Cost of living comparison
Vientiane is 63.3% more expensive than Lusaka.
- Restaurants
-
pay 23.2% less in Vientiane
- Groceries
-
pay 24.2% more in Vientiane
- Transportation
-
pay 71.0% more in Vientiane
- Housing
-
pay 2.9 times more in Vientiane
- Childcare
-
pay 64.5% more in Vientiane
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 9.1% less in Vientiane
- Clothing
-
pay 2.3 times more in Vientiane
The cost of housing, clothing, transportation, childcare, and groceries in Vientiane are more expensive than in Lusaka. Expenses including restaurants and entertainment and sports are lower in Vientiane. Notably, housing and clothing are significantly more expensive in Vientiane.
If you lived in Vientiane instead of Lusaka, you would:
pay 23.2% less for restaurants
|
Lusaka
|
Vientiane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$7.21
ZMW191.88
|
$1.98
LAK42,814
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$3.82
ZMW101.68
|
$2.97
LAK64,221
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.71
ZMW18.99
|
$0.53
LAK11,418
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.33
ZMW8.80
|
$0.42
LAK9,135
|
|
pay 24.2% more for groceries
|
Lusaka
|
Vientiane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.74
ZMW19.68
|
$0.91
LAK19,694
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.64
ZMW96.74
|
$13.72
LAK296,229
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.85
ZMW129.11
|
$6.42
LAK138,631
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.92
ZMW51.21
|
$1.75
LAK37,803
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.80
ZMW47.81
|
$2.95
LAK63,719
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.20
ZMW31.96
|
$0.88
LAK19,044
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.60
ZMW16.06
|
$0.49
LAK10,631
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.27
ZMW33.67
|
$0.92
LAK19,940
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.56
ZMW14.99
|
$0.60
LAK12,866
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.96
ZMW25.43
|
$0.73
LAK15,676
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.67
ZMW17.93
|
$0.46
LAK9,892
|
|
pay 71.0% more for transportation
|
Lusaka
|
Vientiane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.77
ZMW126.80
|
$5.00
LAK108,058
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$37.04
ZMW985.50
|
$49.23
LAK1,063,162
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$8,004.53
ZMW212,997.41
|
$28,330.27
LAK611,770,395
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$12.13
ZMW322.77
|
$11.18
LAK241,471
|
|
pay 2.9 times more for housing
|
Lusaka
|
Vientiane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$125.92
ZMW3,350.66
|
$11.17
LAK241,267
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$214.42
ZMW5,705.70
|
$859.15
LAK18,552,729
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$114.96
ZMW3,059.01
|
$775.98
LAK16,756,633
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$83.50
ZMW2,221.95
|
$54.31
LAK1,172,744
|
|
pay 64.5% more for childcare
|
Lusaka
|
Vientiane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$176.79
ZMW4,704.30
|
$332.66
LAK7,183,531
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,570.42
ZMW174,836.45
|
$9,252.41
LAK199,798,618
|
|
pay 9.1% less for entertainment and sports
|
Lusaka
|
Vientiane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$0.97
ZMW25.73
|
$0.95
LAK20,485
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.07
ZMW55.17
|
$1.50
LAK32,296
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.49
ZMW66.23
|
$1.59
LAK34,251
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$41.21
ZMW1,096.64
|
$49.74
LAK1,074,063
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$3.50
ZMW93.12
|
$3.50
LAK75,664
|
|
pay 2.3 times more for clothing
|
Lusaka
|
Vientiane
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$18.43
ZMW490.55
|
$85.86
LAK1,854,016
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$18.78
ZMW499.83
|
$62.88
LAK1,357,815
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.18
ZMW2,399.56
|
$57.29
LAK1,237,081
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$82.76
ZMW2,202.25
|
$41.48
LAK895,672
|
|
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