Local meals
Pho, bánh mì, cơm, bún and other local dishes are often an affordable way to eat out. The same dish can cost different amounts near a tourist waterfront and in a neighbourhood café, so look at the area and venue as well as the menu item.
Restaurants and coffee
For a mid-range restaurant, compare the full bill: starters, drinks, dessert, service charges and the number of diners. Street-side Vietnamese coffee, specialty coffee and a cappuccino at an international café are different products. A cappuccino price should not be presented as the price of “coffee in Vietnam.”
Delivery and monthly planning
Delivery apps may add delivery and service fees; promotions can change the final total. Compare the checkout price rather than the menu alone. For a monthly budget, do not multiply one inexpensive meal by every meal of the month. Include coffee, delivery, groceries and occasional dinners, then make a few realistic spending scenarios.
Use the city data carefully
The table compares the same restaurant and drink categories across cities. Check the date and unit, and compare like with like. Pair meal costs with rent, transport and utilities in the wider cost-of-living guide.
Questions and answers
How much does a meal cost in Vietnam?
Use the inexpensive-restaurant figure for your chosen city as a reference. For your budget, compare street food, a local café and a tourist-area restaurant separately. Count delivery with its fees.
Is delivery more expensive?
It can be once fees are included, although promotions may change the final price.
Is Vietnamese coffee cheap?
Local coffee can be inexpensive. Specialty shops and international cafés are a different segment.
How should I include food in a monthly budget?
Count meals out, groceries, coffee and delivery separately, then combine them with rent and other recurring costs.