Prices in Vietnam in 2026: A complete guide with real numbers

Vietnam is one of the most affordable destinations in Asia: the cost of living here is 59% lower than in the US, and a budget traveler can expect to spend $25–40 per day , while a comfortable traveler can expect to spend $50–100. Below are full pricing tables, hidden costs, and things that are often overlooked.

⚡ The main thing in 30 seconds

CategoryEconomyComfortLuxury
Accommodation/night$ 6 – 15$ 30 – 70$100–$300+
Food/day$ 5 – 10$ 15 – 30$ 50 +
Transport/day$ 2 – 5$ 10 – 20$ 30 +
Total/day$ 16 – 35$ 50 – 100$ 120 – 250

Exchange rate as of May 2026: 1 USD ≈ 25,500 VND , 1 RUB ≈ 283 VND . Quick conversion formula: remove three zeros from the dong and multiply by 3,5 to get rubles (100,000 VND ≈ 350 ₽).

🍜 Food

Street cafes and markets

The average bill at a "local canteen" is 50,000–70,000 VND (175–245 roubles) per person. A good rule of thumb: plastic chairs and a line of Vietnamese are a sure sign of a tasty and affordable place.

DishVNDRUB
Pho bo (beef soup)40 000-70 000140–245
Banh mi (sandwich)20 000-45 00070–160
Rice with meat (kom thit)50 000-90 000175–315
Spring rolls (1 pc.)10 00035
Bia hoi (draft beer, Hanoi)5 000-10 00017–35
Coffee with condensed milk (cà phê sữa đá)25 00085
Coconut10 000-15 00035–53

🍺 Lifehack: Bia Hoi in Hanoi is fresh, home-brewed beer for 17–35 rubles per glass. It's brewed daily and finished by the evening. You won't find it cheaper anywhere in the world.

Restaurants for tourists

Prices in tourist cafes are 2-3 times higher, but by global standards it's still cheap:

DishVNDRUB
Main course120 000-220 000420–770
Seafood set (for two)from 700 000from 2 450
Oysters (6 pcs.)80 000280
Grilled lobster300 0001 050
Dinner for two with winefrom 1,500,000from 5 250

Products in the supermarket

Major chains: Big C, WinMart, Co.opmart. Current prices according to Numbeo and LivingCost:

ProductVNDRUB
Rice (1 kg)32 000-35 000112–122
Chicken fillet (1 kg)123 000430
Eggs (a dozen)49 000-50 000172–175
Milk (1 l)55 000-56 000193–196
Bottle of water (1,5 l)8 000-18 00028–63

🏨 Housing

Hotels by city

A four-star hotel in Nha Trang with a pool and breakfast starts at $30 (2,400 roubles) per night for two. During high season (December–April), prices increase by 20–30%.

TypeNha TrangPhu QuocDa NangHo Chi Minh CityHanoi
Hostel$ 6 – 12$ 10 – 15$ 7 – 14$ 7 – 12$ 6 – 12
Hotel 2–3★$ 15 – 35$ 15 – 30$ 20 – 40$ 20 – 35$ 15 – 30
Hotel 4★$ 30 – 70$ 45 – 90$ 50 – 85$ 40 – 80$ 35 – 75
Hotel 5★$ 40 – 180$ 110 – 300$ 100 – 200$ 80 – 200$ 80 – 180

Long term rental

According to Megaport and InternationalLiving, monthly rental costs in 2026 are:

Housing typeHo Chi Minh CityDa Nang / Nha Trang
Studio outside the center$ 280 – 550$ 220 – 450
1-bedroom apartment in the center$600–$1,200$ 300 – 600
Luxury$1+$700–$1,200

Utilities (electricity, air conditioning, water) are $35–90/month , internet is $8–25/month . The deposit is usually 1 month, the minimum rental period is 1–3 months.

