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Price comparison

Vietnam vs Indonesia: which is cheaper to visit in 2026?

The same 29 everyday buys in Vietnam and Indonesia, from a coffee to an airport taxi: what locals pay, what tourist spots charge, and where your money goes further.

Vietnam and Indonesia side by side

The numbers that decide a trip, in one table. Money in USD, the local price underneath.

TruePrice Index
47 Very cheap 6th cheapest of 60 Cheaper
53 Very cheap 10th cheapest of 60
Tourist markup
Tourist prices are about 3.1× the fair price 11th highest of 60
Tourist prices are about 3.6× the fair price Highest of all 60
Fair day Two meals, a coffee, water, a beer, two transit rides and a short taxi ride. Accommodation is left out on purpose.
$13 ₫341,000
$13 Rp 234,000
Tourist-trap day
$39 ₫1,025,000
$54 Rp 962,500
Currency
Vietnamese dong (VND) 1 USD = 25,954 VND
Indonesian rupiah (IDR) 1 USD = 17,883 IDR

Item by item: all 29 fair prices

What locals pay in Vietnam and Indonesia, item by item. Shown in USD at one daily rate so the two sides compare, with the local price underneath. Differences under 3% count as about the same.

15 of the 29 items cost less in Vietnam.

Cheaper in Vietnam: 15. Cheaper in Indonesia: 13. About the same: 1.
Cheaper side Bars share one scale per item, from zero to the higher fair price.
Food & drinks 8 prices
Cheaper in Vietnam: 5. Cheaper in Indonesia: 3. About the same: 0.
  • Water 0.5 L

    Bottled, convenience store

    Vietnam: ≈ $0.19 – $0.39 ₫5,000 – ₫10,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $0.17 – $0.34 Rp 3,000⁠–6,000
    13% cheaper in Indonesia
  • Coffee (espresso)

    Cafe or street vendor

    Vietnam: ≈ $0.58 – $2.30 ₫15,000 – ₫60,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $1.10 – $2.80 Rp 20,000⁠–50,000
    26% cheaper in Vietnam
  • Local beer

    Draft, at bar or restaurant

    Vietnam: ≈ $0.19 – $2.30 ₫5,000 – ₫60,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $1.70 – $3.40 Rp 30,000⁠–60,000
    50% cheaper in Vietnam
  • Restaurant meal

    Tourist area, main course

    Vietnam: ≈ $3.10 – $9.60 ₫80,000 – ₫250,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $2.80 – $8.40 Rp 50,000⁠–150,000
    12% cheaper in Indonesia
  • Street food meal

    Local market or stand

    Vietnam: ≈ $0.77 – $3.10 ₫20,000 – ₫80,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $0.84 – $2 Rp 15,000⁠–35,000
    27% cheaper in Indonesia
  • Cocktail at bar

    Mixed drink, bar

    Vietnam: ≈ $3.10 – $5.80 ₫80,000 – ₫150,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $5 – $11 Rp 90,000⁠–200,000
    45% cheaper in Vietnam
  • Bottle of wine (restaurant)

    House wine, restaurant

    Vietnam: ≈ $6 – $13 ₫150,000 – ₫350,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $11 – $22 Rp 200,000⁠–400,000
    43% cheaper in Vietnam
  • Fresh juice

    Cafe or street stall

    Vietnam: ≈ $0.39 – $1.90 ₫10,000 – ₫50,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $0.84 – $2 Rp 15,000⁠–35,000
    17% cheaper in Vietnam
Transport 4 prices
Cheaper in Vietnam: 1. Cheaper in Indonesia: 2. About the same: 1.
  • Airport taxi to center

    Standard route

    Vietnam: ≈ $10 – $15 ₫250,000 – ₫400,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $8 – $17 Rp 150,000⁠–300,000
    About the same
  • City taxi 1 km

    Metered or typical fare

    Vietnam: ≈ $0.58 – $1.30 ₫15,000 – ₫35,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $0.39 – $0.84 Rp 7,000⁠–15,000
    36% cheaper in Indonesia
  • Public transit ticket

    Single ride

    Vietnam: ≈ $0.27 – $0.46 ₫7,000 – ₫12,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $0.22 – $0.45 Rp 4,000⁠–8,000
    8% cheaper in Indonesia
  • Private transfer (app)

    Grab / Bolt / Uber

    Vietnam: ≈ $1.90 – $3.90 ₫50,000 – ₫100,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $1.70 – $28 Rp 30,000⁠–500,000
    80% cheaper in Vietnam
Souvenirs 3 prices
Cheaper in Vietnam: 2. Cheaper in Indonesia: 1. About the same: 0.
  • Fridge magnet

    Tourist shop

    Vietnam: ≈ $0.39 – $1.20 ₫10,000 – ₫30,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $0.28 – $1.70 Rp 5,000⁠–30,000
    21% cheaper in Vietnam
  • Printed T-shirt

    Tourist shop

    Vietnam: ≈ $3.10 – $5.80 ₫80,000 – ₫150,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $2.50 – $6.70 Rp 45,000⁠–120,000
    4% cheaper in Vietnam
  • Local handcraft

    Ceramics, textiles, etc.

