As of November 12, 2026, Vietnam is cheaper than Thailand for travelers: a mid-range day costs about $64 in Vietnam against $79 in Thailand, a gap of 22.4%. Over the past year Thailand has moved more in the US-dollar traveler's favor (+5.8% after inflation, against −3.5%). Both sit at US advisory Level 1. Thailand is the easier of the two to travel.
| Measure | Thailand | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day | $79 | $64 |
| Lean day | $35 | $30 |
| Comfortable day | $187 | $150 |
| Real change, 12 months | +5.8% | −3.5% |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | +4.1% | −2.6% |
| Versus 5-year average | +7.3% | +6.0% |
| US advisory | Level 1 · Normal precautions | Level 1 · Normal precautions |
| Ease of travel | 4.8 · Effortless | 4.0 · Well set up |
| Index score | 75 | 72 |
| Best months | Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb | Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec |
| Shoulder months | Mar, Jun, Oct | May, Sep, Oct |
The better figure in each row is in bold. Costs are modeled estimates per person, excluding international flights.
The most polished budget destination on earth: everything works, at every price point.
The catchThe baht has been strong and the islands price like southern Europe in peak season. Value now lives in the north and in shoulder months.
A long, thin country that feeds you extraordinarily well for almost nothing.
The catchE-visa required for most passports, traffic is the main physical risk, and the north is cold and gray from December to February.
Source: Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026. How this is calculated.