🚗 Transport

Urban

processVNDRUB
City bus7 000-10 00025–35
Grab / Maxim (5 km)50 000-120 000175–420
Taxi (boarding)10 000-20 00035–70
Xanh SM (electric taxi)from 45 000from 157

📱 Important: Use Grab or Xanh SM (new player 2025–2026, VinFast electric cars) – they're 20–30% cheaper than street taxis and won't cheat you with the meter. At the airport, don't get into a car from someone who approaches you – it's a proven way to overpay 3–5 times.

Bike and car rental

TransportDayMonth
Old moped$6 / 480 ₽$80 / 8,000 ₽
New scooter$12 / 960 ₽$100 / 8,000 ₽
Gasoline (full tank)~ $ 1,5
Car rental with a driverfrom $ 40

⚠️ Bike scam: Some dishonest rental companies keep a duplicate key, take the bike at night, and demand $1,000 for the "lost" vehicle. Rent from trusted locations, don't use the real hotel, and use your own lock.

Airport transfers

RouteBusTaxi/Grab
Cam Ranh → Nha Trang20,000 VND (230 ₽)20,000–55,000 VND
Noi Bai → Hanoi20,000 VND (123 ₽)~400,000 VND
Tan Son Nhat → HCMC center20,000 VND (70 ₽)20,000–55,000 VND

💡 ATM lifehack: Most Vietnamese ATMs charge a fee of 20,000–55,000 VND per withdrawal. As of 2026, VP Bank is the only one that doesn't charge a fee for foreign cards (limit: ~10 million VND per transaction). Withdraw large amounts less frequently.

🎭 Excursions and entertainment

ActivityVNDRUB
VinWonders Nha Trang (Adult)950 0003 325
Ba Na Hills (Golden Bridge)950 0003 325
Snorkeling tour (group)~760 000~2 660
Foot massage (60 min)100 000-250 000350–875
Full massage (60 min)200 000-350 000700-1 225
Sun lounger on the beach (day)50 000-100 000175–350
Kayak / SUP (hour)from 150 000from 525

Group tours are 3-5 times cheaper than private tours. For example, Dalat: $57 for a group tour versus $480 for a private tour.

🌐 Communications and Internet

Vietnam is among the top 5 countries in Asia for mobile internet accessibility. Urban fiber from VNPT/Viettel offers 50–100 Mbps for $8–10 per month.

RateVNDRUB
SIM + basic package (7-10 days)150 000-250 000525–875
30-day package250 000-450 000875-1 575
Home Internet (monthly)~237 000~ 830
Mobile unlimited (monthly)~143 000~ 500

Buy a SIM card right at the airport—Viettel, Vinaphone, and Mobifone have stands at the exit. You can also apply for an eSIM online before your flight.

🩺 Medicine and insurance

This section is often overlooked—and in vain: a single hospitalization without insurance can cost $2,000–$10,000+.

Policy typeCost/month
Basic tourist (25–35 years)$ 50 – 100
Extended (35–45 years)$ 80 – 150
With sports (biking, diving)$ 120 – 200

A consultation with a doctor at a private clinic costs $50– $100, and an ambulance costs $100. Public hospitals are cheaper, but the language barrier and long waiting times are significant challenges. Insurance is a necessity, not an option.

💻 Vietnam for digital nomads

Vietnam has become one of the top destinations for remote workers in Asia: internet speeds of 50–100 Mbps, food from $1–3 per dish, and all this for $700–1,200 per month.

ConsumptionPer month (USD)
Studio rental$ 250 – 550
Food (cafe + cooking at home)$ 180 – 350
Coworking (if needed)$ 80 – 150
Internet + mobile communications$ 15 – 30
Transport (bike)$ 80 – 100
Summary$700–$1,200

Visa for nomads: There is no dedicated digital nomad visa —most work on a 90-day e-visa ($50) with the option to extend. 5G will begin rolling out in major cities in 2026.

⚠️ Scams and traps 

Vietnam is safe, but tourists are occasionally scammed:

  • Fake Grab drivers at the airport approach you and impersonate the app. Solution: Open Grab yourself and wait for your driver with the license plate number.

