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Compare cities › Ho Chi Minh City vs Zurich
Ho Chi Minh City vs Zurich 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
🇨🇠ZurichHo Chi Minh City is 565% cheaper than Zurich
Living on $1,628 a month in Ho Chi Minh City feels like about $9,215 in Zurich — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$63.9 vs $488
Per month
$1,628 vs $9,215
Local meal
â‚« 55,000 vs CHF 24
$2.09 vs $28.2
Taxi 5 km
â‚« 90,000 vs CHF 21
$3.42 vs $24.7
At a glance
FoodHo Chi Minh City 91% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHo Chi Minh City 81% cheaper
TransportHo Chi Minh City 90% cheaper
StayHo Chi Minh City 84% cheaper
FunHo Chi Minh City 86% cheaper
- Where Ho Chi Minh City is clearly cheaper: Street food (93%↓), Local meal (93%↓), Transit (92%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Ho Chi Minh City | Zurich | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 55,000$2.09 | CHF 24$28.2 | Ho Chi Minh City −93% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | CHF 11$12.9 | Ho Chi Minh City −93% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 250,000$9.51 | CHF 51$60 | Ho Chi Minh City −84% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | CHF 5$5.88 | Ho Chi Minh City −71% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 35,000$1.33 | CHF 7$8.24 | Ho Chi Minh City −84% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | CHF 18$21.2 | Ho Chi Minh City −84% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | CHF 3$3.53 | Ho Chi Minh City −91% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 20,000$0.76 | CHF 7.5$8.82 | Ho Chi Minh City −91% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 90,000$3.42 | CHF 21$24.7 | Ho Chi Minh City −86% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | CHF 13$15.3 | Ho Chi Minh City −90% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | CHF 3$3.53 | Ho Chi Minh City −92% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | CHF 51$60 | Ho Chi Minh City −90% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 900,000$34.2 | CHF 220$259 | Ho Chi Minh City −87% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 14,000,000$532 | CHF 2,200$2,588 | Ho Chi Minh City −79% |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | CHF 5$5.88 | Ho Chi Minh City −79% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | CHF 21$24.7 | Ho Chi Minh City −75% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 95,000$3.61 | CHF 33$38.8 | Ho Chi Minh City −91% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 270,000$10.3 | CHF 94$111 | Ho Chi Minh City −91% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 670,000$25.5 | CHF 85$100 | Ho Chi Minh City −75% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 130,000$4.94 | CHF 26$30.6 | Ho Chi Minh City −84% |
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 Zurich?
Ho Chi Minh City is 565% cheaper than Zurich. Daily budget $63.9 vs $488; a month $1,628 vs $9,215.
How do monthly costs compare between Ho Chi Minh City and Zurich?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Ho Chi Minh City is about $1,628 and Zurich about $9,215 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.