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

Should you visit Bangalore or Ho Chi Minh City?

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 Bangalore and Ho Chi Minh City can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bangalore or Ho Chi Minh City?

Bangalore

Bangalore is the capital city of the state of Karnataka, in India. It's also India's third largest city with a population of about 8.5 million. It's considered one of the most liveable cities in the country and was historically known for its many gardens and lush green spaces. Today those areas are all but gone, having given way to the growing population and sprawling metropolises. Bangalore is also the information technology hub of the country and is sometimes referred to as India's Silicon Valley.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Luxury Tours to India, The Best 2-Week Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Vietnam.


Which place is cheaper, Ho Chi Minh City or Bangalore?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Bangalore Prices
    India Prices
    Ho Chi Minh City Prices
    Vietnam Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Bangalore $51
    Ho Chi Minh City $87

The average daily cost (per person) in Bangalore is $51, while the average daily cost in Ho Chi Minh City is $87. 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 Bangalore and Ho Chi Minh City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bangalore $19
    Ho Chi Minh City $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bangalore $38
    Ho Chi Minh City $96
Compare Hotels in Bangalore and Ho Chi Minh City

Looking for a hotel in Bangalore or Ho Chi Minh City? 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 Bangalore


Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City


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.
    Bangalore $9.20
    Ho Chi Minh City $14

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:

  • Vinpearl Resort & Spa Long Beach to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $20
  • Try find better than us! Airport Transfer in Ho Chi Minh HTL-APT (SGN): $15
  • Tan Son Nhat International Airport Transfer: $23
  • Tan Son Airport Arrival Private Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City: $40
  • Shared Arrival Transfer - Hanoi Airport to Sapa Hotel: $150
  • Sai Gon Airport Departure Private Transfer: $40
  • Round-trip Private Transfer Ho Chi Minh - Vung Tau (16 Seats Car): $141
  • Radisson Blu Resort to Nha Trang - Private Transfer: $20
  • Private transfer from Mui Ne to Ho Chi Minh City: $78
  • Private transfer Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) - Hotels In City: $17
  • Private Transfer: Thanh Hoa Airport to/from Thanh Hoa City Center: $54
  • Private Transfer: Pleiku Airport to/from Pleiku City Center: $20

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

Prices for flights to both Ho Chi Minh City and Bangalore 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
    Bangalore $21
    Ho Chi Minh City $23

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)
    $4.06
  • Pizza
    $4.93
  • Sweet Rice
    $1.14
  • Pork Sandwich
    $0.57
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $6.43
  • Western Lunch (for Two)
    $11

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:

  • 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: $24
  • Saigon Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $25
  • Pu Luong Cooking Class at Traditional Stilt House: $25
  • Ho Chi Minh City Street Food Tour With Students: $27
  • Saigon - Tasty Food Tour By Scooters: $28
  • Private Half-Day Ho Chi Minh Food Tour with Local Students: $29
  • Ho Chi Minh Private Half Day Street Food Tour with Local Students: $29
  • Ho Chi Minh Street Food Tour With Young Local (Safe & Authentic): $29
  • The Coolest Vegan Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $29
  • Super Niche Walking Street Food Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bangalore $10
    Ho Chi Minh City $19

Tours and Activities in Bangalore

For Bangalore, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • From Delhi: Sunrise Taj Mahal, Baby Taj & Agra Fort Day Tour: $5.64
  • From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise, Agra Fort, and Baby Taj Tour: $24
  • Taj Mahal and Agra Private Tour with free Airport pickup: $57

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
    $5.31

Tours and Activities in Ho Chi Minh City

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

  • 8-Hour City Tour: Hidden Gems, Local Life & Modern Saigon: $46
  • A O Show - Included: Tour guide, Car Pick Up And Drop Off : $65
  • 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
  • Ho Chi Minh City Bus Tour Experience: $100
  • 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
  • Non-Touristy Mekong Delta with Biking in Ben Tre Private Tour: $113
  • Private Ho Chi Minh 30 minutes Experience by Electric Cart: $9.71

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bangalore $8.61
    Ho Chi Minh City $7.57

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
    $0.38


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangalore Expensive? and Is Ho Chi Minh City Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bangalore or Ho Chi Minh City?

Bangalore has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Ho Chi Minh City. When comparing the sizes of Bangalore and Ho Chi Minh City, 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.