Cost of living comparison
Laos is 34.9% more expensive than China overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 13.1% more in Laos
- Groceries
-
pay 44.7% more in Laos
- Transportation
-
pay 89.2% more in Laos
- Housing
-
pay 2.3 times more in Laos
- Childcare
-
pay 43.4% less in Laos
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 16.1% less in Laos
- Clothing
-
pay 27.2% more in Laos
The cost of housing, transportation, groceries, clothing, and restaurants in Laos are more expensive than in China. Expenses including childcare and entertainment and sports are lower in Laos. Notably, housing and transportation are significantly more expensive in Laos.
If you lived in Laos instead of China, you would:
pay 13.1% more for restaurants
|
China
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.85
CN¥20.69
|
$1.90
LAK40,977
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.07
CN¥36.72
|
$4.20
LAK90,813
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.49
CN¥3.55
|
$0.69
LAK14,912
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.30
CN¥2.18
|
$0.49
LAK10,488
|
|
pay 44.7% more for groceries
|
China
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.59
CN¥11.54
|
$1.00
LAK21,650
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.85
CN¥42.41
|
$13.03
LAK281,464
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.86
CN¥49.73
|
$6.40
LAK138,243
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.60
CN¥11.57
|
$2.06
LAK44,598
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.54
CN¥11.17
|
$2.07
LAK44,712
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.76
CN¥5.53
|
$0.75
LAK16,093
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
CN¥4.15
|
$0.74
LAK16,022
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.65
CN¥4.74
|
$0.96
LAK20,677
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.52
CN¥3.80
|
$1.29
LAK27,845
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.32
CN¥2.33
|
$0.70
LAK15,012
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.40
CN¥2.90
|
$0.45
LAK9,764
|
|
pay 89.2% more for transportation
|
China
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.44
CN¥32.22
|
$4.61
LAK99,472
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$22.47
CN¥162.89
|
$53.85
LAK1,163,111
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$19,071.53
CN¥138,254.31
|
$28,167.89
LAK608,372,915
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$3.97
CN¥28.81
|
$10.57
LAK228,368
|
|
pay 2.3 times more for housing
|
China
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$11.70
CN¥84.78
|
$8.98
LAK194,026
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$328.33
CN¥2,380.15
|
$993.83
LAK21,464,796
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$205.78
CN¥1,491.75
|
$809.30
LAK17,479,421
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$40.46
CN¥293.29
|
$58.85
LAK1,270,951
|
|
pay 43.4% less for childcare
|
China
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$459.70
CN¥3,332.47
|
$291.32
LAK6,292,058
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$18,318.08
CN¥132,792.34
|
$9,140.14
LAK197,409,757
|
|
pay 16.1% less for entertainment and sports
|
China
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$1.09
CN¥7.91
|
$1.11
LAK23,886
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.07
CN¥22.24
|
$1.62
LAK34,967
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.23
CN¥23.44
|
$1.78
LAK38,540
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.41
CN¥300.18
|
$66.31
LAK1,432,209
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$5.93
CN¥42.95
|
$2.97
LAK64,189
|
|
pay 27.2% more for clothing
|
China
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$48.23
CN¥349.60
|
$78.60
LAK1,697,573
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$31.67
CN¥229.59
|
$61.45
LAK1,327,143
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$72.53
CN¥525.76
|
$65.22
LAK1,408,616
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$75.53
CN¥547.57
|
$46.67
LAK1,007,984
|
|
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