A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ho Chi Minh City vs. Mount Bromo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ho Chi Minh City or Mount Bromo?

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 Mount Bromo can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Ho Chi Minh City or Mount Bromo?

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.

Mount Bromo

Mt. Bromo is the most famous active volcano in East Java at 2,329 meters high. Most visit Mt. Bromo to see the spectacular sunrise over the Tenggar-Caldera. Cemoro Lawang is the most popular town where tourists stay while visiting. Be prepared with cash ahead of time, as you'll have a hard time finding an ATM in town.

While you may be accustomed to warmer weather in other cities on the island, the highlands of Mt. Bromo will require that you dress warmly, if only for the night and early morning that you're there to see the sunrise, as temperatures may drop to freezing. There are many vendors selling hats and gloves if you need them.

Daytime temperatures, on the other hand, are much warmer in high 60s. Note that wet season takes place from November to March, and the months of January and February experience the heaviest rains and even flooding.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Vietnam, The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Mount Bromo or Ho Chi Minh City?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ho Chi Minh City is $81, while the average daily cost in Mount Bromo is $22. 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 Mount Bromo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ho Chi Minh City $49
    Mount Bromo $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ho Chi Minh City $98
    Mount Bromo $22
Compare Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and Mount Bromo

Looking for a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City or Mount Bromo? 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.

Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City


Hotels in Mount Bromo


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ho Chi Minh City $15
    Mount Bromo $7.31
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
    $1.40
  • Taxi From Airport
    $7.99
  • 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:

  • Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh Transfer 5-Days Trip by Private Car: $613
  • Private taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh: $358
  • Private Taxi Transfer from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh: $358
  • Private Taxi transfer from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh: $358
  • Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City: $358
  • Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Phnom Penh: $290
  • Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Nha Trang: $273
  • Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Nha Trang Cang Pha Vinpearl : $272
  • Private Transfer: Ho Chi Minh City - Chau Doc/Rach Gia: $268
  • Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $259
  • Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Cam Ranh: $259
  • Private Transfer: Ho Chi Minh City Center/ Airport - Mui Ne/Phan Thiet: $258

Is it cheaper to fly into Ho Chi Minh City or Mount Bromo?

Prices for flights to both Mount Bromo 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Ho Chi Minh City $14
    Mount Bromo $5.32
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)
    $4.27
  • Pizza
    $5.19
  • Sweet Rice
    $1.20
  • Pork Sandwich
    $0.60
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $6.78
  • 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:

  • Private Walking Food Tour with Local Students : $26
  • Ho Chi Minh Street Food Tour By Motorbike (Unique & Authentic): $26
  • Ho Chi Minh Street Food Tour By Motorbike + Sightseeing: $27
  • Saigon: Backstreets Private Walking Food Tour & 10 Tastings: $27
  • Food Tour by Scooter with Eleven Tastings: $27
  • Ho Chi Minh Food Tour on Back of Motobike with Local Guide: $27
  • Super Niche Walking Street Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $28
  • Private Walking Food Tour with 13 Tastings: $28
  • Ho Chi Minh: Original Walking Street Food Tour With Local: $29
  • Private Half-Day Ho Chi Minh Food Tour with Local Students: $29
  • Ho Chi Minh: Super Niche Walking Street Food Tour With Local: $29
  • Private 4-Hour Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ho Chi Minh City $20
    Mount Bromo $8.20
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
    $5.59

Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.

  • Chan May Port to Hoi An Ancient Town & Marble Mountains Car/Tour: $10
  • Cu Chi Tunnels half day tours: $39
  • From Ho Chi Minh to Mui Ne 3 Days Tour | 4 Star Beach Resort : $170
  • Half Day Private Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $70
  • 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
  • SAIGON SHORE EXCURSION: Past and Present Tour from Cruise Port: $111
  • Saigon Vegetarian Tour by Motorbike and Scooter: $39
  • Vietnam Classic Day Tour in Ho Chi Minh with Cu Chi Tunnels: $18
  • 'Cost-Saving' Cu Chi Tunnels & Mekong Delta 1-Day Tour: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ho Chi Minh City $7.98
    Mount Bromo $4.61
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
    $0.40


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ho Chi Minh City and Mount Bromo, we can see that Ho Chi Minh City is more expensive. And not only is Mount Bromo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mount Bromo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mount Bromo 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 Mount Bromo.

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 Mount Bromo Expensive?.