Which place is cheaper, Managua or Ho Chi Minh City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ho Chi Minh City or Managua?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Ho Chi Minh City and Managua can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Ho Chi Minh City or Managua?
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.
Managua
Managua is the capital, and largest city in Nicaragua. The economy is generally centered around the trade of coffee, cotton, and other types of agriculture. It also is a textile capital for the area. Managua is also a very reasonably priced destination in Central America. Restaurants and hotels are quite affordable and you'll find all kinds of international cuisine around the city. Transportation is also incredibly affordable and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the cost of intercity bus rides.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Vietnam, The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHo Chi Minh City $80Managua $55
The average daily cost (per person) in Ho Chi Minh City is $80, while the average daily cost in Managua is $55. 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 Ho Chi Minh City and Managua in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHo Chi Minh City $48Managua $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHo Chi Minh City $96Managua $46
Compare Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and Managua
Looking for a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City or Managua? 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 and Managua Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ho Chi Minh City $15Managua $20
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$1.38
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Taxi From Airport$7.87
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Cyclo Ride (One Hour)$1.57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ho Chi Minh City
Also for Ho Chi Minh City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh: $358
- Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City: $358
- Private Taxi transfer from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh: $358
- Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Phnom Penh: $292
- Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Nha Trang Cang Pha Vinpearl : $274
- Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Nha Trang: $273
- Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Cam Ranh: $260
- Private Transfer: Ho Chi Minh City Center/ Airport - Mui Ne/Phan Thiet: $258
- Private Transfer from Cam Ranh to Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport: $245
- Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Phang Rang Thap Cham: $235
- Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Ca Mau: $229
- Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Vinh Tan: $223
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Managua
Also for Managua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Managua-San juan del sur: Airport private transfer: $125
- Private Transfer in Nicaragua: $110
- Transfer From Managua International Airport: $90
- Popoyo Beach Transfer: $90
- Managua-Leon: Airport private transfer from to Managua /Leon: $85
- Rivas: Managua to Rivas Airport private transfer: $75
- Private Transfer from Managua Augusto Airport to Corinto Port: $71
- Private Transfer from Managua City Hotels to Corinto Cruise Port: $71
- Transfer from and To Poneloya or Las Peñitas Beach- Leon, Nicaragua: $68
- Managua Augusto Airport (MGA) to Managua-Round-Trip Transfer: $66
- Granada: Managua to Granada Airport private transfer: $64
- PRIVATE San Juan Del Sur Transfer: $56
Is it cheaper to fly into Ho Chi Minh City or Managua?
Prices for flights to both Managua and Ho Chi Minh City 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 dayHo Chi Minh City $14Managua $17
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)$4.21
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Pizza$5.12
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Sweet Rice$1.18
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Pork Sandwich$0.59
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.68
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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 Unseen & Food Tour By scooter w Student | Saigon Adventure: $19
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour by Motorbike/ Car with Student : $19
- Ho Chi Minh Street Food Tour By Motorbike (Unique & Authentic): $26
- Private Walking Food Tour with Local Students : $26
- Saigon: Backstreets Private Walking Food Tour & 10 Tastings: $27
- Food Tour by Scooter with Eleven Tastings: $27
- Super Niche Walking Street Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $28
- Ho Chi Minh Street Food Tour By Motorbike/Car + Sightseeing + Fun: $28
- Top Notch Street Food Tour With Saigon Vibes: $28
- Private Walking Food Tour with 13 Tastings: $28
- Private Half-Day Ho Chi Minh Food Tour with Local Students: $29
- Ho Chi Minh City Food Tour With Saigon Vibes: $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ho Chi Minh City $20Managua $16
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$5.51
Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.
- From Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne 3 Days Tour | 4 Star Beach Resort : $170
- Mekong Delta Discovery Day Tour - My Tho - Ben Tre: $46
- Mekong Vespa Tour 5 hours: $92
- Mui Ne,Fairy Spring, Sand dunes, Fishing Village, Private Tour: $290
- Non-Touristy Mekong Delta with Biking in Ben Tre Private Tour: $40
- Private Mekong Delta 1 Day Tour: $65
- Private Tour Water Puppet Show And Cruise Tour On Saigon River : $65
- Saigon Vegetarian Tour by Motorbike and Scooter: $39
- 'Cost-Saving' Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta 1-Day Tour: $65
- 'Cost-Saving' Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta 1-Day Tour: $60
- "Less-touristy" Mekong Delta Ben Tre Cruising Fullday: $138
- 02 - Days: Experience The Real Mekong Delta By Bike & Boat.: $220
Tours and Activities in Managua
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Managua.
- 3 full days PRIVATE tour at Granada, Masaya and Leon area from Managua: $210
- Amazing Masaya Volcano at Night "Private Tour" : $88
- Between Volcanoes Tours; Granada-Masaya.: $155
- Granada Isletas and City tour: $68
- Laguna de Apoyo Day pass plus Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $60
- Managua City Tour: $84
- Managua City Tour: $88
- Managua Love Stories: A Romantic Tour: $191
- Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $323
- Managua’s Historic Gems: A Cultural Walking Tour: $164
- Masaya Volcano Night Tour: $53
- Masaya volcano Night Tour: $110
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHo Chi Minh City $7.86Managua $11
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$0.39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ho Chi Minh City and Managua, we can see that Ho Chi Minh City is more expensive. And not only is Managua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ho Chi Minh City is in Asia and Managua is in Central America, 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 Managua would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Managua 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 Managua.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ho Chi Minh City Expensive? and Is Managua Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ho Chi Minh City or Managua?
Ho Chi Minh City has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Managua. When comparing the sizes of Ho Chi Minh City and Managua, 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.