    Vietnam: ≈ $4 – $12 ₫100,000 – ₫300,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $3 – $11 Rp 50,000⁠–200,000
    9% cheaper in Indonesia
Daily essentials 6 prices
Cheaper in Vietnam: 3. Cheaper in Indonesia: 3. About the same: 0.
  • Tourist SIM card

    Data package

    Vietnam: ≈ $6 – $12 ₫150,000 – ₫300,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $3 – $10 Rp 50,000⁠–180,000
    26% cheaper in Indonesia
  • Sunscreen SPF50

    Pharmacy or shop

    Vietnam: ≈ $5 – $7.70 ₫130,000 – ₫200,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $2 – $10 Rp 40,000⁠–180,000
    3% cheaper in Indonesia
  • Water 1.5 L

    Supermarket

    Vietnam: ≈ $0.35 – $0.58 ₫9,000 – ₫15,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $0.22 – $0.45 Rp 4,000⁠–8,000
    27% cheaper in Indonesia
  • Cigarettes

    Pack of 20

    Vietnam: ≈ $0.96 – $1.50 ₫25,000 – ₫40,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $1.70 – $3.10 Rp 30,000⁠–55,000
    47% cheaper in Vietnam
  • Painkillers (paracetamol)

    Pack of 20 tablets

    Vietnam: ≈ $0.39 – $1.20 ₫10,000 – ₫30,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $0.20 – $1.40 Rp 3,500⁠–25,000
    3% cheaper in Vietnam
  • Mosquito repellent

    Spray or lotion

    Vietnam: ≈ $1.20 – $3.10 ₫30,000 – ₫80,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $1.10 – $3.90 Rp 20,000⁠–70,000
    16% cheaper in Vietnam
Services 4 prices
Cheaper in Vietnam: 2. Cheaper in Indonesia: 2. About the same: 0.
  • Men's haircut

    Local barbershop

    Vietnam: ≈ $1.20 – $2.70 ₫30,000 – ₫70,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $1.70 – $4.50 Rp 30,000⁠–80,000
    37% cheaper in Vietnam
  • Laundry (per kg)

    Laundry service

    Vietnam: ≈ $0.58 – $1.90 ₫15,000 – ₫50,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $0.39 – $1.40 Rp 7,000⁠–25,000
    29% cheaper in Indonesia
  • Massage (1 hour)

    Standard full-body massage

    Vietnam: ≈ $6 – $12 ₫150,000 – ₫300,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $6 – $17 Rp 100,000⁠–300,000
    22% cheaper in Vietnam
  • Women's haircut

    Basic cut, salon

    Vietnam: ≈ $3.90 – $9.60 ₫100,000 – ₫250,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $3.40 – $8.40 Rp 60,000⁠–150,000
    13% cheaper in Indonesia
Attractions 4 prices
Cheaper in Vietnam: 2. Cheaper in Indonesia: 2. About the same: 0.
  • Top museum / attraction

    Entrance ticket

    Vietnam: ≈ $1.20 – $7.70 ₫30,000 – ₫200,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $3 – $11 Rp 50,000⁠–200,000
    37% cheaper in Vietnam
  • Half-day group tour

    Organized excursion

    Vietnam: ≈ $23 – $39 ₫600,000 – ₫1,000,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $17 – $39 Rp 300,000⁠–700,000
    9% cheaper in Indonesia
  • Full-day group tour

    Organized excursion 6-8h

    Vietnam: ≈ $19 – $39 ₫500,000 – ₫1,000,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $22 – $45 Rp 400,000⁠–800,000
    14% cheaper in Vietnam
  • Cooking class

    Local cuisine cooking class

    Vietnam: ≈ $15 – $31 ₫400,000 – ₫800,000
    Indonesia: ≈ $14 – $28 Rp 250,000⁠–500,000
    9% cheaper in Indonesia

Where tourists pay more

Tourist prices are about 3.6× the fair price in Indonesia, against 3.1× in Vietnam.

