Is it cheaper to cook at home or eat out in Ho Chi Minh City?

From messages by 3 participants in 2 sources · Last activity: 75 days ago

TL;DR

Cooking at home costs around 20 million VND per month for two people using local supermarket prices — noticeably cheaper than eating out at cafes and restaurants every day.

What the community said

Cooking at home using prices comparable to local cafes costs around 20 million VND per month for two people.

~20M VND/month for two

Cost of living heavily depends on habits: cooking at home is one price range, eating out entirely is a much higher one.

Ho Chi Minh City is about 20-30% pricier than Nha Trang, largely because many cafes here add an 8% VAT to the bill, unlike Nha Trang.

8% VAT in cafes

Grocery prices are roughly similar across cities, though seafood may be pricier in Ho Chi Minh City.

Prices also depend on whether it's a local or foreign supermarket chain — local chains are cheaper.