Which place is cheaper, Ho Chi Minh City or Cairo?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Cairo or Ho Chi Minh City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Cairo and Ho Chi Minh City can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Cairo or Ho Chi Minh City?
Cairo
Cairo is the chaotic capital city of Egypt. With a population of more than 16 million, it is one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East. As a traveler, you're likely to arrive and leave from here and you'll get your first orientation to the area during the chaotic and congestion filled taxi ride from the airport.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Egypt, The Best Historical Tours in Vietnam, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam.
-
Cairo Prices
Egypt PricesHo Chi Minh City Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCairo $31Ho Chi Minh City $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Cairo is $31, while the average daily cost in Ho Chi Minh City is $87. 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 Cairo and Ho Chi Minh City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCairo $10Ho Chi Minh City $48
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCairo $20Ho Chi Minh City $96
Compare Hotels in Cairo and Ho Chi Minh City
Looking for a hotel in Cairo 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: Cairo Hotel Prices and Ho Chi Minh City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cairo $3.53Ho Chi Minh City $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cairo
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Cairo are as follows:
-
Metro Ride$0.08
-
Taxi Ride$0.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cairo:
- From Guided 4 Day Cairo & Red Sea Tour with Transfer: $1,440
- Private Day Trip to Luxor with Transfers and Flights: $791
- Cairo To Marsa Alam Private Transfer: $511
- From One-Way Private Transfer To Luxor: $489
- 3 Private Full-Day Tours to Cairo Top Attractions+One Airport Transfer: $300
- 1 Day Aswan Abu Simple Tour with Transfer Included: $300
- Private One-Way Transfer to/from Hurghada: $292
- Private One-Way Transfer to/from Sharm El-Sheikh: $292
- Private Transfer Cairo to Hurghada: $290
- Private Transfer from El Cairo (CAI) Airport to Hurghada: $284
- Private Transfer from Cairo City Hotels to Suez Canal Cruise Port: $282
- Private Transfer from Cairo City Hotels to Ain Sokhna Cruise Port: $282
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:
-
Short Taxi Ride$1.33
-
Taxi From Airport$7.60
-
Cyclo Ride (One Hour)$1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ho Chi Minh City
Also for Ho Chi Minh City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- #1 Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh / SGN Airport : Private Luxury Transfer: $145
- Airport Transfers (Airport - Ho Chi Minh,Private 16 Seats Car): $52
- CONVENIENT AIRPORT TRANSFER by PRIVATE CAR or SCOOTERS | KissTour: $28
- Cam Ranh Riviera to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $20
- Comfort Van Transfer From Phong Nha or Dong Hoi to Hue: $15
- Cu Chi Tunnels Half-Day Tour with English Guide & Transfers: $40
- Duyen Ha Resort to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $20
- From Phu My Port: Ho Chi Minh City Tour and Transfers: $143
- Fusion Resort to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $20
- Golden Bridge, Marble mount, guide, lunch, transfer from Cruises: $199
- HO CHI MINH AIRPORT: CAR 7s PICK UP HOTEL (one way transfer): $20
- Hanoi Private Transfer from Thanh Hoa to Hanoi (HAN) Airport: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Cairo or Ho Chi Minh City?
Prices for flights to both Ho Chi Minh City and Cairo 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
-
Food Meals for one dayCairo $16Ho Chi Minh City $23
Typical Food Prices in Cairo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cairo:
-
Juice$0.04
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cairo.
- Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer show on Nile river: $5.00
- Giza Pyramids,Sphinx,Camel Ride,ATV Bike,Shopping, Dinner cruise: $7.00
- Night Dinner Nile cruise with belly dancer and folklore show: $7.00
- Cairo Food Tour with Nile Felucca Ride: $7.00
- Quad Bike ATV ,Camel Ride ,Nile Dinner Cruise Belly dancer show: $7.00
- 2 Hour Cairo Dinner Cruise on Nile river with live band: $7.00
- Private Nile Cruise with Dinner and Folk Show from Cairo: $7.50
- Cairo Food Tour – Discover Hidden Downtown Gems: $8.00
- night-tour Nile dinner cruise with open buffet and belly dancer: $8.00
- Cairo Dinner Cruise in Nile River With Belly Dancer & Tanora show: $8.00
- Cairo Dinner Cruise show with belly dancer show on Nile river: $8.00
- food tour private tour from cairo or giza hotel: $8.00
Typical Food Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ho Chi Minh City:
-
Street Food Dinner (for Two)$4.07
-
Pizza$4.94
-
Sweet Rice$1.14
-
Pork Sandwich$0.57
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.45
-
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:
- Water Puppet Show And Dinner Cruise On Saigon River Private Tour: $1.87
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour with Local LGBT Student Guide: $1.87
- Mekong With Cai Be Less Tourist - Cooking Class: $14
- Saigon Food Tour & Culture Explore Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour: $15
- 1 hour Egg Coffee Cooking Class with Snack and Local Instructor: $15
- HCM:Mekong Delta Boat,Khotcake cooking Coconut Village,SmallGroup: $16
- Cu Chi Tunnels & Countryside Cooking Class with Organic Farm: $20
- Ho Chi Minh city Walking Chinatown / HCM city walking food tour: $25
- Pu Luong Cooking Class at Traditional Stilt House: $25
- Saigon Walking Food Tour & Hidden Alleys with Locals: $26
- Watch The Sunset or Enjoy Dinner On Luxury Cruise in Saigon: $28
- Mouth-Watering Street Food Tour By Motorbike: $29
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cairo $8.46Ho Chi Minh City $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairo
Here are a few typical costs in Cairo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Entry to Camel Market for Two$0.78
-
Egyptian Museum Entry for Two$6.02
Tours and Activities in Cairo
Here are a few actual costs in Cairo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- "Private Half-Day Tour to the Giza Pyramids Saqqara and Memphis: $25
- ( Stopover Tour Of Cairo ) Private All Inc.Pyramids,Camel Ride,Museum& Lunch: $180
- (Egypt jewel) Day Tour To Giza Pyramids, Museum, Mosque &Felucca: $55
- 01 Day Tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $246
- 01 Day Tour to Pyramids Of Giza Memphis And Sakkara: $86
- 1 Day Private Tour in Cairo and Giza: $90
- 1 Day Private Tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $100
- 1 Day tour to Alexandria from Cairo: $30
- 1 Day tour to Giza pyramids Memphis city Dahshur and Saqqara pyramids: $15
- 1 Hour ATV Quad Bike Private Tour Around Giza Pyramids: $30
- 1 Hour Adventure In The Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60
- 1 Hour Adventure In The Nile River By Nile Taxi In Cairo: $60
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:
-
Massage$5.32
Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.
- Hidden Bunker & Vietnam War - Ho Chi Minh City Free Walking Tour: $0.65
- Ghosts & Legends of Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City Night Walking Tour: $0.65
- Highlights & Hidden Gems - Free Walking Tour: $0.65
- Chinatown Hidden Treasures – Ho Chi Minh City Free Walking Tour: $0.65
- Ho Chi Minh City private walking tours with young local volunteers: $1.79
- Ho Chi Minh City Highlights Hidden Gems Tour By Heritage Vespa: $1.87
- Mekong Delta My Tho and Ben Tre with Boat Cruise Private Tour: $1.87
- Tan Lap Floating Village Authentic Mekong Delta Nature Tour: $1.87
- Ho Chi Minh City Sightseeing Private Tour By U.S Army Jeep: $1.87
- Cu Chi Tunnels History And Mekong Delta Culture River Cruise Tour: $1.87
- Ho Chi Minh City Private City Tour with Highlights Hidden Gems: $1.87
- Cat Tien National Park Adventure Biking Hiking Nature Day Tour: $1.87
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayCairo $1.37Ho Chi Minh City $7.60
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairo
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cairo:
- Pub Crawl and Speakeasy Bar Tour with 2 Free Drinks: $70
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:
-
Beer$0.38
Sample the Local Flavors in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Make Your Own Gin Experience and Saigon Baigur Distillery Tour: $29
- Bike And Craft Beer Brewery Mekong Delta Cycling Tour: $152
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cairo and Ho Chi Minh City, we can see that Ho Chi Minh City is more expensive. And not only is Cairo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cairo is in Africa 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 Cairo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cairo 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 Cairo.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cairo Expensive? and Is Ho Chi Minh City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Cairo or Ho Chi Minh City?
Cairo has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Ho Chi Minh City. When comparing the sizes of Cairo 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.