text: what was the annual cost of the war in vietnam? i need to know it for a school project and i cannot find it anywhere! all i can find is percents by inflation and stuff but all i really want to know is how much it costed in dollars.  also any info on how it was paid for would be great. between 1964 and 1972, the u.s. government spent $24 billion every year.that was $2 billion every month we were in vietnam.by the time we pulled out of vietnam, we spent $192 billion for eight years of war.the vietnam war was pretty much paid for by taking money out of other government programs and putting it toward vietnam.by the way, i read a while back on the internet that the war in iraq right now will cost more than vietnam did.scary huh?