Cost of living comparison
Laos is 46.2% more expensive than Malaysia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 2.0% less in Laos
- Groceries
-
pay 20.4% more in Laos
- Transportation
-
pay 2.1 times more in Laos
- Housing
-
pay 2.3 times more in Laos
- Childcare
-
pay 58.0% more in Laos
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 21.1% less in Laos
- Clothing
-
pay 33.1% more in Laos
The cost of housing, transportation, childcare, clothing, and groceries in Laos are more expensive than in Malaysia. Expenses including entertainment and sports and restaurants are lower in Laos. Notably, housing and transportation are significantly more expensive in Laos.
If you lived in Laos instead of Malaysia, you would:
pay 2.0% less for restaurants
|
Malaysia
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.98
MYR13.20
|
$1.90
LAK41,112
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.23
MYR18.75
|
$4.20
LAK91,113
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.68
MYR3.01
|
$0.69
LAK14,961
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.38
MYR1.69
|
$0.49
LAK10,522
|
|
pay 20.4% more for groceries
|
Malaysia
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.91
MYR4.05
|
$1.00
LAK21,721
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.65
MYR33.92
|
$13.03
LAK282,392
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.39
MYR28.32
|
$6.40
LAK138,699
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.97
MYR8.74
|
$2.06
LAK44,745
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.83
MYR8.12
|
$2.07
LAK44,859
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.17
MYR5.20
|
$0.75
LAK16,146
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
MYR2.53
|
$0.74
LAK16,075
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.21
MYR5.38
|
$0.96
LAK20,745
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.63
MYR2.80
|
$1.29
LAK27,937
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.43
MYR1.91
|
$0.70
LAK15,062
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.51
MYR2.26
|
$0.45
LAK9,796
|
|
pay 2.1 times more for transportation
|
Malaysia
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$1.77
MYR7.85
|
$4.61
LAK99,800
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$15.69
MYR69.55
|
$53.85
LAK1,166,949
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,330.57
MYR152,204.60
|
$28,167.89
LAK610,380,007
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$6.94
MYR30.76
|
$10.57
LAK229,122
|
|
pay 2.3 times more for housing
|
Malaysia
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$26.31
MYR116.67
|
$8.98
LAK194,666
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$322.80
MYR1,431.14
|
$993.83
LAK21,535,611
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$212.35
MYR941.45
|
$809.30
LAK17,537,087
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$33.00
MYR146.30
|
$58.85
LAK1,275,144
|
|
pay 58.0% more for childcare
|
Malaysia
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$163.68
MYR725.67
|
$291.32
LAK6,312,816
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,626.64
MYR29,379.21
|
$9,140.14
LAK198,061,034
|
|
pay 21.1% less for entertainment and sports
|
Malaysia
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.66
MYR16.22
|
$1.11
LAK23,965
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.54
MYR11.26
|
$1.62
LAK35,083
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.07
MYR18.03
|
$1.78
LAK38,667
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$36.32
MYR161.03
|
$66.31
LAK1,436,934
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.00
MYR17.72
|
$2.97
LAK64,401
|
|
pay 33.1% more for clothing
|
Malaysia
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.15
MYR235.64
|
$78.60
LAK1,703,174
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$30.13
MYR133.57
|
$61.45
LAK1,331,521
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$65.18
MYR288.96
|
$65.22
LAK1,413,263
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$57.93
MYR256.85
|
$46.67
LAK1,011,309
|
|
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