Which place is cheaper, Ho Chi Minh City or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Beirut or Ho Chi Minh City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Beirut and Ho Chi Minh City. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Beirut or Ho Chi Minh City?
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam. It previously served as the capital of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). The metropolitan area, including Ho Chi Minh City, Thu Dau Mot, Di An, Bien Hoa, and other surrounding towns, has a population of more than 9 million people and continues to grow.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Vietnam, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam.
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Beirut Prices
Lebanon PricesHo Chi Minh City Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeirut $2.78Ho Chi Minh City $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.78, while the average daily cost in Ho Chi Minh City is $88. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Beirut and Ho Chi Minh City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeirut $1.26Ho Chi Minh City $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.52Ho Chi Minh City $96
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Ho Chi Minh City
Looking for a hotel in Beirut or Ho Chi Minh City? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Beirut Hotel Prices and Ho Chi Minh City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beirut $0.44Ho Chi Minh City $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beirut Airport Transfer in a Limousine: $200
- Paragliding in Lebanon with Hotel Transfer From Beirut: $192
- Private Transfer from Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport to Beirut: $48
- Beirut Airport one Way Private Transfer to the hotel: $25
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport: $18
- Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel: $18
- Private Departure Transfer | Beirut Hotel to Airport: $10
- Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
- Private Airport Arrival Pick Up & Transfer to your Beirut Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport: $10
- Private Departure Transfer: From your hotel in Beirut to Airport: $10
- Private Arrival Transfer | Beirut Airport to Your Hotel: $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Short Taxi Ride$1.35
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Taxi From Airport$7.70
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Cyclo Ride (One Hour)$1.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ho Chi Minh City
Also for Ho Chi Minh City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vinpearl Resort & Spa Long Beach to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $20
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cam Ranh HTL-APT (CXR): $16
- Transfer from Ho Chi Minh to Phan Thiet or Mui Ne, Japan Quality: $17
- Tan Son Nhat Airport Ho Chi Minh City Private Transfer: $23
- Tan Son Nhat Airport Fast Track with Transfer (Ho Chi Minh City): $27
- Shared Arrival Transfer - Hanoi Airport to Sapa Hotel: $150
- Saigon Airport to Ho Chi Minh City Center Private Transfer: $19
- Sai Gon Airport Departure Private Transfer: $40
- Round-trip Private Transfer Ho Chi Minh - Vung Tau (7 Seats Car): $122
- Radisson Blu Resort to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $20
- Private transfer from Mui Ne to Ho Chi Minh City: $87
- Private transfer Tan Son Nhat airport - Hotels in Ho Chi Minh: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Ho Chi Minh City?
Prices for flights to both Ho Chi Minh City and Beirut change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBeirut $1.23Ho Chi Minh City $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $35
- Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist: $72
- Beirut Street Food Tour, Lebanon: $85
- Private Lebanese Home Cooking Class in Byblos with a Local Family: $86
- Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
Typical Food Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ho Chi Minh City:
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Street Food Dinner (for Two)$4.12
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Pizza$5.00
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Sweet Rice$1.15
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Pork Sandwich$0.58
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.53
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Western Lunch (for Two)$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour with Local LGBT Student Guide: $1.89
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour & Hidden Local Gems Sightseeing: $9.86
- Mekong With Cai Be Less Tourist - Cooking Class: $14
- 1 hour Egg Coffee Cooking Class with Snack and Local Instructor: $14
- Saigon Food Tour & Culture Explore Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour: $15
- Mekong Delta 4 Islands, TukTuk, Boat, Try Khot Cake Local Cooking: $16
- HCM: Mekong Delta Boat, Khotcake cooking Coconut Village: $16
- Ho Chi Minh City Michelin & Street Food Tour by Motorbike or Car: $16
- Ho Chi Minh City Cyclo Ride with Lunch or Dinner Experience: $18
- Saigon Sightseeing & Street Food Tour By scooter with Student: $23
- Ho Chi Minh city Walking Chinatown / HCM city walking food tour: $25
- Pu Luong Cooking Class at Traditional Stilt House: $26
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beirut $0.26Ho Chi Minh City $19
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- ATV (2 Seat) Full Day Off-Road Tour & Scenic Adventure: $195
- ATV (2 Seat) Half Day Off-Road Tour & Scenic Adventure: $120
- Anjar baalback & Ksara tour: $130
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Semi-Private Tour | Max 10 · Lunch Incl: $55
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $55
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $55
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery | Small-Group Guided Tour Beirut: $45
- BEYOND CHOUF mountains - Hidden Gems Mountains Day Tour: $250
- Baalback Roman temples tour: $128
- Baalbek, Anjar & Ksara Small Group Tour with Lunch from Beirut: $55
- Baatara Gorge Waterfall, Jeita Grotto and Byblos Tour: $170
- Beirut : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private tour): $36
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Massage$5.39
Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.
- 'Cost-Saving' Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta 1-Day Tour: $59
- 1 Day Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta Private Adventure: $156
- 1 Day Mekong Delta to Cai Be from Ho Chi Minh City Tour: $45
- 1 Day Small Group Tour in Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta: $90
- 1 Hour Saigon River Tour in Ho Chi Minh: $13
- 1-Day City Tour: Saigon Chinatown, Must-See Icons & Cyclo Ride: $128
- 1-Day Explore Non-Touristy Side Of Mekong Delta- Group 10 Max: $130
- 1-Day Mekong Delta Tour: Less-Touristy Cai Be & Vinh Long(Max 10): $35
- 1-Day Tour of Black Virgin Mountain - Cao Dai Temple - Cu Chi Tunnels from HCMC: $65
- 1-day Ho Chi Minh city and Cu Chi tunnels group tour: $46
- 1-day Mekong Delta Tour: Cai Be Market, Local Island and Cycling: $125
- 1-day My Tho boat trip in Mekong Delta group tour from Ho Chi Minh: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeirut $0.23Ho Chi Minh City $7.69
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Wine Tour | Chateau Musar, Ixsir & Batroun Day Trip: $75
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut (Entrance Fee Included): $91
- Private Baalbek Temples & Ksara Wine Tour | From Beirut: $100
- Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour | 3 Wineries from Beirut: $100
- Private Bekaa Wine Tour | 3 Wineries · St Thomas, Kefraya & Ksara: $100
- Private Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour from Beirut: $100
- Private Wine Tour | Chateau Musar & Ixsir Winery from Beirut: $100
- Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
- Private Cedar Hike & Bekaa Wine Tour | Kefraya & Ksara: $150
- Full-Day Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour from Beirut: $225
Typical Alcohol Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Ho Chi Minh City:
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Beer$0.38
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Ho Chi Minh City, we can see that Ho Chi Minh City is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut is in Middle East and Ho Chi Minh City is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Ho Chi Minh City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ho Chi Minh City than you might in Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beirut Expensive? and Is Ho Chi Minh City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beirut or Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City has a larger population, and is about 81% larger than the population of Beirut. When comparing the sizes of Beirut and Ho Chi Minh City, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.