Short answer: As of 8 November 2026, of the 22 products we found in the same local type in both countries, 8 have a lower price per unit in Vietnam and 14 in Thailand (0 about the same). At every budget we tried (฿5,000, ฿10,000, and ฿20,000) the same shopping list costs more in Hanoi than in Bangkok.
Last updated: 8 November 2026. Source: the WhatCanIBuyThere.com price table (shop and brand names are not published) and official reference rates.
What this article covers
There is no single answer to "is Vietnam cheaper than Thailand?"; it depends on what you buy and how much of it. This article looks at the question three ways: what the same shopping list costs in both cities, which city has the lower price per unit product by product, and in which product groups the gap opens up. Every figure comes from real shelf prices read in Hanoi and Bangkok.
- 22 products compared, each in the same local type and the same reference pack in both countries.
- Dollar figures use the official reference rates of the same day.
- Promotional and out-of-stock prices are not used.
What does the same shopping list cost in both cities?
The list below is built by our comparison tool: your budget is filled at Bangkok supermarket prices, and the same products in the same quantities are priced in Hanoi. That way both cities are compared on one basket.
| Budget | Products on the list | Bangkok | Hanoi (VND) | Hanoi (in budget currency) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ฿5,000 | 16 | ฿4,999.25 | ₫4,794,767 | ฿6,381.87 |
| ฿10,000 | 16 | ฿9,992.18 | ₫9,559,086 | ฿12,723.22 |
| ฿20,000 | 19 | ฿19,986.00 | ₫17,400,954 | ฿23,160.80 |
- ฿5,000: the 16-product list costs ฿4,999.25 in Bangkok; the same products in the same quantities cost ₫4,794,767 in Hanoi, about ฿6,381.87. Difference: ฿1,382.62 more in Hanoi.
- ฿10,000: the 16-product list costs ฿9,992.18 in Bangkok; the same products in the same quantities cost ₫9,559,086 in Hanoi, about ฿12,723.22. Difference: ฿2,731.04 more in Hanoi.
- ฿20,000: the 19-product list costs ฿19,986.00 in Bangkok; the same products in the same quantities cost ₫17,400,954 in Hanoi, about ฿23,160.80. Difference: ฿3,174.80 more in Hanoi.
At every budget we tried (฿5,000, ฿10,000, and ฿20,000) the same shopping list costs more in Hanoi than in Bangkok.
The rows are not multiples of each other: as the budget grows, new product groups (personal care, cleaning, clothing) join the list, and each group has its own gap between the two cities. A budget rarely fills to the last cent; the tool shows the "budget used" so the small remainder is visible.
Product by product, or as a basket?
The two measures can point different ways, and that is not a contradiction. Counting products gives every product one vote: 8 products cost less in Hanoi, 14 in Bangkok. The basket total weighs what you buy and how much: the gap on a bottle of detergent can be far larger in money than the gap on a kilo of tomatoes. For this pair both measures point the same way.
How to read the tables
Each row is a product's price for its reference pack. For milk the reference is 1 litre, for eggs 10 pieces: a pack of 6 or 15 on the shelf is converted to that reference. For packaged goods only packs between half and twice the reference count, because very large economy packs understate the unit price. When a product has several prices the median is used, so a single promotion does not skew the table.
The dollar columns are there only to make the comparison easier; both cities' prices were converted at the same day's official rate. We do not give percentages, because although the products are the same type in both countries they are not the identical brand or pack.
