$ 22$14.7 | Ho Chi Minh City −86% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | A$ 9.9$6.6 | Ho Chi Minh City −86% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | A$ 60$40 | Ho Chi Minh City −76% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | A$ 6$4 | Ho Chi Minh City −57% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | A$ 10$6.67 | Ho Chi Minh City −80% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | A$ 26$17.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −80% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | A$ 2.5$1.67 | Ho Chi Minh City −82% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | A$ 6.3$4.2 | Ho Chi Minh City −82% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | A$ 22$14.7 | Ho Chi Minh City −77% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | A$ 18$12 | Ho Chi Minh City −87% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | A$ 4.5$3 | Ho Chi Minh City −91% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | A$ 75$50 | Ho Chi Minh City −88% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | A$ 280$187 | Ho Chi Minh City −82% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | A$ 2,800$1,867 | Ho Chi Minh City −71% |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | A$ 7.5$5 | Ho Chi Minh City −76% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | A$ 30$20 | Ho Chi Minh City −70% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | A$ 42$28 | Ho Chi Minh City −87% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | A$ 120$80 | Ho Chi Minh City −87% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | A$ 140$93.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −73% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | A$ 38$25.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −80% |
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 Melbourne?
Ho Chi Minh City is 345% cheaper than Melbourne. Daily budget $63.9 vs $324; a month $1,628 vs $6,213.
How do monthly costs compare between Ho Chi Minh City and Melbourne?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ho Chi Minh City is about $1,628 and Melbourne about $6,213 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.