I went to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam in March and had an awesome time! It was my first visit to this country, making it my 28th country to-date.

I found costs were similar to those of Chiang Mai, Thailand – perhaps a little more expensive, but I still ended up spending less than $1,000 for the month while eating out and enjoying myself every day!

Without further ado, here is my spending report:

Cost of Living in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (Spending Report)

Things to Note

• The 32 days Vietnam spending report includes a 3-day vacation to Hoi An.
• 22,000 VND equals $1 USD
• You can easily get food around $1-3 (30,000-60,000 VND). I ended up going to a lot of places with meals for around $5-7 each (100,000-150,000 VND+).
• Movies are really cheap here so I loved going to theaters by myself!
• For transportation, you can select “Uber Moto” on the Uber app to hitch rides behind a scooter/motorcycle! I found the whole scooter mode of transportation a bit scary in Vietnam especially when you’re the pedestrian needing to cross the streets. But I ended up getting used to using Uber Moto and found it quite convenient. It was only around $1-3 per ride.

Food

	VND	USD
Dinner for 2	295000	$13.41
Beef Noodle Soup	40000	$1.82
Cup Noodles + Water + Chips	53000	$2.41
Lunch	176000	$8.00
Fried rice	135000	$6.14
Delivery Vermicelli, Mango Juice, Spring Rolls, Watermelon Juice	120000	$5.45
Water	10000	$0.45
Water	10000	$0.45
Tea	60000	$2.73
Water + Cough drops	60000	$2.73
Chicken pho	60000	$2.73
Tea	40000	$1.82
Beef pho	70000	$3.18
Beef pho + orange juice	106000	$4.82
Spaghetti, chicken, soda	81000	$3.68
BLT	180000	$8.18
Chicken pho + Orange juice	100000	$4.55
Spaghetti	40000	$1.82
Groceries	100000	$4.55
Lunch and Dinner at cafe	150000	$6.82
Dinner	37000	$1.68
Chips & Coke	18000	$0.82
Lunch rice pork	80000	$3.64
Dinner chicken fish	50000	$2.27
Lunch + Dinner	157000	$7.14
Onigiri	13000	$0.59
Chicken noodle soup	40000	$1.82
Pho	90000	$4.09
Pho + Lime juice	90000	$4.09
Snacks	18000	$0.82
Onigiri	13000	$0.59
Lunch dinner and drink	167000	$7.59
Pho and drink	90000	$4.09
Cafe dinner and drink	120000	$5.45
Water	5000	$0.23
Pho	87000	$3.95
Pho	60000	$2.73
Tacos Beer	70000	$3.18
Lemon juice	20000	$0.91
Banh Mi + Milk Tea	61000	$2.77
Rice + Pork	73000	$3.32
Mexican food	140000	$6.36
Pho	71000	$3.23
Peach Tea	40000	$1.82
Pho	93000	$4.23
Chicken curry rice	160000	$7.27
Pizza and coke	80000	$3.64
Snacks	50000	$2.27
Dinner	80000	$3.64
BLT Sandwich	80000	$3.64
Pho	40000	$1.82
Banh Mi	20000	$0.91
Pho	98000	$4.45
Juice & Tea	65000	$2.95
Water	18000	$0.82
Ramen	110000	$5.00
Onigiri	13000	$0.59
Pho + Spring Roll	75000	$3.41
Lunch + Dinner	150000	$6.82
Mexican food	135000	$6.14
Dinner	155000	$7.05
Lunch & Dinner	140000	$6.36

Food Total: $229.91

Entertainment

	VND	USD
Movie + popcorn + drink	110000	$5.00
Alcohol	190000	$8.64
Movie	85000	$3.86
Beer	40000	$1.82
Beer	75000	$3.41
Beer at Skybar	200000	$9.09
Beer convenience store	18000	$0.82
Beer	20000	$0.91
Beer	130000	$5.91
Beer	130000	$5.91
Beer	130000	$5.91
Movie	85000	$3.86
Popcorn & Pepsi	68000	$3.09
Beer	50000	$2.27
Boat ride	100000	$4.55
Water Park	140000	$6.36
Movie + Popcorn + Pepsi	170000	$7.73
Shisha	250000	$11.36

Entertainment Total: $90.50

Miscellaneous

	VND	USD
Feminine products	17000	$0.77
Medicine	40000	$1.82
Cough drops	55000	$2.50
Sim Card – 9 Gigs	150000	$6.82
Nails	140000	$6.36
Floss	28000	$1.27
Supplies	54000	$2.45
Supplies	40000	$1.82
Laundry	40000	$1.82
Aloe Vera	110000	$5.00
Supplies	130000	$5.91

Miscellaneous Total: $36.55

Transportation

Flight from Ho Chi Minh to DaNang and back		$75
Taxi from airport to AirBnB	140000	$6.36
Uber	30000	$1.36
Uber	40000	$1.82
Uber	40000	$1.82
Uber	19000	$0.86
Uber	17000	$0.77
Uber	40000	$1.82
Uber	67000	$3.05
Uber	40000	$1.82
Taxi	310000	$14.09
Taxi	60000	$2.73
Shuttle	160000	$7.27
Uber	20000	$0.91
Uber	20000	$0.91
Uber	20000	$0.91
Uber	20000	$0.91
Uber	70000	$3.18
Uber	10000	$0.45
Uber	20000	$0.91
Uber	10000	$0.45
Uber	79000	$3.59
Uber	20000	$0.91

Transportation Costs: $207.59

Accommodations

Hotel in Hoi An for 3 nights	$80
Vietnam AirBnB	$352

Accommodations cost: $432

Overall Spend

Food	$229.91
Entertainment	$90.50
Transportation	$207.59
Accommodations	$352
Miscellaneous	$36.55
Total	$841.55

Total (32 days): $996.55
Daily : $26.30

Overall, my trip to Ho Chi Minh City costed around $996.55 for 32 days including the flight from Hong Kong, AirBnB accommodations, food, entertainment, transportation, and other miscellaneous items. It also included my trip to Hoi An for 3 nights. This averaged out to $31.14/day which is extremely cheap. This price of living still costs less than the rent in San Francisco, which is amazing!

Ho Chi Minh definitely lives up to its hype as one of the digital nomad capitals world, but its feel is definitely different from that of Chiang Mai’s. If you like the city hustle and bustle, Ho Chi Minh may be the spot for you.