Cost of Living in Vientiane, Laos (2024 Guide)

Survival

$200–300/mo

Basic guesthouse, street food, no extras

Stable

$400–600/mo

Private room, home cooking, local transport

Comfortable

$700–1,000/mo

Apartment, AC, occasional restaurants, motorbike

Detailed Monthly Budget Breakdown

Housing (basic room)$60–150$150–300$250–400

Food (3 meals/day)$30–60$80–150$150–250

Phone & Data$5–8$8–15$15–25

Transport (tuk-tuk/motorbike)$10–20$20–40$50–100

Water & Electricityincluded$15–30$30–60

Healthcare (basic)$0–10$10–30$30–80

Personal/Misc$10–20$20–40$50–100

TOTAL$115–268$303–605$575–1,015

SurvivalStableComfortable

Street food meal (noodles, rice)

$0.60–1.20

10,000–20,000 LAK

Local restaurant meal

$1.50–3.00

25,000–50,000 LAK

Western restaurant meal

$3.60–9.00

60,000–150,000 LAK

Market groceries (weekly)

$6–12

100,000–200,000 LAK

Beer (local Beer Lao)

$0.60–0.90

10,000–15,000 LAK

Tuk-tuk (short trip in Vientiane)20,000–50,000 LAK ($1.20–3)

Tuk-tuk (airport to city)80,000–120,000 LAK ($5–7)

Motorbike rental (daily)60,000–100,000 LAK ($3.60–6)

Motorbike rental (monthly)600,000–1,000,000 LAK ($36–60)

Bus (intercity)50,000–150,000 LAK ($3–9)