Is Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Still Affordable? Hotel Prices and Daily Budget Guide
Ben Thanh Market, where many visitors get their first feel for Saigon prices.
Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by most locals, has a long-standing reputation as one of Asia's best-value cities. But hotel rates have been climbing as visitor numbers grow, and many travellers now ask the same question before booking: is Ho Chi Minh City still cheap?
This guide looks at what a stay really costs today: hotel prices, food, transport, sightseeing and a realistic daily budget, plus simple ways to make your money go further.
Quick answer: is Ho Chi Minh City still affordable? Yes. Hotels in Saigon cost more than they used to, but daily life is still cheap. A street food meal costs around 1 to 2 USD, a coffee around 1 USD and a metro ride under 1 USD. Most visitors spend about 30 to 50 USD a day on a budget trip and 60 to 100 USD a day for a comfortable mid-range stay, not counting flights.
Hotel prices in Saigon
Accommodation is where costs have moved the most. According to property consultancy Savills, the average hotel rate in Ho Chi Minh City reached about VND 2.4 million (around 92 USD) a night in the second quarter of 2026, with occupancy above 70%. That average includes upscale international hotels, so you can still find good rooms for much less.
- Budget: dorm beds and simple guesthouses, especially around Pham Ngu Lao, remain very cheap. A double room with air conditioning in District 4, just across the canal from the centre, runs about 350,000 to 600,000 VND a night.
- Mid-range and boutique: 3 to 4-star hotels in the city centre usually sit well below the city average and offer the best value for most travellers. Expect roughly 800,000 to 1,800,000 VND a night for a comfortable private room in the old District 1.
- Luxury: international 5-star hotels and riverside towers push the average up.
When prices peak: the dry season from December to February is the busiest and most expensive time to book, and prices also rise around Tet (Lunar New Year). Travelling in the rainy season, from May to November, often gets you better rates. Read more in our guide to the best time to visit Vietnam.
Food and drink prices
Vietnamese dishes cost just a few dollars at local restaurants.
Eating out is where Saigon still shines. You can eat very well on Vietnamese food for a few dollars a meal:
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Bowl of pho or hu tieu at a street stall | 40,000 to 60,000 VND |
| Banh mi | 25,000 to 40,000 VND |
| Vietnamese coffee at a local café | About 30,000 VND |
| Beer at a bar | About 40,000 VND |
| Meal at a local restaurant | About 3 to 8 USD per person |
| Western-style restaurant | About 10 to 25 USD per person |
Paying more mostly buys air conditioning, English menus and atmosphere rather than better food. For ideas, see our guides to the best pho in Saigon and Saigon cafés for breakfast and brunch.
Getting around
A Metro Line 1 train. Photo: S5A-0043, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Grab: the ride-hailing app most visitors use. Short rides in the centre usually cost a few dollars by car and about half that by motorbike.
- Metro Line 1: single trips cost 6,000 to 20,000 VND depending on distance and payment method, and a 1-day pass is 40,000 VND. See our Saigon Metro guide.
- Walking: free, and the easiest way to see the old District 1 if you stay centrally.
Sightseeing costs
The Independence Palace, one of Saigon's best-value sights.
- War Remnants Museum: 60,000 VND for adults since October 2026.
- Independence Palace: 80,000 VND for an adult general admission ticket, including the exhibition.
- Free: walking around the Opera House, Nguyen Hue Walking Street, the Central Post Office area and the Saigon riverside.
- Day trips: group tours to the Cu Chi Tunnels or the Mekong Delta are the biggest optional cost, usually tens of dollars per person.
How much do you need per day in Ho Chi Minh City?
Here is a realistic daily budget per person, not including flights. Real costs depend on your hotel and how often you take tours, eat Western food or go out for drinks.
| Travel style | Daily budget (USD) | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | About 30 to 50 | Hostel or simple guesthouse, street food, Grab bike and metro, free sights |
| Mid-range | About 60 to 100 | 3 to 4-star boutique hotel, mix of local and sit-down restaurants, Grab car, a museum or two |
| Comfort | About 120 and up | Upscale hotel, restaurants and rooftop bars, private tours |
For comparison, recent travel-cost data puts the typical mid-range daily spend in Ho Chi Minh City at about 87 USD, below Bangkok at about 100 USD and Manila at about 98 USD.
A real day in Saigon, costed
Averages are useful, but it helps to see a single day added up. This is one sightseeing day for one person in the centre, walking between the main sights, before your hotel.
| When | What | Cost (VND) |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | A bowl of pho at a street stall | 50,000 |
| Mid-morning | Vietnamese phin coffee at a local café | 30,000 |
| Morning | Independence Palace, adult ticket | 80,000 |
| Late morning | War Remnants Museum, adult ticket | 60,000 |
| Lunch | Banh mi from a street cart | 35,000 |
| Afternoon | Saigon Waterbus on the river, return trip | 30,000 |
| Dinner | Meal at a local restaurant | 150,000 |
| Evening | Two local beers at a bar | 80,000 |
| Total | 515,000 (about 20 USD) |
Ticket prices are the current adult rates: 80,000 VND at the Independence Palace and 60,000 VND at the War Remnants Museum since 1 October 2026. Food prices are typical for the centre. Swap the museum day for a Cu Chi Tunnels tour or a spa visit and the total rises quickly, which is why the mid-range budget above leaves room.
Tips to make your money go further
- Stay central. A slightly higher room rate in the old District 1 often saves more than it costs, because you walk to most sights instead of paying for rides.
- Eat where locals eat. Busy street stalls and small family restaurants are both the cheapest and often the best food in town.
- Use Grab or the metro instead of hailing taxis on the street, so you always know the price first.
- Carry some cash. Cards work in hotels, malls and most restaurants, but street stalls and markets prefer cash in small notes.
- Bargain politely at markets. See our tips for bargaining in Vietnam.
- Avoid Tet if you are on a tight budget. Prices rise and some places close for the holiday.
- Tipping is not expected, though it is appreciated for good service in restaurants, spas and on tours.
Good-value stays with KiN Hotel Group
KiN Hotel Group runs several hotel brands in Ho Chi Minh City, so you can match your stay to your budget without leaving the city centre:
- NiK Hotel for local-friendly, great-value stays in central Saigon, such as NiK Hotel Nguyen Trai and NiK Hotel Pham Ngu Lao in the lively Ben Thanh area, and NiK Hotel Thi Sach near the Opera House.
- KiN Hotel for design-led boutique hotels in the old District 1, including KiN Hotel Dong Du and KiN Hotel Onsen, both selected in the MICHELIN Guide hotel selection 2026, and the 4-star KiN Hotel Thi Sach Edition.
- KiN Wander for apartment-style stays with kitchens, which help you save on longer trips, such as KiN Wander Tan Quy in the old District 7.
NiK Hotel Nguyen Trai, a good-value base in the Ben Thanh area.
Not sure which area suits you? Our guide to where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City compares the main neighbourhoods.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) cheap or expensive for tourists?
How much is a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City per night?
Is Saigon cheaper than Bangkok?
How much does street food cost in Saigon?
Do I need cash in Ho Chi Minh City?
When is the cheapest time to visit Saigon?
Should I tip in Vietnam?
Into smart travel tips? Follow @kinhotel on Instagram and TikTok for practical guides, and thoughtful ways to explore Saigon and beyond.
