Is Hanoi more expensive than the rest of Vietnam?

Which part of Vietnam is the cheapest?

Mekong Delta: Lowest cost of living. Red River Delta (Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong): Highest.

Key Factors:

• Rent
• Food prices
• Transportation

Specifics (2024 data):

• My cousin in Can Tho (Mekong Delta) pays significantly less rent than my friend in Hanoi.
• Street food in the South is undeniably cheaper. Hanoi’s fancier restaurants inflate averages.
• Transportation within the Mekong Delta might be slower but cheaper than Hanoi’s chaotic, expensive taxi scene. Buses are your friend.

Is Hanoi an expensive city?

Hanoi? Cheap.

• Accommodation: Dirt cheap.
• Food: Street eats? Practically free. Pho is life.
• Transport: Pennies. Motorbike taxis rule.
• Touristy traps: Avoid. Overpriced. Find the real stuff.

Budget Hanoi? Simple. Live like I did when I backpacked through in 2023.

I can almost hear the beeping of motorbikes now… ah, my days.

How much is a meal in Hanoi?

A Hanoi meal? Forget “average”—that’s like asking the average height of a giraffe versus a chihuahua! You’re looking at anywhere from a measly $1.60 (40,000 VND, enough to make my wallet cry tears of joy) to a still-relatively-cheap $6 (150,000 VND, which is what I spent on, uh, essential pho last Tuesday).

Seriously though, it’s cheap. Cheaper than my attempts at home-brewed beer. Think street food heaven versus a fancy-pants restaurant.

Here’s the breakdown, because my brain works in bizarre lists:

• Street food: Expect to pay less than a Starbucks coffee. Seriously. I once had a five-star bun cha for $2, and I’m still dreaming about it.
• Mid-range restaurants: This is where things get interesting; Think $6-$15. You’ll be full, happy, and able to afford that extra cocktail.
• Fine dining: This depends entirely on your definition of fine. But forget $150 – that’s what I spent on plane tickets! Think $20 – $50+.

Remember: this is 2024 pricing. Inflation’s a thing, like that weird aunt who shows up uninvited to every holiday gathering. Still incredibly affordable compared to, say, London.

Prices vary wildly depending on:

• Your choice of noodles (pho for life!)
• Location (tourist traps are always more expensive, it’s an unwritten law).
• The amount of delicious beer you consume. That can easily bump the price up by a few bucks!

Which city is more expensive Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh?

Ho Chi Minh City? Oh, it’s where your wallet goes to die a little. Seriously, it sucks funds like a black hole.

Hanoi, on the other hand, is where your wallet can, like, chill on a hammock.

Ho Chi Minh City costs you more. Period. Think: Saigon sneezes, your bank account gets a cold. Hanoi? More like a gentle breeze, cost-wise.

Why’s Saigon so pricey? Well…

• Rent: Gotta pay extra to sweat in style, right? HCMC apartments, they want your firstborn (or at least a hefty deposit). My cousin Vinny got evicted. Twice.
• Imported stuff: Love that imported cheese? Gonna cost you, buddy. Hanoi’s fine with local tofu. Plus, the street food will make you weep with joy. And it’s cheap.
• Expat crowd: Too many folks with too much cash. Driving up prices. Hanoi expats are too busy bargaining for silks.

Hanoi isn’t dirt cheap, mind you. But it’s not tryna empty your bank account so hard. Its, like, more gentle robbery.

The Cost of Living Lowdown:

• Hanoi: Budget backpacker haven. Think $2 pho, $5 beers. A decent time.
• HCMC: Think champagne wishes, beer budgets. Upscale dining, fancy clubs and such. If you got it, flaunt it (then cry when the bill arrives).

So, yeah. If you’re allergic to paying too much, visit Hanoi, not Ho Chi Minh City. Unless you enjoy emptying your pockets, that is. Who am I to judge.

Is Hoi An cheaper than Ho Chi Minh?

Hoi An… yeah, it’s cheaper. Definitely cheaper for food. The street food, man. Unbelievable.

But hotels? Depends. Luxury? Forget it. Same price, maybe more.

Budget travel? Hoi An wins, hands down. So much better value.

I spent less on a month in Hoi An than a week in HCMC. That’s a fact. Crazy difference.

Key Differences:

• Street food: Significantly cheaper in Hoi An. HCMC prices are climbing.
• Accommodation: Budget options are far more affordable in Hoi An. Luxury is comparable.
• Overall: For a backpacking trip, Hoi An is easily the better choice. HCMC is more expensive across the board.
• Personal Experience: My 2024 trip showed this to be true. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

Things to note: Seasonal changes impact prices, obviously. High season is more expensive in both places. But even then, Hoi An retains some advantage.

It was a tough choice deciding where to spend the bulk of my time in Vietnam this year, but I went with Hoi An. And I don’t regret it, not one bit. The serenity alone makes it worthwhile. There’s a certain something about that place.

What is the most expensive city in Vietnam?

Ho Chi Minh City bleeds your wallet dry. Expat life? Prepare for the sting.

Housing devours fortunes. Imported luxuries? A costly habit. Entertainment? Overpriced distractions.

Hanoi simmers, yes. Still, HCMC wins. A dark crown, indeed.

• HCMC: King of the Expensive.
• Housing: Prepare to pay.
• Luxuries: Pricey.
• Hanoi: Second in line.

My uncle lost his shirt there in ’23. Saigon’s a trap, I tell you. Expensive.