Should you visit Ho Chi Minh City or Prague?
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 Prague can help you decide which place is right for you.
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.
Prague
Prague is the capital city of the Czech Republic. It is also the largest city in the country and one of the largest cities in Central Europe. Prague has long enticed travelers for its beautiful architecture, impressive bridges, detailed cathedrals, and fascinating history. Prague is unique in that is remained almost completely undamaged during World War II. The medieval city center still feels like you've stepped back in time. Despite this historic atmosphere, there is still a lot of vibrant energy and you'll find many different live music venues, art galleries, modern restaurants, and unique festivals throughout the year.
Which city is cheaper, Prague 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 $72, while the average daily cost in Prague is $93. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Ho Chi Minh City and Prague in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $86 in Ho Chi Minh City For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $112 for a double occupancy room in Prague.
Food
The average traveler spends about $13 per day in Ho Chi Minh City for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In Prague travelers spend around $22 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Ho Chi Minh City $13
Prague $22
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:
-
Seafood Dinner in Altitude Rooftop Bar at Sheraton Nha Trang :
$15
-
Ho Chi Minh Private Half Day Street Food Tour with Local Students:
$18
-
The Home Pizza Phu Quoc Cash Voucher 500.000VND :
$19
-
SaiGon Street Food Tour By Scooter With Student:
$22
-
Tra Que Vegetable Village and Cooking Class Experience in Hoi An:
$24
-
Tam Giang Lagoon Private Half Day Tour with Seafood Dinner:
$26
-
Half-Day Tam Giang Sunset Tour with Dinner on Floating Restaurant:
$26
-
Walking Food Tour With Local Student:
$26
-
Private Street Food Tour on Motorbikes:
$28
-
Hoi An City and Food Tour with Foot Massage:
$28
-
Vegetarian Cooking Class in Hanoi:
$28
-
Private Half-Day Ho Chi Minh Food Tour with Local Students:
$28
Typical Food prices in Prague
Some typical examples of dining costs in Prague are as follows:
-
Fruit
$4.53
-
Lunch for One
$14
-
Bananas
$0.64
-
Cookies
$0.36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Prague
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Prague.
-
Prague City Tour by Bus With Optional Boat Tour, Charles Bridge Museum and Dinner:
$15
-
Traditional Balkan Burek cooking class and dinner in Prague for small groups:
$59
-
Mozart Concert and Dinner in Prague:
$82
-
Roman pasta cooking class and dinner in Prague:
$90
-
Czech Folklore Show with dinner and private transfer:
$96
-
Dinner cruise - open buffet - with 2 incl transfers:
$106
-
Folklore Evening Including Traditional Czech Dinner in Prague:
$107
-
Medieval dinner in Prague with incl transports:
$118
-
Prague Cooking Class with Tereza:
$121
-
Czech Traditional Folklore Show including Dinner and Transport:
$159
-
Prague Cooking Class Including Market Visit and 3-Course Lunch:
$173
-
Private Prague Food Tour:
$174
Local Transportation
Ho Chi Minh City's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $13 per person, per day on transportation in Ho Chi Minh City.
The average price of local transportation around Prague is $6.97 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public 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
$1.55
-
Taxi From Airport
$8.83
-
Cyclo Ride (One Hour)
$1.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ho Chi Minh City
Also for Ho Chi Minh City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Shared City Transfer between Hanoi and Ninh Binh, Hoa Lu, Tam Coc and more by Limousine:
$6.39
-
Shared City Transfers between Da Lat and Mui Ne via Shuttle Bus:
$6.50
-
Shared Bus Transfers between Hoi An and Ba Na Hills:
$6.50
-
Private Phu Quoc International Airport Transfers (PQC) for Phu Quoc:
$7.00
-
Private Da Nang International Airport Transfers (DAD) for Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An, & Select Areas:
$8.79
-
Private Noi Bai Airport Transfers (HAN) for Hanoi City or Halong Bay:
$9.00
-
Private Night Transfers between Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC) and Phu Quoc:
$9.25
-
Private Noi Bai Airport (HAN) Transfers for Hanoi City:
$9.45
-
Private Da Nang International Airport (DAD) Transfers for Da Nang, Ba Na Hills, and More:
$9.59
-
Private Airport Transfer: Ho Chi Minh City to Tan Son Nhat Int. Airport (SGN):
$10
-
Private Cam Ranh International Airport (CXR) Transfers for Nha Trang, Hon Chong & Selected Areas:
$11
-
Private Da Nang International Airport Night Transfers (DAD) for Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An, & Select Areas:
$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Prague
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Prague:
-
VIP Bus Private Transfer from Vienna to Prague for up to 19 people:
$1,411
-
Private transfer from Prague to Budapest with Stopover in Bratislava incl a tour:
$1,379
-
Private Bus Transfer from Prague to Passau for up to 19 people:
$1,278
-
Private Bus Transfer from Passau to Prague for up to 19 people:
$1,278
-
Large group Private Transfer from Vilshofen to Prague or Prague to Vilshofen:
$1,242
-
Private Bus Transfer from Prague to Passau for up to 15 people:
$1,169
-
Private Bus Transfer from Passau to Prague for up to 15 people:
$1,169
-
A private one way transfer from Prague to Innsbruck:
$1,045
-
Private transfer from Prague to Budapest:
$975
-
Private transfer from Prague to Frankfurt am Main:
$975
-
Private transfer from Prague to Krakow:
$961
-
Private transfer from Prague to Vienna with Stopover in Lednice Chateau:
$933
Is it cheaper to fly into Ho Chi Minh City or Prague?
