Which place is cheaper, Palma de Mallorca or Ho Chi Minh City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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 Palma de Mallorca can help you decide which place is right for you.
Ho Chi Minh City is a busy, diverse, and cultural city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include theater, nightlife, and food.
Palma de Mallorca is a historic, beautiful, and stunning island. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the live music, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.
You'll generally find more things to do in Ho Chi Minh City than Palma de Mallorca. Ho Chi Minh City is bigger than Palma de Mallorca, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Ho Chi Minh City is better known for its museums, theatre productions, food, shopping, and big city activities, while Palma de Mallorca is more popular for its music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, and impressive beauty. Palma de Mallorca is more touristy than Ho Chi Minh City and is known for its strikingly blue waters, sandy beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant towns. Ho Chi Minh City is well known for its motorbike-filled streets, bustling markets, world-class cuisine, and diverse shopping opportunities. Also, Ho Chi Minh City is famous for the War Remnants Museum.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Palma de Mallorca and Ho Chi Minh City. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Ho Chi Minh City is a must-visit destination for its museums and history. However, Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.
Travelers visit Ho Chi Minh City from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. It's a day trip outside of town, but the Cu Chi Tunnels are a must-see stop for any visitor. The War Remnants Museum is also a not-to-be-missed spot. Other highlights of the city include Thiên Hau Temple, the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, the Saigon Opera House, and the Reunification Palace.
Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.
Ho Chi Minh City is a nice place to visit for theatre. However, Palma de Mallorca is not a theatre destination.
You'll find a nice selection of shows in Ho Chi Minh City. Water puppetry is a traditional art form that originated in the rural areas and was brought to the city. It is a fun cultural experience that kids and adults both enjoy. You can see it at The Golden Dragon Water Puppet Theatre.
Palma de Mallorca is not a theatre destination.
Ho Chi Minh City is a must-visit destination for its restaurants. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.
Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Ho Chi Minh City is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. This city, arguably, has some of the best food in Vietnam. You'll find everything from food stalls selling mouthwatering street food to luxury restaurants preparing traditional dishes with a modern twist. Banh Mi (a Vietnamese sandwich) and Pho (Vietnamese soup) are the most well known dishes around town, but also try the Bún mắm (a noodle dish) and Bún bò Huế (a beef based soup).
Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Palma de Mallorca. Food here is centered around pork, fish, and vegetables. It is flavored with garlic and olive oil and it offers that feeling of comfort that comes with home cooking.
The vibe at night is terrific in both Ho Chi Minh City and Palma de Mallorca.
People head to Ho Chi Minh City just to party. The city never settles down and you'll find all night parties and dance clubs open into the early hours. Backpackers keep the energy high, but there are also luxury clubs and more relaxed places where you can have a good night out if the backpacker thing isn't your scene.
The nightlife in Palma de Mallorca is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. Head to Magaluf and Palma for the most popular places.
Palma de Mallorca is great for its music scene. However, Ho Chi Minh City is not a live music destination.
The music scene in Palma de Mallorca draws a good crowd. Live concerts, international DJs, and a diverse range of styles have put the island's music scene on the map.
Ho Chi Minh City is not a live music destination.
Palma de Mallorca is great for its luxury resorts. However, Ho Chi Minh City is not a resort destination.
Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Palma de Mallorca. Top resorts on the island include The St Regis Mardavall, Viva Cala Mesquida Resort and Spa, and Nixe Palace Hotel.
Ho Chi Minh City is not a resort destination.
Palma de Mallorca is very good for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Ho Chi Minh City is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
It's worth going snorkeling or scuba diving in Palma de Mallorca. Head to Cala Santanyi on the south side of the island for the best snorkeling. For scuba diving, National Park of Cabrera is one of the most popular spots.
Ho Chi Minh City is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.
Palma de Mallorca is a world-class destination for the beach. However, Ho Chi Minh City is not a beach destination.
With world-famous beaches, Palma de Mallorca is a very popular vacation destination. The island is lined with sandy beaches and rocky coves, which have contributed to it becoming one of Europe's most popular beach destinations.
Ho Chi Minh City is not a beach destination.
Palma de Mallorca is very good for its historic old town charm. However, Ho Chi Minh City does not have a historic old town.
Palma de Mallorca has an old town worth visiting. Alcudia is the best old town on the island. It has cobblestone streets and historic walls that give it charm and history.
Ho Chi Minh City does not have a historic old town.
Palma de Mallorca is very good for hiking. However, Ho Chi Minh City is not a hiking destination.
Many people include a hike when visiting Palma de Mallorca. There are many beautiful hikes along the water and through the countryside that offer beautiful views and pass by quaint towns.
Ho Chi Minh City is not a hiking destination.
Ho Chi Minh City is a must-visit destination for shopping. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.
People travel from around the world to go shopping in Ho Chi Minh City. The city is filled with a mix of modern shopping centers and local shops selling traditional items. You'll find international brands as well as uniquely Vietnamese products. The city also has some of the best boutique shopping opportunities in Southeast Asia.
