Which place is cheaper, Ho Chi Minh City or Goa?
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 Goa or Ho Chi Minh City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Goa 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: Goa or Ho Chi Minh City?
Goa
Goa is a small but important state located on the west coast of India known as a popular beach resort and vacation area.
A large Portuguese influence can be found in Goa in the form of architecture as well as the cuisine, as it was formerly a Portuguese colony. Because of Goa's Portuguese history, there is a distribution of religion among the people, making it quite different than other states in India. About sixty-five percent of the population is Hindu, while about twenty-four percent is Catholic. Goa is one of the most peaceful states in India, with a very low crime rate. The best time to visit Goa is between November and February, as this is when the weather is most comfortable.
This is a popular tourist destination both for the Indian population as well as for tourists from around the world. The warm climate, beautiful beaches, friendly people, fun activities, and cultural diversity make it a popular destination for many types of travelers.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mumbai, The Best 2-Week Tours from New Delhi, The Best Historical Tours in Vietnam, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam.
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Goa Prices
India PricesHo Chi Minh City Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGoa $33Ho Chi Minh City $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Goa is $33, 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 Goa and Ho Chi Minh City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGoa $13Ho Chi Minh City $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGoa $26Ho Chi Minh City $96
Compare Hotels in Goa and Ho Chi Minh City
Looking for a hotel in Goa 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: Ho Chi Minh City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Goa $4.59Ho Chi Minh City $15
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:
- Transfer from Ho Chi Minh to Phan Thiet or Mui Ne, Japan Quality: $14
- Tan Son Nhat Airport Ho Chi Minh City Private Transfer: $23
- Tan Son Airport Arrival Private Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City: $40
- Shared Arrival Transfer - Hanoi Airport to Sapa Hotel: $150
- Saigon Airport to Ho Chi Minh City Center Private Transfer: $19
- 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 from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne: $89
- Private transfer Tan Son Nhat airport - Hotels in Ho Chi Minh: $12
- Private transfer Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) - Hotels In City: $17
- Private Transfer: Vinh Airport to/from Vinh City Center: $31
Is it cheaper to fly into Goa or Ho Chi Minh City?
Prices for flights to both Ho Chi Minh City and Goa 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 dayGoa $14Ho Chi Minh City $23
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: $1.90
- Ho Chi Minh City Local Street Food Tour With Local Students: $7.93
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour & Hidden Local Gems Sightseeing: $9.91
- Mekong With Cai Be Less Tourist - Cooking Class: $14
- Express Cooking Experience: $15
- Vietnamese Spring Roll Cooking Class: $16
- HCMC: Saigon Food Tour & Chinatown & Local Market on Scooter: $17
- Ho Chi Minh City Cyclo Ride with Lunch or Dinner Experience: $18
- Ho Chi Minh City Michelin & Street Food Tour by Motorbike or Car: $18
- Saigon Scooter Adventure - City Sights & Street Food Tour: $21
- Saigon Sightseeing & Street Food Tour By scooter with Student: $23
- HCMC: Saigon Food Tour & Local Markets on Scooter/Walking: $23
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Goa $10Ho Chi Minh City $19
Tours and Activities in Goa
For Goa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 04 Days- Kerala Hills, Wildlife, Backwaters & Boat Cruise: $498
- 3-Day Delhi, Agra and Jaipur Tour - India Golden Triangle: $124
- 3-Days Delhi, Agra and Jaipur Tour - India Golden Triangle: $124
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.
- 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 Less Touristy Mekong River (Cai Be-Vinh Long) trip: $40
- 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
- 1-hour Nhieu Loc boat tour experience: A historic canal: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGoa $11Ho Chi Minh City $7.69
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
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:
- Rooftops, Hidden Bars & Iconic Pub Crawl: $8.05
- Make Your Own Gin Experience and Saigon Baigur Distillery Tour: $36
- Make-Your-Own Gin Experience & Saigon Baigur Distillery Tour: $36
- Saigon After Dark: Pub Crawl & Party Adventure: $69
- Bike And Craft Beer Brewery Mekong Delta Cycling Tour: $152
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Goa and Ho Chi Minh City, we can see that Ho Chi Minh City is more expensive. And not only is Goa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Goa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Goa 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 Goa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Goa Expensive? and Is Ho Chi Minh City Expensive?.
Which has a larger population, Goa or Ho Chi Minh City?
Ho Chi Minh City has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Goa. When comparing the sizes of Goa 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.