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Compare cities › Ho Chi Minh City vs Okinawa
Ho Chi Minh City vs Okinawa 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
🇯🇵 OkinawaHo Chi Minh City is 138% cheaper than Okinawa
Living on $1,628 a month in Ho Chi Minh City feels like about $2,645 in Okinawa — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$63.9 vs $201
Per month
$1,628 vs $2,645
Local meal
₫ 55,000 vs ¥ 1,000
$2.09 vs $6.76
Taxi 5 km
₫ 90,000 vs ¥ 2,200
$3.42 vs $14.9
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 66% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 63% cheaper
TransportHo Chi Minh City 83% cheaper
StayHo Chi Minh City 51% cheaper
FunHo Chi Minh City 75% cheaper
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (87%↓), Massage (85%↓), Haircut (85%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Ho Chi Minh City | Okinawa | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | ¥ 1,000$6.76 | Ho Chi Minh City −69% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | ¥ 450$3.04 | Ho Chi Minh City −69% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | ¥ 3,300$22.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −57% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | ¥ 560$3.78 | Ho Chi Minh City −55% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | ¥ 590$3.99 | Ho Chi Minh City −67% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | ¥ 1,500$10.1 | Ho Chi Minh City −66% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | ¥ 120$0.81 | Ho Chi Minh City −62% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | ¥ 300$2.03 | Ho Chi Minh City −62% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | ¥ 2,200$14.9 | Ho Chi Minh City −77% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | ¥ 1,700$11.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −87% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | ¥ 240$1.62 | Ho Chi Minh City −84% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | ¥ 5,100$34.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −82% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | ¥ 16,000$108 | Ho Chi Minh City −68% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | ¥ 74,000$500 | Okinawa −6% |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | ¥ 740$5 | Ho Chi Minh City −76% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | ¥ 3,000$20.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −70% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | ¥ 3,500$23.6 | Ho Chi Minh City −85% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | ¥ 10,000$67.6 | Ho Chi Minh City −85% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | ¥ 12,000$81.1 | Ho Chi Minh City −69% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | ¥ 1,800$12.2 | Ho Chi Minh City −59% |
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 Okinawa?
Ho Chi Minh City is 138% cheaper than Okinawa. Daily budget $63.9 vs $201; a month $1,628 vs $2,645.
How do monthly costs compare between Ho Chi Minh City and Okinawa?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ho Chi Minh City is about $1,628 and Okinawa about $2,645 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.