Spending Reports Vietnam

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

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

vietnam

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

vietnam

Entertainment

vietnam cafe

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

vietnam

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

ho chi minh 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.

ho chi minh pinterest

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2 Comments

  • Reply
    Gary W Gardo
    March 16, 2018 at 9:07 am

    Great info…I’ll be traveling to SE Asia this weekend for 3 1/2 weeks…Singapore, HCMC, Hong Kong, Manila & back to Singapore…so working on a budget.
    My first trip to Asia…..guess better late than never!
    Gary

    • Reply
      Sharon
      March 17, 2018 at 9:36 pm

      Awesome you’ll have a great time!

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