Prices for flights to both Prague 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Ho Chi Minh City can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $18 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Prague's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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.
-
Do Quyen Spa Private Experience in Sapa:
$1.75
-
Hi Spa Experience in Ho Chi Minh City :
$1.99
-
L'Belle Beauty Spa Experience in Ho Chi Minh:
$1.99
-
Lasenta Spa Experience in Ho Chi Minh City:
$2.39
-
World Coffee Museum Ticket in Central Highland:
$2.65
-
[SALE 50%] Art in Paradise 3D Museum Ticket in Da Nang:
$3.09
-
The Bachelorette Full Day Private Tour with Pickup:
$3.24
-
LVES Spa in Saigon - VND88.000 for 60-minute Experience:
$3.89
-
Upside Down World Ticket in Da Nang:
$4.05
-
Traditional Singing Performance on Huong River Ticket in Hue:
$4.19
-
Alba Thanh Tan Hot Springs Ticket in Hue City:
$4.19
-
Ngo Spa & Massage Experience in Ho Chi Minh City:
$4.39
Typical Entertainment prices in Prague
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Prague are as follows:
Tours and Activities in Prague
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Prague are as follows:
-
1 Hour and 30 min Panoramic Electric Scooter Tour In Prague:
$49
-
1 day Unesco private wine experience in Kutna Hora:
$328
-
1 week, 3 countries: Prague - Vienna - Budapest: PRIVATE TOUR::
$4,479
-
1,5 hour oldtimer convertible Prague sightseeing tour:
$153
-
1-Hour Introductory Tour of Prague Castle With Fast-GET Admission Ticket:
$27
-
10 days private sightseeing tour from Prague to Budapest:
$2,806
-
10 hours Cesky Krumlov Private Tour:
$510
-
2 Day Nightlife Ticket:
$14
-
2 hour evening tour by car:
$224
-
2- Private Day tour to Cesky Krumlov, Hallstatt and Salzburg from Prague:
$983
-
2- or 3-Night Guided Prague Weekend Experience:
$274
-
2-Day Private tour from Prague to Munich via Hallstatt, Salzburg and Krumlov:
$1,107
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Ho Chi Minh City, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $7.06.
The average person spends about $9.47 on alcoholic beverages in Prague per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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:
Typical Alcohol prices in Prague
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Prague from other travelers:
Sample the Local Flavors in Prague
Also in Prague, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Taste wine properly - wine tasting session:
$30
-
Private Karlovy Vary with Royal Brewery or Mozer Full Day Trip:
$128
-
Private Kutna Hora with Sedlec Ossuary and Local brewery Full Day Trip:
$149
-
Pilsner Urquell brewery and Pilsen City Private tour from Prague All-Inclusive:
$199
-
Prague Wine Tasting and Countryside Small-Group Tour with Lunch:
$215
-
Private Tour: Chateau Lany and Krakovec Castle and Krusovice Royal Brewery from Prague Including Tasting and Czech Lunch:
$217
-
Pilsner Urquell brewery private day trip and cheese tasting on family eco-farm:
$220
-
Private Pilsner Urquell brewery, Pilsen City and Bohemian Glass factory day tour:
$230
-
Private Walking Tour Prague with Lunch and Pilsner Urquell brewery day trip:
$236
-
Pilsner Urquell brewery Private day trip, Pilsen City and Koneprusy Caves:
$236
-
Pilsner Urquell brewery Private day trip, Pilsen City and Chateau tour + Lunch:
$243
-
Pilsner Urquell brewery Private day trip, Chateau and Cheese tasting on eco-farm:
$249
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ho Chi Minh City and Prague, we can see that Prague 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 Prague 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 Prague would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Prague than you might in Ho Chi Minh City.
Related Articles for Ho Chi Minh City
Related Articles for Prague
