Should you visit Ho Chi Minh City or Ocho Rios?
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 Ocho Rios can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Ho Chi Minh City or Ocho Rios?
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.
Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Vietnam.
Which place is cheaper, Ocho Rios or Ho Chi Minh City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ho Chi Minh City is $87, while the average daily cost in Ocho Rios is $85. 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 Ocho Rios in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City or Ocho Rios? 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
Ocho Rios Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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
$7.58
-
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:
-
Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City:
$358
-
Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) to Mui Ne - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$283
-
Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang - Private Transfer:
$259
-
Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Phang Rang Thap Cham:
$256
-
Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Ca Mau:
$248
-
Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Vinh Tan:
$242
-
Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) to Mui Ne - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$236
-
Private Transfer from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport to Soc Trang:
$216
-
Private Transfer from Phu My Port to Ho Chi Minh hotels:
$214
-
Private Transfer from Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) to Phu My Port:
$214
-
Private Transfer from Phu My Port to Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN):
$214
-
Private Transfer: Ho Chi Minh City Center to Mui Ne:
$196
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Luxury Transfer to Sandals Dunn’s River from MBJ Airport:
$300
-
Grand Bahia Jamaica Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip):
$300
-
VIP***Private KINGSTON Airport Transfers to***OCHO RIOS**HOTELS**:
$292
-
Kingston Airport (KIN) to Runaway Bay Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$255
-
Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay Hotels:
$240
-
Ocho Rios Hotels Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN):
$240
-
Kingston Airport Transfer to Runaway Bay Hotels:
$200
-
Luxury Ocho Rios Transfer:
$180
-
Private Transfer from Jamaica (MBJ) Airport to Ocho Ríos:
$176
-
Jewels Resorts Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip):
$170
-
Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer To and from ochi rios :
$170
-
Runaway Bay Hotels Private Round Trip Transfers from MBJ:
$160
Is it cheaper to fly into Ho Chi Minh City or Ocho Rios?
Prices for flights to both Ocho Rios 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 $23
Ocho Rios $28
Typical Food Prices in Ho Chi Minh City
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ho Chi Minh City:
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:
-
1 hour Egg Coffee Cooking Class with Snack and Local Instructor :
$12
-
Vietnamese Cooking and Craft Workshop by the Lake:
$12
-
Saigon Food Tour & Culture Explore Ho Chi Minh City Walking Tour:
$15
-
Mekong Delta 4 Islands, TukTuk, Boat, Try Khot Cake Local Cooking:
$20
-
Saigon Street Food Tour with Local Guide:
$25
-
Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour On American Jeep/ Motorbike:
$25
-
Committed Non-Touristy Saigon Street Food Tour By Scooters/Car :
$25
-
HO CHI MINH Street Food Tour and Vietnamese Coffee:
$25
-
Street Food Tour In Ho Chi Minh City By Motorbike:
$26
-
Ho Chi Minh Scooter Adventure - City Sights & Street Food Tour:
$27
-
Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour With Students:
$27
-
Saigon - Tasty Food Tour By Scooters:
$28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios:
$128
-
Taste of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios:
$150
Entertainment
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:
Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.
-
Cu Chi Tunnels and Sai Gon City Tour :
$64
-
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:
$54
-
Historical Walking Tour of Saigon:
$36
-
Ho Chi Minh Afternoon Half Day City Tour :
$30
-
Ho Chi Minh City Bus Tour Experience:
$100
-
Ho Chi Minh City Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour | Vietnam:
$27
-
Ho Chi Minh City Private Tour:
$93
-
Street Food Walking Tour with 12 Tastings:
$30
-
Jeep tour Sai Gon Private half day culture and history tour:
$100
-
Mekong Delta Discovery Day Tour - My Tho - Ben Tre:
$46
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate
$11
-
Admission to Coyaba Gardens
$5.27
-
Tour of Prospect Plantation
$17
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
-
Black River Safari & YS Falls Tour from Runaway Bay:
$285
-
Blue Hole Tour From Ocho Rios:
$60
-
Blue Hole Waterfalls + Bamboo River Rafting Tour from Ocho Rios:
$109
-
Dunn's River Falls Party Cruise, Blue Hole with Snorkeling, free beverages:
$165
-
Dunn's River Falls and Ocho Rios Sightseeing with Shopping:
$50
-
Dunn's River Falls and Tubing Combo Tour from Ocho Rios:
$140
-
Private Dunn's River and Blue hole tour from Ocho Rios :
$110
-
Private Sightseeing Tour from Ocho Rios :
$60
-
Shopping Tour From Runaway Bay Hotels :
$75
-
1 Hour Private Rafting Experience in Jamaica:
$65
-
ATV Adventure and Shopping from Falmouth (Minimum 4 persons):
$165
-
ATV Guided Tour To Blue Hole & Spanish Bridge In Ocho Rios:
$270
Alcohol
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:
Sample the Local Flavors in Ocho Rios
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ocho Rios:
-
Bar Hopping, Pub Crawl, Shopping and Sightseeing Tour Ocho Rios:
$113
When comparing the travel costs between Ho Chi Minh City and Ocho Rios, we can see that Ho Chi Minh City is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Ho Chi Minh City is in Asia and Ocho Rios is in Caribbean Islands, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Ocho Rios Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ho Chi Minh City or Ocho Rios?
Ho Chi Minh City has a larger population, and is about 370 times larger than the population of Ocho Rios. When comparing the sizes of Ho Chi Minh City and Ocho Rios, 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.
Related Articles for Ho Chi Minh City
Related Articles for Ocho Rios