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City, Vietnam

Cost of living in Ho Chi Minh City

Updated October 2026Sources

How much a month costs in Ho Chi Minh City

For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $1,080–1,730 (₫28M–45M).

Lean$578–848₫15M–22M · Room or studio, local food
Comfortable$1,080–1,730₫28M–45M · 1-bed apartment, eating out daily
Luxury$2,500–4,240₫65M–110M · Upscale apartment, restaurants, taxis

Prices in Ho Chi Minh City

Typical 2026 ranges in VND, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.

ItemVNDUS$
Housing
1-bedroom apartment, center (month)₫14M–30M$539–1,160
1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month)₫7M–14M$270–539
Hostel dorm bed (night)₫150,000–300,000$5.8–11.6
Mid-range hotel room (night)₫900,000–2M$35–77
Food and drink
Local meal or street food₫40,000–80,000$1.5–3.1
Mid-range restaurant, per person₫150,000–350,000$5.8–13.5
Cappuccino₫40,000–75,000$1.5–2.9
Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar₫25,000–70,000$1.0–2.7
Getting around
Public transport, one ride₫6,000–20,000$0.23–0.77
Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km₫45,000–90,000$1.7–3.5
Work and life
Coworking day pass₫150,000–350,000$5.8–13.5
Gym membership (month)₫500,000–1.5M$19–58
Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month)₫100,000–250,000$3.9–9.6

Value for money: 64/100

A value score of 64/100 means Ho Chi Minh City gives more quality of life per dollar than 63% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 60/100. It's the 21st most affordable of 21 places we cover in Vietnam.

Quality factorScore
Safety75
Air quality51
Internet87
Healthcare30
Weather25
Friendly locals75
English50

Cost of living across Vietnam

One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.

PlaceComfortable monthValue
Cao Bang$462–69499/100
Mai Chau$462–77198/100
Ha Giang$539–84894/100
Phong Nha$539–84897/100
Quy Nhon$539–84897/100
Can Tho$539–84897/100
Ninh Binh$539–92596/100
Cat Ba$578–92596/100
Sapa$578–96395/100
Hue$578–96397/100
Da Lat$578–1,00095/100
Ha Long Bay$616–1,08094/100
Mui Ne$694–1,08092/100
Vung Tau$694–1,08090/100
Nha Trang$694–1,16092/100
Da Nang$771–1,23087/100
Hoi An$771–1,23087/100
Con Dao$771–1,23090/100
Phu Quoc$771–1,35085/100
Hanoi$963–1,54068/100
Ho Chi Minh City$1,080–1,73064/100

Cheaper alternatives to Ho Chi Minh City

Similar safety, lower cost, in Southeast Asia.

PlaceCountryComfortable month
HueVietnam$578–963
Phong NhaVietnam$539–848
SukhothaiThailand$656–1,040
Ninh BinhVietnam$539–925
Mount BromoIndonesia$503–783

Quick answers

How much money do you need per month in Ho Chi Minh City?

About $578–848 on a lean budget, $1,080–1,730 for a comfortable month and $2,500–4,240 for a luxury one, rent included.

How much is rent in Ho Chi Minh City?

A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs ₫14M–30M ($539–1,160) a month in the center and ₫7M–14M ($270–539) outside it.

How much does food cost in Ho Chi Minh City?

A local meal is ₫40,000–80,000 ($1.5–3.1); a mid-range restaurant is ₫150,000–350,000 ($5.8–13.5) per person.

Is Vietnam expensive?

Prices in Vietnam are about 29% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).

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Sources

Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.