Which place is cheaper, Ho Chi Minh City or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eilat or Ho Chi Minh City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Ho Chi Minh City? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Eilat or Ho Chi Minh City?
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best Historical Tours in Vietnam, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $140Ho Chi Minh City $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, while the average daily cost in Ho Chi Minh City is $81. 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 Eilat and Ho Chi Minh City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $93Ho Chi Minh City $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $186Ho Chi Minh City $98
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Ho Chi Minh City
Looking for a hotel in Eilat 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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Ho Chi Minh City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Ho Chi Minh City $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
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Local Bus$3.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90
- Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
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$1.40
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Taxi From Airport$7.99
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Cyclo Ride (One Hour)$1.60
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): $18
- Transfer from Ho Chi Minh to Airport Tan Sơn Nhat: $17
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport Transfer: $23
- Tan Son Nhat International Airport Private Transfer: $19
- Tan Son Nhat Airport: Private Transfer to/from Ho Chi Minh: $22
- Tan Son Airport Arrival Private Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City: $32
- Shared Arrival Transfer - Hanoi Airport to Sapa Hotel: $71
- SGN Airport: the private transfer to Center (District 1 & 3): $16
- Round-trip Private Transfer Ho Chi Minh - Vung Tau (16 Seats Car): $141
- Radisson Blu Resort to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $20
- Private transfer: Ho Chi Minh City/Airport - Ho Tram/Vung Tau: $207
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Ho Chi Minh City?
Prices for flights to both Ho Chi Minh City and Eilat 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 dayEilat $35Ho Chi Minh City $14
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)$4.27
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Pizza$5.19
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Sweet Rice$1.20
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Pork Sandwich$0.60
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.78
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Western Lunch (for Two)$12
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:
- Saigon Food Tour & Culture Explore Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour: $15
- Ho Chi Minh Street Food Tour By Motorbike +Sightseeing SAFE & FUN: $25
- Private Walking Food Tour with Local Students : $26
- Saigon: Backstreets Private Walking Food Tour & 10 Tastings: $27
- Super Niche Walking Street Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $28
- Food Tour by Scooter with Eleven Tastings: $28
- Ho Chi Minh: Thirteen-Tastings Private Walking Food Tour: $28
- Ho Chi Minh: Original Walking Street Food Tour With Local: $29
- Top Niche Walking Street Food Tour with Uni Student: $29
- Private 4-Hour Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $29
- Ho Chi Minh: Super Niche Walking Street Food Tour With Local: $29
- Walking Street Food Tour Ho Chi Minh City: $30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Ho Chi Minh City $20
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
- 2 day tour to Petra from Eilat: $299
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $64
- Full Day Petra Tour from Eilat: $289
- Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
- Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $30
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
- Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- Petra 2-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Authentic Lunch: $290
- Petra and Wadi Rum 2 day tour from Eilat: $299
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$5.59
Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.
- Half Day Private Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $70
- Mekong Delta Discovery Day Tour - My Tho - Ben Tre: $46
- Mui Ne,Fairy Spring, Sand dunes, Fishing Village, Private Tour: $290
- Private Mekong Delta 1 Day Tour: $65
- Small Group Tour to Cu Chi Tunnels and cruise Mekong Delta in a day: $48
- Vietnam Classic Day Tour in Ho Chi Minh with Cu Chi Tunnels: $18
- 'Cost-Saving' Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta 1-Day Tour: $65
- 'Cost-Saving' Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta 1-Day Tour: $54
- "Less-touristy" Mekong Delta Ben Tre Cruising Fullday: $140
- 02 -Days: Experience Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta.: $220
- 1 Day Small Group Tour in Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta: $100
- 1 Hour Saigon River Tour in Ho Chi Minh: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Ho Chi Minh City $7.98
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$0.40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Ho Chi Minh City, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Ho Chi Minh City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat 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 Ho Chi Minh City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ho Chi Minh City 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat than you might in Ho Chi Minh City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Ho Chi Minh City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat 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.