Product group by product group
Meat & fish
Of 3 products, 0 cost less in Hanoi and 3 in Bangkok. In Bangkok's favour it is chicken: $2.65 against $5.15.
| Product | Unit | Hanoi | Bangkok | Hanoi ($) | Bangkok ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 1 kg | ₫129,900 | ฿89.00 | $5.15 | $2.65 |
| Beef | 1 kg | ₫345,000 | ฿265.00 | $13.69 | $7.90 |
| Ground beef | 1 kg | ₫379,600 | ฿319.00 | $15.06 | $9.51 |
Fruit & vegetables
Of 3 products, 3 cost less in Hanoi and 0 in Bangkok. The widest gap in Hanoi's favour is tomatoes: $0.79 against $2.61.
| Product | Unit | Hanoi | Bangkok | Hanoi ($) | Bangkok ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | 1 kg | ₫29,900 | ฿50.00 | $1.19 | $1.49 |
| Tomatoes | 1 kg | ₫19,800 | ฿87.50 | $0.79 | $2.61 |
| Onions | 1 kg | ₫28,286 | ฿42.00 | $1.12 | $1.25 |
Personal care
Of 3 products, 1 cost less in Hanoi and 2 in Bangkok. The widest gap in Hanoi's favour is bar soap: $0.87 against $1.70. In Bangkok's favour it is toothbrush: $1.10 against $1.73.
| Product | Unit | Hanoi | Bangkok | Hanoi ($) | Bangkok ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shower gel | 400 ml | ₫156,800 | ฿146.32 | $6.22 | $4.36 |
| Bar soap | 100 g | ₫21,944 | ฿57.00 | $0.87 | $1.70 |
| Toothbrush | 1 piece | ₫43,700 | ฿37.00 | $1.73 | $1.10 |
Clothing
Of 3 products, 2 cost less in Hanoi and 1 in Bangkok. The widest gap in Hanoi's favour is shirt: $23.76 against $56.33. In Bangkok's favour it is jeans: $28.15 against $31.70.
| Product | Unit | Hanoi | Bangkok | Hanoi ($) | Bangkok ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic cotton T-shirt | 1 piece | ₫149,000 | ฿390.00 | $5.91 | $11.62 |
| Jeans | 1 piece | ₫799,000 | ฿944.50 | $31.70 | $28.15 |
| Shirt | 1 piece | ₫599,000 | ฿1,890.00 | $23.76 | $56.33 |
Dairy & eggs
Of 2 products, 1 cost less in Hanoi and 1 in Bangkok. The widest gap in Hanoi's favour is eggs: $1.54 against $2.12. In Bangkok's favour it is milk: $1.49 against $2.29.
| Product | Unit | Hanoi | Bangkok | Hanoi ($) | Bangkok ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 1 L | ₫57,700 | ฿50.00 | $2.29 | $1.49 |
| Eggs | 10 pieces | ₫38,700 | ฿71.00 | $1.54 | $2.12 |
Pantry staples
Of 2 products, 1 cost less in Hanoi and 1 in Bangkok. The widest gap in Hanoi's favour is pasta: $1.91 against $1.95. In Bangkok's favour it is bread: $1.28 against $1.51.
| Product | Unit | Hanoi | Bangkok | Hanoi ($) | Bangkok ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pasta | 500 g | ₫48,075 | ฿65.50 | $1.91 | $1.95 |
| Bread | 500 g | ₫38,182 | ฿42.83 | $1.51 | $1.28 |
Cleaning & paper
Of 2 products, 0 cost less in Hanoi and 2 in Bangkok. In Bangkok's favour it is toilet paper: $0.44 against $0.54.
| Product | Unit | Hanoi | Bangkok | Hanoi ($) | Bangkok ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toilet paper | 4 pieces | ₫13,720 | ฿14.68 | $0.54 | $0.44 |
| Paper towels | 2 pieces | ₫35,400 | ฿46.00 | $1.40 | $1.37 |
Home textiles
Of 2 products, 0 cost less in Hanoi and 2 in Bangkok. In Bangkok's favour it is pillow: $2.35 against $7.50.
| Product | Unit | Hanoi | Bangkok | Hanoi ($) | Bangkok ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Towel | 1 piece | ₫119,000 | ฿85.00 | $4.72 | $2.53 |
| Pillow | 1 piece | ₫189,000 | ฿79.00 | $7.50 | $2.35 |
Footwear
Of 1 products, 0 cost less in Hanoi and 1 in Bangkok. In Bangkok's favour it is casual sneakers: $11.00 against $18.45.
