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Compare cities › Ho Chi Minh City vs Phnom Penh
Ho Chi Minh City vs Phnom Penh 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
🇰🇠Phnom PenhHo Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh cost about the same
Living on $1,628 a month in Ho Chi Minh City feels like about $1,629 in Phnom Penh — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$63.9 vs $67.6
Per month
$1,628 vs $1,629
Local meal
â‚« 55,000 vs $ 3
$2.09 vs $3
Taxi 5 km
â‚« 90,000 vs $ 3
$3.42 vs $3
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 24% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 19% cheaper
TransportHo Chi Minh City 20% cheaper
Staysimilar
FunHo Chi Minh City 21% cheaper
- Where Phnom Penh is clearly cheaper: Haircut (22%↓), Massage (22%↓), Laundry (18%↓)
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (51%↓), Transit (47%↓), Convenience store (42%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Ho Chi Minh City | Phnom Penh | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | $ 3$3 | Ho Chi Minh City −30% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | $ 1.4$1.4 | Ho Chi Minh City −32% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | $ 10$10 | Ho Chi Minh City −5% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −32% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | $ 1.5$1.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −11% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | $ 3.9$3.9 | Ho Chi Minh City −11% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | $ 0.5$0.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −39% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | $ 1.3$1.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −42% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | $ 3$3 | Phnom Penh −12% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | â‚« 40,000$1.52 | $ 1.5$1.5 | similar |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | $ 0.5$0.5 | Ho Chi Minh City −47% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | $ 7$7 | Ho Chi Minh City −13% |
| Hotel night3-star | â‚« 900,000$34.2 | $ 35$35 | similar |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | $ 500$500 | Phnom Penh −6% |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | $ 1$1 | Phnom Penh −18% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | $ 5$5 | Phnom Penh −18% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | $ 2.8$2.8 | Phnom Penh −22% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | $ 8$8 | Phnom Penh −22% |
| Half-day tourper person | â‚« 670,000$25.5 | $ 25$25 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | $ 10$10 | Ho Chi Minh City −51% |
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 Phnom Penh?
Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh cost about the same. Daily budget $63.9 vs $67.6; a month $1,628 vs $1,629.
How do monthly costs compare between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ho Chi Minh City is about $1,628 and Phnom Penh about $1,629 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.