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Ho Chi Minh City vs Ulaanbaatar 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
🇲🇳 UlaanbaatarHo Chi Minh City is 24% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar
Living on $1,628 a month in Ho Chi Minh City feels like about $1,603 in Ulaanbaatar — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$63.9 vs $95
Per month
$1,628 vs $1,603
Local meal
â‚« 55,000 vs â‚® 15,000
$2.09 vs $4.23
Taxi 5 km
â‚« 90,000 vs â‚® 12,000
$3.42 vs $3.38
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 43% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 30% cheaper
TransportUlaanbaatar 19% cheaper
StayHo Chi Minh City 20% cheaper
FunHo Chi Minh City 28% cheaper
- Where Ulaanbaatar is clearly cheaper: Transit (47%↓), SIM card (31%↓), Studio rent (month) (15%↓)
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Scooter rental (57%↓), Local meal (51%↓), Street food (50%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Ho Chi Minh City | Ulaanbaatar | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | ₮ 15,000$4.23 | Ho Chi Minh City −51% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | ₮ 6,800$1.92 | Ho Chi Minh City −50% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | ₮ 40,000$11.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −16% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | ₮ 8,000$2.25 | Ho Chi Minh City −24% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | ₮ 7,000$1.97 | Ho Chi Minh City −33% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | ₮ 18,000$5.07 | Ho Chi Minh City −32% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | ₮ 1,500$0.42 | Ho Chi Minh City −28% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | ₮ 3,800$1.07 | Ho Chi Minh City −29% |
| Taxi5 km in town | â‚« 90,000$3.42 | â‚® 12,000$3.38 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | ₮ 5,000$1.41 | Ulaanbaatar −7% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | ₮ 500$0.14 | Ulaanbaatar −47% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | ₮ 50,000$14.1 | Ho Chi Minh City −57% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | ₮ 200,000$56.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −39% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | ₮ 1,600,000$451 | Ulaanbaatar −15% |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | ₮ 6,000$1.69 | Ho Chi Minh City −28% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | ₮ 15,000$4.23 | Ulaanbaatar −31% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | ₮ 21,000$5.92 | Ho Chi Minh City −39% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | ₮ 60,000$16.9 | Ho Chi Minh City −39% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | ₮ 150,000$42.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −40% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | ₮ 15,000$4.23 | Ulaanbaatar −15% |
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 Ulaanbaatar?
Ho Chi Minh City is 24% cheaper than Ulaanbaatar. Daily budget $63.9 vs $95; a month $1,628 vs $1,603.
How do monthly costs compare between Ho Chi Minh City and Ulaanbaatar?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ho Chi Minh City is about $1,628 and Ulaanbaatar about $1,603 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.