Cost of living comparison
Laos is 46.8% more expensive than Botswana overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 30.6% less in Laos
- Groceries
-
pay 40.1% more in Laos
- Transportation
-
pay 19.6% more in Laos
- Housing
-
pay 2.6 times more in Laos
- Childcare
-
pay 2.0 times more in Laos
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 17.0% less in Laos
- Clothing
-
pay 47.7% more in Laos
The cost of housing, childcare, clothing, groceries, and transportation in Laos are more expensive than in Botswana. Expenses including restaurants and entertainment and sports are lower in Laos. Notably, housing and childcare are significantly more expensive in Laos.
If you lived in Laos instead of Botswana, you would:
pay 30.6% less for restaurants
|
Botswana
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.50
BWP101.94
|
$1.90
LAK40,977
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$6.00
BWP81.55
|
$4.20
LAK90,813
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.83
BWP11.32
|
$0.69
LAK14,912
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.49
BWP6.64
|
$0.49
LAK10,488
|
|
pay 40.1% more for groceries
|
Botswana
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.81
BWP11.05
|
$1.00
LAK21,650
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.37
BWP45.81
|
$13.03
LAK281,464
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.06
BWP68.82
|
$6.40
LAK138,243
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.29
BWP31.16
|
$2.06
LAK44,598
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.27
BWP30.92
|
$2.07
LAK44,712
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.77
BWP10.53
|
$0.75
LAK16,093
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
BWP8.42
|
$0.74
LAK16,022
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.88
BWP12.02
|
$0.96
LAK20,677
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.65
BWP8.78
|
$1.29
LAK27,845
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.60
BWP8.12
|
$0.70
LAK15,012
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.55
BWP7.45
|
$0.45
LAK9,764
|
|
pay 19.6% more for transportation
|
Botswana
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.27
BWP58.12
|
$4.61
LAK99,472
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$28.18
BWP383.30
|
$53.85
LAK1,163,111
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$22,486.26
BWP305,825.54
|
$28,167.89
LAK608,372,915
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$19.49
BWP265.05
|
$10.57
LAK228,368
|
|
pay 2.6 times more for housing
|
Botswana
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$90.60
BWP1,232.22
|
$8.98
LAK194,026
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$254.84
BWP3,466.02
|
$993.83
LAK21,464,796
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$149.91
BWP2,038.84
|
$809.30
LAK17,479,421
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$49.21
BWP669.30
|
$58.85
LAK1,270,951
|
|
pay 2.0 times more for childcare
|
Botswana
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$180.24
BWP2,451.38
|
$291.32
LAK6,292,058
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$3,740.68
BWP50,875.35
|
$9,140.14
LAK197,409,757
|
|
pay 17.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Botswana
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.25
BWP30.58
|
$1.11
LAK23,886
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.37
BWP32.22
|
$1.62
LAK34,967
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.75
BWP50.97
|
$1.78
LAK38,540
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$32.19
BWP437.78
|
$66.31
LAK1,432,209
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.75
BWP91.75
|
$2.97
LAK64,189
|
|
pay 47.7% more for clothing
|
Botswana
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$44.14
BWP600.32
|
$78.60
LAK1,697,573
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$22.17
BWP301.46
|
$61.45
LAK1,327,143
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$76.20
BWP1,036.41
|
$65.22
LAK1,408,616
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$93.16
BWP1,266.99
|
$46.67
LAK1,007,984
|
|
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