Cost of Living in Laos

Updated: March 01, 2025

If you've ever considered moving to Laos, one of the first questions that likely crossed your mind is, "What is the cost of living in Laos?" After all, it's essential to have a clear picture of your potential expenses before making such a life-changing decision. At this page, we'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the cost of living in Laos and whether the reported $1783 per month figure aligns with the average monthly salary of $312.04.

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Childcare

Clothing

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment

Salaries

Laos

restaurant Restaurants	Price	World Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	2.0 $
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	21.66 $
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	5.0 $
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught)	1.13 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	2.25 $
Cappuccino (regular)	2.32 $
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle)	1.06 $
Water (12 oz small bottle)	0.56 $

store Markets	Price	World Range
Milk (regular), (1 gallon)	2.93 $
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb)	1.72 $
Rice (white), (1 lb)	1.9 $
Eggs (regular) (12)	1.58 $
Local Cheese (1 lb)	20.94 $
Chicken Fillets (1 lb)	4.27 $
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)	13.64 $
Apples (1 lb)	4.82 $
Banana (1 lb)	1.95 $
Oranges (1 lb)	2.89 $
Tomato (1 lb)	3.79 $
Potato (1 lb)	2.15 $
Onion (1 lb)	1.89 $
Lettuce (1 head)	1.74 $
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	0.53 $
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range)	13.0 $
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)	1.02 $
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle)	1.95 $
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro)	2.0 $

commute Transportation	Price	World Range
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	0.68 $
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	5.94 $
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	3.0 $
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff)	1.49 $
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)	5.0 $
Gasoline (1 gallon)	1.06 $
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car)	59448.31 $
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car)	34793.12 $

mark_as_unread Utilities (Monthly)	Price	World Range
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment	95.0 $
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)	0.1 $
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	102.02 $

kitesurfing Sports And Leisure	Price	World Range
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	34.22 $
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	22.99 $
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	5.0 $

child_friendly Childcare	Price	World Range
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child	--
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child	4490.81 $

checkroom Clothing And Shoes	Price	World Range
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)	93.14 $
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...)	50.63 $
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range)	124.25 $
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes	44.78 $

night_shelter Rent Per Month	Price	World Range
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	560.49 $
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	257.88 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	1096.55 $
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	598.85 $

home Buy Apartment Price	Price	World Range
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre	2493.1 $
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre	297.7 $

account_balance_wallet Salaries And Financing	Price	World Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)	312.04 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate	10.12 %

Dining Out

The cost of dining varies with the type of establishment. A meal at an affordable restaurant averages around 2.0 USD, while a three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant generally costs 21.66 USD.

Groceries

Basic grocery prices are accessible for most essentials. For instance, a gallon of milk costs about 2.93 USD, a loaf of bread 1.72 USD, and a dozen eggs approximately 1.58 USD.

Transportation

Public transport is relatively affordable, with a single trip priced at about 0.68 USD and a monthly pass around 5.94 USD. If you plan to use public transit regularly, these passes offer great value.

Utilities

For an 85 m² apartment, monthly utility bills—including electricity, heating, water, and waste services—average around 95.0 USD.

Sports and Recreation

For those interested in fitness and leisure, a monthly gym membership averages around 34.22 USD, while an hour on a tennis court on weekends costs about 22.99 USD.

Childcare and Education

Families looking for private childcare services will find that a month at a local preschool or kindergarten costs around None USD. For international schooling options, annual tuition can reach approximately 4490.81 USD.

Clothing and Footwear

Clothing and shoe prices vary widely. A pair of Levi's 501 jeans, for example, costs about 93.14 USD, and mid-range Nike sneakers are priced around 124.25 USD.

Apartment Rentals

Rental prices depend on location, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center averaging 560.49 USD per month, while one outside the center costs around 257.88 USD.

Real Estate for Purchase

If you're considering buying property, prices per square foot vary as well. In central areas, the price per square foot is roughly 2493.1 USD, while in the suburbs, it's closer to 297.7 USD.

Average Salary and Mortgage Rates

The average monthly net salary here is about 312.04 USD after taxes, and mortgage interest rates for a 20-year fixed-rate loan average around 10.12% annually.

Warnings & Dangers in Laos

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Overall, Laos is relatively safe, but there are extremely high rates of both petty crime and violent crime due to the poverty of the population. You should be vigilant and take all possible precaution measures in order to minimize the risk of something going wrong.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Transportation conditions have improved a lot in the past couple of years in Laos. The highways of Laos have improved a lot and taking buses and trucks have become popular with travelers. Just be careful when it comes to pickpockets and always negotiate the fees before entering the vehicle.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

There is an extreme threat to petty crime. Pickpockets are practically an everyday occurrence and you should be extremely careful when handling your valuables and never carry your money in a purse or a pocket. The riskiest locations are crowded places such as markets, public transport and bus, and train stations.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH

There are many natural disasters that Laos is exposed to throughout the year, such as droughts, flooding, cyclones, and various disease epidemics. However, the most dangerous natural disasters are floods due to tropical storms that, in the past years, have been causing serious damage and hundreds of thousands of deaths.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

Violent crime is not unheard of in Laos. The chances of getting mugged or kidnapped are low, but there are areas that are best avoided. Recently, this country has seen a rise in robberies and muggings, so keep your belongings tightly by your side.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There haven't been any terrorist attacks in Laos' recent history but they shouldn't be ruled out. Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

There are a couple of scams in Laos, the most popular being the bus drivers stalling their driving routes and then dropping you off to a "good guest house they know" where your only option is to spend the night.Actually, most scams take place at bus or train stations where only the locals know the real fees. Always negotiate your prices before getting into vehicles.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM

Laos is relatively safe for female solo travelers. Sexual harassment does occur, though rarely, but you should still be careful. Apply basic precaution measures - avoid wearing purses and do not walk alone or roam around deserted or poorly lit streets and areas.

Cost of Living in Laos

Laos

Restaurants

Markets

Transportation

Utilities (Monthly)

Sports And Leisure

Childcare

Clothing And Shoes

Rent Per Month

Buy Apartment Price

Salaries And Financing