Palma de Mallorca offers some nice shopping areas. Head to Palma for some of the areas best shopping.
Ho Chi Minh City is a must-visit destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.
Ho Chi Minh City is an amazing family-friendly city to visit. Kids may feel overwhelmed at first, but they're sure to fall in love with the energy and kid-friendly activities in this city. There are traditional water puppet shows, kid-friendly restaurants, and fun parks. There's also the Suoi Tien Theme Park, smaller water parks, zoos, and art museums to explore.
Palma de Mallorca is a very kid-friendly city. The beaches are large and sandy with beautiful blue waters. There's also many activities that both adults and kids can enjoy around the island including waterparks, aquariums, and amusement areas.
Ho Chi Minh City is an excellent place to visit for romance. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.
Ho Chi Minh City makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. If you're looking for a vibrant cultural scene with excellent restaurants, great parks, and countless day trips, this is the ultimate couple's getaway.
Palma de Mallorca makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With beautiful beaches and a fun Spanish flare, Mallorca makes for a memorable honeymoon.
Ho Chi Minh City is a must-visit destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.
Many backpackers frequent Ho Chi Minh City. It's well established on the Southeast Asian backpacker's circuit and you'll find no shortage of hostels in town. You'll find a good number of backpackers in District 1 of the city, near Ben Thanh Market. Many backpackers also arrange trips to the Mekong Delta or elsewhere in Thailand while they're here.
Palma de Mallorca is a great city to visit for backpackers. There is no shortage of hostels in Mallorca so it's easy to find an affordable place to stay and a young crowd to hang out with.
Ho Chi Minh City is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Palma de Mallorca is not popular with students.
Plenty of students visit Ho Chi Minh City. Study abroad students appreciate the city's energy and plethora of activities. It also makes a good base for trips to other parts of Southeast Asia.
Palma de Mallorca is not popular with students.
Palma de Mallorca is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Ho Chi Minh City is not a good destination for its public transit.
While Palma de Mallorca offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is an efficient bus system that can get you around the island, but trips are less frequent on weekends. Pick up the Intermodal Card which can get you from town to town.
Public transit is generally limited in Ho Chi Minh City. There are public buses around town but motorbike taxis and regular taxis are likely your best bet for getting around.
Ho Chi Minh City and Palma de Mallorca are notable when it comes to walkability.
Ho Chi Minh City is a somewhat walkable city. In certain neighborhoods it's fairly walkable, but you may have to dodge a motorbike here or there.
Palma de Mallorca is somewhat walkable. It is a larger island that is not walkable, but Palma is generally a walkable area. If you stay in the central area you should be fine to explore on foot but if you want to get out into more rural areas, you'll need access to some type of transportation.
For even more information, also check out Is Ho Chi Minh City Worth Visiting? and Is Palma de Mallorca Worth Visiting?.
In either Ho Chi Minh City or Palma de Mallorca, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Palma de Mallorca than Ho Chi Minh City because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-4 days is a good amount of time for Ho Chi Minh City, and 3-5 days is enough time in Palma de Mallorca.
Families should spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City than Palma de Mallorca. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Ho Chi Minh City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City than Palma de Mallorca. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Ho Chi Minh City that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City than Palma de Mallorca if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Ho Chi Minh City.
When visiting Ho Chi Minh City, people usually allow for lots of time. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It offers something for everyone.
You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the cultural destination of Palma de Mallorca. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from.
When visiting Ho Chi Minh City, people usually allow for lots of time. Your budget might influence how long you stay. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the historic island of Palma de Mallorca. It's also a relaxing resort destination. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant big city of Ho Chi Minh City. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.
Palma de Mallorca is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.
Ho Chi Minh City is a popular choice for travelers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.
Palma de Mallorca is a great place to explore. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Vietnam, The Best 10-Day Tours in Vietnam, The Best 2-Week Tours in Spain, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ho Chi Minh City is $80, while the average daily cost in Palma de Mallorca is $148. 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 Palma de Mallorca in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City or Palma de Mallorca? 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.
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ho Chi Minh City:
Also for Ho Chi Minh City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Palma de Mallorca are as follows:
Also for Palma de Mallorca, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Palma de Mallorca 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Ho Chi Minh City:
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Palma de Mallorca, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For Palma de Mallorca, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Ho Chi Minh City, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ho Chi Minh City.
For Palma de Mallorca, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Ho Chi Minh City:
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Palma de Mallorca are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Palma de Mallorca:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ho Chi Minh City and Palma de Mallorca, we can see that Palma de Mallorca is more expensive. And not only is Ho Chi Minh City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ho Chi Minh City is in Asia and Palma de Mallorca is in Europe, 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 Palma de Mallorca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Palma de Mallorca 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 Ho Chi Minh City Expensive? and Is Palma de Mallorca Expensive?.
Ho Chi Minh City has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Palma de Mallorca. When comparing the sizes of Ho Chi Minh City and Palma de Mallorca, 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.