Cost of living comparison
Laos is 3.4% more expensive than Maldives overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 23.5% less in Laos
- Groceries
-
pay 8.2% less in Laos
- Transportation
-
pay 25.0% more in Laos
- Housing
-
pay 33.9% less in Laos
- Childcare
-
pay 2.3 times more in Laos
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 54.8% less in Laos
- Clothing
-
pay 8.2% less in Laos
The cost of childcare and transportation in Laos are more expensive than in Maldives. Expenses including entertainment and sports, housing, restaurants, groceries, and clothing are lower in Laos. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Laos.
If you lived in Laos instead of Maldives, you would:
pay 23.5% less for restaurants
|
Maldives
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$5.50
MVR84.72
|
$1.90
LAK41,112
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.71
MVR149.51
|
$4.20
LAK91,113
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.21
MVR18.69
|
$0.69
LAK14,961
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.28
MVR4.36
|
$0.49
LAK10,522
|
|
pay 8.2% less for groceries
|
Maldives
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$1.54
MVR23.67
|
$1.00
LAK21,721
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.65
MVR87.05
|
$13.03
LAK282,392
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.78
MVR104.47
|
$6.40
LAK138,699
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.65
MVR25.42
|
$2.06
LAK44,745
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.47
MVR38.07
|
$2.07
LAK44,859
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.00
MVR30.80
|
$0.75
LAK16,146
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.70
MVR26.22
|
$0.74
LAK16,075
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.74
MVR26.84
|
$0.96
LAK20,745
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.61
MVR24.87
|
$1.29
LAK27,937
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.62
MVR9.62
|
$0.70
LAK15,062
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.54
MVR8.27
|
$0.45
LAK9,796
|
|
pay 25.0% more for transportation
|
Maldives
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.56
MVR54.78
|
$4.61
LAK99,800
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$22.65
MVR348.87
|
$53.85
LAK1,166,949
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$38,834.95
MVR598,058.25
|
$28,167.89
LAK610,380,007
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.48
MVR269.13
|
$10.57
LAK229,122
|
|
pay 33.9% less for housing
|
Maldives
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$65.94
MVR1,015.45
|
$8.98
LAK194,666
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,098.53
MVR16,917.30
|
$993.83
LAK21,535,611
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$829.29
MVR12,771.04
|
$809.30
LAK17,537,087
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$94.04
MVR1,448.24
|
$58.85
LAK1,275,144
|
|
pay 2.3 times more for childcare
|
Maldives
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$172.53
MVR2,657.00
|
$291.32
LAK6,312,816
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$3,198.06
MVR49,250.10
|
$9,140.14
LAK198,061,034
|
|
pay 54.8% less for entertainment and sports
|
Maldives
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$4.69
MVR72.27
|
$1.11
LAK23,965
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.24
MVR49.84
|
$1.62
LAK35,083
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$7.12
MVR109.64
|
$1.78
LAK38,667
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$71.60
MVR1,102.67
|
$66.31
LAK1,436,934
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$8.58
MVR132.07
|
$2.97
LAK64,401
|
|
pay 8.2% less for clothing
|
Maldives
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$55.89
MVR860.71
|
$78.60
LAK1,703,174
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$58.79
MVR905.39
|
$61.45
LAK1,331,521
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$101.13
MVR1,557.44
|
$65.22
LAK1,413,263
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$80.91
MVR1,245.95
|
$46.67
LAK1,011,309
|
|
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