Quick answer: Ho Chi Minh City runs about EUR 45 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: December-March - dry season with lower humidity; avoid the heaviest rains of June-September.
What things actually cost
| bowl of pho | 2 EUR |
| ca phe sua da | 1.20 EUR |
| banh mi at a stall | 1.50 EUR |
| Grab bike across District 1 | 1 EUR |
| local beer (Saigon) | 0.80 EUR |
| War Remnants Museum entry | 1.50 EUR |
Eat well for little
- Pho at Pho Le or Pho Hoabeef noodle soup done properly, about 2 EUR
- Banh mi from Banh Mi Huynh Hoathe famous stacked version, about 2.50 EUR
- Com tam (broken rice with grilled pork) at a street stallabout 2 EUR
- Ca phe sua da (iced milk coffee) at an old apartment cafe1 to 1.50 EUR
- Banh xeo (crispy pancake) at Banh Xeo 46Aabout 3 EUR
Money mistakes to avoid
- Hailing random taxis and getting rigged metersuse the Grab app for cars and bikes instead
- Holding your phone loosely at the curbbag and phone snatching from motorbikes happens, keep them on the inside
- Freezing at street crossingswalk slowly and steadily, traffic flows around you; stopping mid-street is what causes problems
- Booking a full-day Cu Chi tour when a morning trip is enoughthe site takes 2-3 hours, go early to beat heat and crowds
Transport without the tourist tax
From Tan Son Nhat Airport a Grab car to District 1 costs about 5-7 EUR and takes 30-45 minutes; bus 109 is under 1 EUR. In town, Grab bikes (under 1.50 EUR per hop) are the fastest way around.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 4-day Ho Chi Minh City itinerary.