How Laos compares across key indices
Cost of Living
28 vs NYC
100 = NYC
Safety Index
75/100
Healthcare
48/100
Quality of Life
126/200
How far your money goes in Laos
Cost of Living
28
100 = NYC baseline
Rent Index
21
100 = NYC rent
Groceries
28
100 = NYC groceries
Restaurant Prices
29
100 = NYC dining
How safe residents feel in Laos - based on surveys of people living there
Safety Index
75/100
Crime Index
25/100
Lower is better
0 point drop from day to night
Laos has 18 cities with Freedom Abroad estimates. Monthly costs for a single person range from $549 in Muang Phônsavan to $705 in Vientiane. Muang Phônsavan leads on safety, scoring 79/100. Muang Phônsavan ranks highest for quality of life at 135/200.
Muang Phônsavan
$549/mo
Muang Phônsavan
79/100
Muang Phônsavan
135/200
Vientiane
59/100
| City | Monthly Cost | Safety | Quality of Life | Healthcare | Pollution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vientiane | $705 | 71/100 | 131/200 | 59/100 | 51 |
| Savannakhet | $576 | 77/100 | 134/200 | 48/100 | 40 |
| Thakhèk | $567 | 78/100 | 134/200 | 46/100 | 39 |
| Pakse | $562 | 78/100 | 134/200 | 46/100 | 38 |
| Ban Khoan | $557 | 78/100 | 134/200 | 45/100 | 38 |
| Xam Nua | $553 | 79/100 | 134/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
| Luang Prabang | $552 | 79/100 | 134/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
| Muang Phônsavan | $549 | 79/100 | 135/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
| Ban Xénô | $549 | 79/100 | 135/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
| Muang Xay | $549 | 79/100 | 135/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
| Vang Vieng | $549 | 79/100 | 135/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
| Muang Sing | $549 | 79/100 | 135/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
| Pakxan | $549 | 79/100 | 135/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
| Ban Laongam | $549 | 79/100 | 135/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
| Sekong | $549 | 79/100 | 135/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
| Borikhan | $549 | 79/100 | 135/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
| Ban Kèngkok | $549 | 79/100 | 135/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
| Ban Houakhoua | $549 | 79/100 | 135/200 | 45/100 | 37 |
Freedom Abroad estimates are modeled for a single person including rent. Pollution: lower score = cleaner air. Click column headers to sort.
Compare Cities Side by Side
Detailed comparison of cost of living, safety, and quality of life
Verified school profiles for families comparing language model, grade range, credentials, and admissions next steps in Laos. Tuition appears only when published in verified public sources.
11
Verified records
2
Cities covered
4
Credential signals
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary, Middle school, High school
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
Primary
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
Ages and grades
Ages vary by program
International curriculum
Tuition
Contact school
Confirm current fees directly with the school.
School records are maintained from direct school pages, public credential directories, public registry claims, and carefully labeled directory/community sources. Admissions, seat availability, and tuition can change quickly, so Freedom Abroad treats unpublished costs as “Contact school” instead of estimating.
Healthcare system overview for Laos
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Air quality, water, and environmental conditions in Laos
Pollution Index
45/100
Lower is better
PM2.5
22.3ug/m3
Moderate
Based on 0 survey responses. Perception scores are 0–100 where higher is better unless noted.
Common questions about living in Laos, answered with data
Laos has a cost of living index of 28 relative to New York City (100). It is significantly cheaper than the US. Monthly costs for a single person start around $576 in Savannakhet and reach $705 in Vientiane.
Savannakhet is the most affordable city in Laos in Freedom Abroad estimates, with estimated monthly costs of $576 for a single person including rent. Vientiane is the next most affordable at $705/mo.
Laos has a safety index of 75/100, making it very safe for expats and travellers. Among cities with data, Savannakhet scores highest on safety at 77/100.
Savannakhet ranks highest for quality of life in Laos, scoring 134/200 in Freedom Abroad's modeled quality-of-life estimate. Monthly costs there run around $576/mo for a single person.
Laos scores 48/100 in Freedom Abroad's modeled healthcare estimate, making it adequate by global standards. This estimate reflects open public indicators for health outcomes and system capacity.
Yes. Laos's cost of living is roughly 72% lower than New York City and generally cheaper than most major US cities. Rent specifically is around 79% cheaper. This makes it a popular destination for remote workers looking to stretch their dollar.
Your pre-departure checklist for Laos
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Cost of Living
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Cost of living, safety, school, and quality-of-life figures on this page are Freedom Abroad estimates or verified public records modeled from open sources. Data sources
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