Ho Chi Minh City travel guide
Ho Chi Minh City Travel Budget: Daily Costs & Calculator
Budget travellers need about $28 USD per day in Ho Chi Minh City; mid-range travellers average $100 with a boutique hotel and restaurant meals; luxury starts around $300. Street food, Grab bikes and cheap museum tickets make Saigon exceptional value even by Southeast Asian standards.
How expensive is Ho Chi Minh City?
Saigon matches Hanoi for value — $2 banh mi lunches, rooftop views for the price of a cocktail, and hotels that undercut Bangkok by a third.
Ho Chi Minh City trip budget calculator
Pick your travel style and trip length — the calculator estimates your total budget in USD using real 2026 Ho Chi Minh City prices.
Excludes international flights. Lodging is per room (shared by travellers); other costs are per person. Prices in USD, converted from Vietnamese Dong (VND).
Ho Chi Minh City daily costs by travel style
| Cost per day | Backpacker | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging | $9 | $55 | $170 |
| Food | $10 | $25 | $70 |
| Transport | $3 | $6 | $20 |
| Activities | $6 | $15 | $40 |
| Total per day | $28 | $101 | $300 |
Money-saving tips for Ho Chi Minh City
- Cross-city Grab bike rides run ₫15,000–25,000 — under a dollar
- Museum entries are ₫40,000 or less; the biggest single cost is the Cu Chi tour
- Rooftop bars have free entry — one ₫150,000 cocktail buys the whole view
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Ho Chi Minh City travel budget — FAQs
How much money do I need per day in Ho Chi Minh City?
Budget travellers need about $28 USD per day in Ho Chi Minh City; mid-range travellers average $100 with a boutique hotel and restaurant meals; luxury starts around $300. Street food, Grab bikes and cheap museum tickets make Saigon exceptional value even by Southeast Asian standards.
Last reviewed and updated: by the AmazingAsia editorial team. See our editorial policy.