  • Taxi drivers with a broken meter are only Mai Linh or Vinasun, or Grab/Xanh SM

  • Luwak coffee at the market costs 150,000 VND for 500 grams, which is 100% fake. The real thing costs 200,000 VND for 100 grams with a certificate.

  • Spas without a price list —always ask for prices beforehand. They may quote a different price after the massage.

  • Bike scam : the rental company picks up the bike at night with a duplicate key and demands compensation. Use your own lock.

  • Tourist attractions are overpriced —if there's no QR code, the price is negotiable. Negotiate for 50–60% of the asking price.

🌍 Comparison with other destinations

According to Numbeo and Expatistan, Vietnam is consistently cheaper than its competitors:

CategoryVietnamThailandPointsTurkey
Lunch at the cafe$ 2 – 3$ 4 – 6$ 4 – 7$ 5 – 8
Hotel 4★/night$ 30 – 70$ 50 – 90$ 60 – 100$ 60 – 120
Local beer$ 0,5 – 1$ 1 – 2$ 2 – 3$ 2 – 4
Rent 1 bedroom$ 300 – 600$ 500 – 900$600–$1,200$ 400 – 800

Vietnam is 30-50% cheaper than Thailand and Bali for major expenses.

💰 How much to take: final calculation

10 days for two (excluding airfare)

StyleHousingFoodTransportExcursionsSummary
Economy$ 100 – 150$ 200 – 300$50$50$ 400 – 550
Comfort$ 300 – 500$500$100$400$5,300–$6,000
Luxury$700–$1,200$ 1$200$ 1$5,300–$6,000

A Month of Life for a Couple (Nha Trang / Da Nang)

According to Megaport 2026, a comfortable budget for two:

ArticleUSD/month
Studio rental$ 300 – 500
Food (cafe + at home)$ 300 – 500
Transport (bike × 2)$ 80 – 100
Utilities + Internet$ 50 – 100
Entertainment and miscellaneous$ 150 – 300
Summary$880–$1,200

🏙️ Compare cities

CategoryNha TrangPhu QuocDa NangHo Chi Minh CityHanoi
Pho bo40–60K VND50–70K VND40–60K VND40–70K VND35–55K VND
Hotel 4★$ 30 – 70$ 45 – 90$ 50 – 85$ 40 – 80$ 35 – 75
Studio/month$ 300 – 500$ 400 – 600$ 300 – 500$ 400 – 700$ 350 – 600
Massage 60 min$ 6 – 14$ 8 – 16$ 8 – 14$ 6 – 12$ 5 – 10
Grab (5 km)$ 2 – 4$ 3 – 5$ 2 – 4$ 2 – 3$ 2 – 3

Nha Trang is the best value for money for Russians. Da Nang is the golden mean: good beaches, developed infrastructure, and prices lower than Phu Quoc. Hanoi offers the cheapest food (bia hoi from 17 rubles). Phu Quoc is the most expensive, but has a unique atmosphere.

🧠 10 tips for saving money

  1. Grab / Xanh SM instead of street taxis - save 20-30%

  2. Eat where the Vietnamese eat – plastic chairs, menu without translation = 3 times cheaper

  3. Overnight buses between cities ($12 instead of $30–50 by plane)

  4. VP Bank ATM will be the only one with no commission for foreign cards in 2026.

  5. Rent a bike - $6–12/day vs. regular taxis

  6. Market instead of supermarket for fruit - 30-50% cheaper, bargain

  7. Fly during low season (May–October for the south) – hotels and tickets are 20–40% cheaper

  8. Drink Local Beer - Bia Saigon, 333, in store from 42 ₽

  9. SIM at the airport - don't pay for roaming even a day

  10. Luwak coffee - buy only in certified specialized stores, not at the market

    ❌ What not to skimp on: medical insurance (hospitalization without it costs from $2,000), drinking water (bottled only), a helmet when riding a bike.

Prices are current as of May 2026. Exchange rate: 1 USD = 25,500 VND, 1 RUB ≈ 283 VND. Inflation in Vietnam is 2,63% per year, making the data stable over several months.

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