Which place is cheaper, Ho Chi Minh City or Deqin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Deqin or Ho Chi Minh City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Deqin and Ho Chi Minh City. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Deqin or Ho Chi Minh City?
Deqin
Highly influenced by Tibet, Deqin is both a county and a town located in the Hengduanshan Mountains of China's Yunnan province. Most people visit the area as a home base from which to hike into the surrounding mountains, though the temples and traditional villages also add to the allure of the area.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best 2-Week Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Vietnam.
-
Deqin Prices
China PricesHo Chi Minh City Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDeqin $76Ho Chi Minh City $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $76, 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 Deqin and Ho Chi Minh City in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDeqin $36Ho Chi Minh City $48
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDeqin $72Ho Chi Minh City $96
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Ho Chi Minh City
Looking for a hotel in Deqin 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.
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.Deqin $18Ho 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:
- Private Transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne Can Tho VungTau: $138
- Airport Transfer (From Airport - Ho Chi Minh City (Private 16 Seats Car): $70
- Airport Transfer (From Hotels in Ho Chi Minh to Airport) Private 4 Seats Car: $38
- Airport Transfer From Hotel in Ho Chi Minh to Airport By 4 Seats Car: $35
- Airport Transfer From Hotel in Ho Chi Minh to Airport By 7 Seats Car: $41
- Airport Transfers (Airport - Ho Chi Minh,Private 16 Seats Car): $52
- Airport Transfers From Airport to Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City 7 seat Car: $46
- From Phu My Port: Ho Chi Minh City Tour and Transfers: $143
- HO CHI MINH AIRPORT: CAR 7s PICK UP <-> HOTEL (one way transfer): $20
- Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) to Ho Chi Minh hotels Arrival Transfer: $17
- Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) to Mui Ne - Arrival Private Transfer: $118
- Ho Chi Minh Airport (SGN) to Mui Ne - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $283
Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Ho Chi Minh City?
Prices for flights to both Ho Chi Minh City and Deqin 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 dayDeqin $28Ho 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:
- 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
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Deqin $13Ho Chi Minh City $19
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.
- Chinatown Hidden Treasures – Free Walking Tour: $0.74
- All In One Saigon Walking Tour: $3.11
- Saigon Local Sightseeing Free Walking Tour: $3.84
- Ho Chi Minh Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.49
- Walking Tour: $5.00
- Ho Chi Minh city private tour guide: $5.00
- Free Walking Tour: Saigon's Sword and Shield: $5.00
- Essential Ho Chi Minh City Free Walking Tour: All Must-see: $5.00
- Essential Saigon Free Walking Tour: All Must-see: $5.00
- Night Bus Tour in Ho Chi Minh City: $7.50
- Ho Chi Minh City Tour and Independence Palace Ticket 2 in 1: $8.46
- Private Ho Chi Minh 30 minutes Experience by Electric Cart: $9.71
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayDeqin $11Ho 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 comparing the travel costs between Deqin and Ho Chi Minh City, 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Deqin Expensive? and Is Ho Chi Minh City Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.