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Compare cities › Ho Chi Minh City vs Palawan
Ho Chi Minh City vs Palawan 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
🇵🇠PalawanHo Chi Minh City and Palawan cost about the same
Living on $1,628 a month in Ho Chi Minh City feels like about $1,411 in Palawan — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$63.9 vs $75.7
Per month
$1,628 vs $1,411
Local meal
₫ 55,000 vs ₱ 170
$2.09 vs $2.98
Taxi 5 km
₫ 90,000 vs ₱ 110
$3.42 vs $1.93
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 23% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 22% cheaper
TransportPalawan 6% cheaper
Staysimilar
FunHo Chi Minh City 21% cheaper
- Where Palawan is clearly cheaper: Taxi (44%↓), Studio rent (month) (34%↓)
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Half-day tour (37%↓), Scooter rental (33%↓), Coffee (30%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Ho Chi Minh City | Palawan | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | ₱ 170$2.98 | Ho Chi Minh City −30% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | ₱ 77$1.35 | Ho Chi Minh City −30% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | ₱ 570$10 | Ho Chi Minh City −5% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | ₱ 140$2.46 | Ho Chi Minh City −30% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | ₱ 91$1.6 | Ho Chi Minh City −17% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | ₱ 240$4.21 | Ho Chi Minh City −18% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | ₱ 21$0.37 | Ho Chi Minh City −17% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | ₱ 53$0.93 | Ho Chi Minh City −18% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | ₱ 110$1.93 | Palawan −44% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | ₱ 98$1.72 | Ho Chi Minh City −12% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | ₱ 17$0.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −11% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | ₱ 520$9.12 | Ho Chi Minh City −33% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | ₱ 2,600$45.6 | Ho Chi Minh City −25% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | ₱ 20,000$351 | Palawan −34% |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | ₱ 86$1.51 | Ho Chi Minh City −19% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | ₱ 340$5.96 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | ₱ 210$3.68 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | ₱ 590$10.4 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | ₱ 2,300$40.4 | Ho Chi Minh City −37% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | ₱ 340$5.96 | Ho Chi Minh City −17% |
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 Palawan?
Ho Chi Minh City and Palawan cost about the same. Daily budget $63.9 vs $75.7; a month $1,628 vs $1,411.
How do monthly costs compare between Ho Chi Minh City and Palawan?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ho Chi Minh City is about $1,628 and Palawan about $1,411 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.