The three buys where tourists overpay most in each country: tourist-trap price against the fair price, using the middle of each range.

Vietnam

Tourist markup Tourist prices are about 3.1× the fair price

11th highest of 60

  1. 1 Fridge magnet Fair ₫10,000 – ₫30,000 Trap ₫60,000 – ₫150,000 Tourist prices are about 5.3× the fair price
  2. 2 Painkillers (paracetamol) Fair ₫10,000 – ₫30,000 Trap ₫60,000 – ₫150,000 Tourist prices are about 5.3× the fair price
  3. 3 Local handcraft Fair ₫100,000 – ₫300,000 Trap ₫500,000 – ₫1,500,000 Tourist prices are about 5.0× the fair price
All prices in Vietnam

Indonesia

Tourist markup Tourist prices are about 3.6× the fair price

Highest of all 60

  1. 1 City taxi 1 km Fair Rp 7,000⁠–15,000 Trap Rp 50,000⁠–200,000 Tourist prices are about 11.4× the fair price
  2. 2 Local handcraft Fair Rp 50,000⁠–200,000 Trap Rp 400,000⁠–1,200,000 Tourist prices are about 6.4× the fair price
  3. 3 Men's haircut Fair Rp 30,000⁠–80,000 Trap Rp 150,000⁠–450,000 Tourist prices are about 5.5× the fair price
All prices in Indonesia

Tipping in Vietnam and Indonesia

What is expected in each country, so you neither stiff anyone nor overpay.

Vietnam

Tipping is not obligatory but increasingly expected in tourist areas, leave 20,000-50,000 VND at restaurants. Motorbike taxi (xe om) and cyclo drivers appreciate rounding up the fare.

Indonesia

Most restaurants add a 5-10% service charge, so extra tipping is optional. For good service, rounding up the bill or leaving 10,000-20,000 IDR is appreciated.

Vietnam or Indonesia: common questions

Is Indonesia cheaper than Vietnam?

No. In Vietnam you pay about 11% less than in Indonesia at fair prices. TruePrice Index: Vietnam 47, Indonesia 53 (100 is the median of the 60 countries I track). 15 of the 29 items cost less in Vietnam.

Which is cheaper for a week, Vietnam or Indonesia?

About the same: roughly $92 in Vietnam and $92 in Indonesia at fair prices. That covers two meals, a coffee, water, a beer, two transit rides and a short taxi ride a day. Flights and accommodation are not included. At tourist-trap prices the same week runs about $275 in Vietnam and $375 in Indonesia.

Where is food cheaper, in Vietnam or in Indonesia?

In Vietnam: food and drinks cost about 20% less there on average. A restaurant meal costs $3.10 –⁠ $9.60 in Vietnam and $2.80 –⁠ $8.40 in Indonesia, street food $0.77 –⁠ $3.10 and $0.84 –⁠ $2.

Where do tourists overpay more, in Vietnam or in Indonesia?

In Indonesia: tourist prices there are about 3.6× the fair price on average, against 3.1× in Vietnam. The biggest gaps in Indonesia: city taxi 1 km (11.4×), local handcraft (6.4×), and men's haircut (5.5×).

Sources and method

Where these numbers come from, and how the comparison works.

Prices
Vietnam 19 verified and 10 estimatesIndonesia 17 verified and 12 estimates
Checked
Vietnam to Indonesia to
Exchange rates
Vietnam 1 USD = 25,954 VNDIndonesia 1 USD = 17,883 IDRRate as of
Cities
Vietnam Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hội An, Đà Nẵng, and Hạ Long BayIndonesia Bali, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Lombok, and Komodo
Page updated

How the comparison works

  • Item by item: the middle of each fair range, converted at one daily exchange rate. Differences under 3% count as about the same.
  • Overall: the TruePrice Index, all 29 fair prices against the median of 60 countries, averaged geometrically so no single item can swing it. Within 3% counts as about the same.
  • Tourist day: two meals, a coffee, water, a beer, two transit rides and a short taxi ride. Accommodation is left out on purpose: it swings too much with the season and the night of the week.
  • Fair price: what locals typically pay. Tourist-trap price: what tourists are commonly charged in tourist areas.
Full method: the TruePrice Index

How to cite

TruePrice, Vietnam vs Indonesia, October 2026, truepriceapp.com/en/compare/vietnam-vs-indonesia/

Spotted a price that looks off? Email me at contact@truepriceapp.com and I will check it.

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