Travel budget and cost of living in Laos how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in Laos

Laos: calculate your travel budget

Laos: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Laos for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in Laos in 2024

Cost of living: Laos VS United States

On average, the cost of living in Laos in 2024 is 47% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in Laos by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Laos compared to the national average.

Local prices in Laos by expense type

Laos: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 1.8/person
($ 1.3 to $ 3.1)

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90% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 10/person
($ 4.4 to $ 25)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

McDonald's meal

$ 3.5/person
($ 2.7 to $ 5.4)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 1.2 for 500ml
($ 0.9 to $ 1.6)

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80% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 1.2 for 330ml
($ 0.7 to $ 2.5)

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67% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Cappuccino

$ 1.5/cup
($ 0.9 to $ 2.2)

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70% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 0.8/can
($ 0.5 to $ 1.1)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 0.5/bottle
($ 0.4 to $ 0.5)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Laos: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 35/night
($ 6.5 to $ 213)

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80% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 175

2-star hotel

$ 33/night
($ 20 to $ 71)

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79% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 159

3-star hotel

$ 51/night
($ 29 to $ 160)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 231

4-star hotel

$ 62/night
($ 31 to $ 151)

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80% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 311

5-star hotel

$ 58/night
($ 17 to $ 214)

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87% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 476

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 30/month
($ 8.7 to $ 153)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 166

Room with kitchen

$ 60/month
($ 14 to $ 188)

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75% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 244

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 68/month
($ 31 to $ 211)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 213

Cottage or guest house

$ 33/month
($ 21 to $ 109)

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85% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 226

Family room

$ 111/month
($ 54 to $ 308)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 214

Laos: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.5 to $ 2.7)

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60% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 1/500g
($ 0.5 to $ 1.6)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 1/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 2.2)

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77% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5

Eggs

$ 1.7/12 eggs
($ 0.9 to $ 2.4)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Chicken

$ 5.5/kg
($ 2.6 to $ 10)

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53% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 1.8/kg
($ 1 to $ 2.1)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 2.4/kg
($ 1.1 to $ 4.4)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 1.5/kg
($ 1 to $ 2.5)

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47% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 0.4
($ 0.3 to $ 0.5)

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80% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Laos: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 0.7/ticket
($ 0.5 to $ 0.9)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.6/km
($ 1.1 to $ 2.3)

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9% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 2)

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35% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 2
($ 1.1 to $ 4.4)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Car hire

$ 50/24hrs
($ 33 to $ 59)

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14% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 59

Laos: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 2.5/ticket
($ 2.1 to $ 4.4)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14

Tennis

$ 8.8/hr
($ 7.6 to $ 9)

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61% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Laos: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 2/pack
($ 1.6 to $ 2.3)

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79% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10

Levi's jeans

$ 88
($ 28 to $ 138)

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65% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 63
($ 56 to $ 69)

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45% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 44

Plane ticket budget

Sydney → Vientiane

$ 710
(fair price: $ 569)

London → Vientiane

$ 1024
(fair price: $ 820)

Melbourne → Vientiane

$ 708
(fair price: $ 548)

London → Luang Prabang

$ 1022
(fair price: $ 841)

Los Angeles → Vientiane

$ 1340
(fair price: $ 1044)

Auckland → Vientiane

$ 1036
(fair price: $ 861)

Book a flight Flight prices to Laos