| Product | Unit | Hanoi | Bangkok | Hanoi ($) | Bangkok ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casual sneakers | 1 piece | ₫465,000 | ฿369.00 | $18.45 | $11.00 |
Quick meals & snacks
Of 1 products, 0 cost less in Hanoi and 1 in Bangkok. In Bangkok's favour it is biscuits: $0.86 against $1.82.
| Product | Unit | Hanoi | Bangkok | Hanoi ($) | Bangkok ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biscuits | 1 piece | ₫45,900 | ฿29.00 | $1.82 | $0.86 |
Where the gap is widest
Products with a clearly lower dollar price per unit in Hanoi:
- Tomatoes (1 kg): Hanoi $0.79, Bangkok $2.61
- Shirt (1 piece): Hanoi $23.76, Bangkok $56.33
- Basic cotton T-shirt (1 piece): Hanoi $5.91, Bangkok $11.62
- Bar soap (100 g): Hanoi $0.87, Bangkok $1.70
- Eggs (10 pieces): Hanoi $1.54, Bangkok $2.12
Products with a clearly lower dollar price per unit in Bangkok:
- Pillow (1 piece): Hanoi $7.50, Bangkok $2.35
- Biscuits (1 piece): Hanoi $1.82, Bangkok $0.86
- Chicken (1 kg): Hanoi $5.15, Bangkok $2.65
- Towel (1 piece): Hanoi $4.72, Bangkok $2.53
- Beef (1 kg): Hanoi $13.69, Bangkok $7.90
Exchange rates used
- 1 THB = 751.3105 VND
- 1 VND = 0.0013 THB
- 1 US dollar = 25,206.75 VND and 33.55 THB
These are official reference rates of 2026-11-06; a bank or exchange office will apply a different rate.
What to know about Vietnam and Thailand
Vietnam's currency is the dong (VND). The European Central Bank does not list it, and the State Bank of Vietnam's rates could not be read, so we use Vietcombank's euro transfer rate (a commercial bank's rate). Leave a little room for rate differences in dong figures.
Hanoi prices were read from the online shelves of supermarket chains. Local-brand packaged food and fresh produce can be very low-priced, while imported or packaged personal care products can cost more than expected. Hanoi covers fewer products than other cities; every table states how many products were compared.
Thailand's currency is the baht (THB). Baht figures are converted with the European Central Bank's daily reference rates; the dollar–lira rate comes from the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye.
Limits of the data
- Hanoi prices come from 6 independent sources, Bangkok prices from 12. Of the compared products, 22 Hanoi prices and 9 Bangkok prices rest on a single source; the comparison page labels them "limited data".
- Packaged goods are priced only from packs between half and twice the reference pack; very large economy packs are left out because they would understate the price.
- Shelf prices are online; in-store prices and neighbourhoods can differ. Incomes, rent, transport and services are not part of this article.
- The full method: Data & methodology.
Try it with your own budget
Open the Thailand–Vietnam comparison with your own budget. The tool fills the same list with your budget in both countries and shows the prices product by product.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vietnam cheaper than Thailand?
As of 8 November 2026, of the 22 products we found in the same local type in both countries, 8 have a lower price per unit in Vietnam and 14 in Thailand (0 about the same). At every budget we tried (฿5,000, ฿10,000, and ฿20,000) the same shopping list costs more in Hanoi than in Bangkok.
Why do the product count and the basket total disagree?
The product count gives every product equal weight; the basket total weighs quantities and prices. A gap on one expensive item can outweigh gaps on several low-priced ones.
What costs less in Hanoi?
The gap shows most in products such as tomatoes, shirt, and basic cotton t-shirt.
What costs less in Bangkok?
Pillow, Biscuits, and Chicken have a clearly lower price in Bangkok.
How recent are the prices?
Prices were read on 8 November 2026; rates are the official reference rates of 2026-11-06.