Cost of living comparison
Laos is 25.9% more expensive than South Africa overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 38.2% less in Laos
- Groceries
-
pay 42.5% more in Laos
- Transportation
-
pay 13.9% more in Laos
- Housing
-
pay 50.7% more in Laos
- Childcare
-
pay 96.9% more in Laos
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 6.1% less in Laos
- Clothing
-
pay 21.5% more in Laos
The cost of childcare, housing, groceries, clothing, and transportation in Laos are more expensive than in South Africa. Expenses including restaurants and entertainment and sports are lower in Laos. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Laos.
If you lived in Laos instead of South Africa, you would:
pay 38.2% less for restaurants
|
South Africa
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$8.97
ZAR171.62
|
$1.90
LAK41,017
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.77
ZAR91.25
|
$4.20
LAK90,903
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.95
ZAR18.26
|
$0.69
LAK14,927
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.74
ZAR14.17
|
$0.49
LAK10,498
|
|
pay 42.5% more for groceries
|
South Africa
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.99
ZAR18.95
|
$1.00
LAK21,671
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$3.67
ZAR70.30
|
$13.03
LAK281,741
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.20
ZAR80.31
|
$6.40
LAK138,380
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.23
ZAR42.60
|
$2.06
LAK44,642
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$2.03
ZAR38.80
|
$2.07
LAK44,756
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$0.68
ZAR12.95
|
$0.75
LAK16,109
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.62
ZAR11.81
|
$0.74
LAK16,038
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$0.64
ZAR12.28
|
$0.96
LAK20,697
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.70
ZAR13.36
|
$1.29
LAK27,873
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.55
ZAR10.59
|
$0.70
LAK15,027
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.61
ZAR11.64
|
$0.45
LAK9,774
|
|
pay 13.9% more for transportation
|
South Africa
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.99
ZAR95.43
|
$4.61
LAK99,570
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$52.31
ZAR1,000.62
|
$53.85
LAK1,164,259
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$20,607.77
ZAR394,192.37
|
$28,167.89
LAK608,973,239
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.55
ZAR163.52
|
$10.57
LAK228,594
|
|
pay 50.7% more for housing
|
South Africa
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$41.37
ZAR791.33
|
$8.98
LAK194,218
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$382.55
ZAR7,317.62
|
$993.83
LAK21,485,977
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$326.35
ZAR6,242.48
|
$809.30
LAK17,496,669
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$80.40
ZAR1,537.88
|
$58.85
LAK1,272,205
|
|
pay 96.9% more for childcare
|
South Africa
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$174.12
ZAR3,330.56
|
$291.32
LAK6,298,267
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$4,033.53
ZAR77,154.68
|
$9,140.14
LAK197,604,555
|
|
pay 6.1% less for entertainment and sports
|
South Africa
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$2.11
ZAR40.32
|
$1.11
LAK23,910
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$1.88
ZAR36.01
|
$1.62
LAK35,002
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$2.90
ZAR55.55
|
$1.78
LAK38,578
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$29.50
ZAR564.30
|
$66.31
LAK1,433,622
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$6.62
ZAR126.65
|
$2.97
LAK64,252
|
|
pay 21.5% more for clothing
|
South Africa
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$47.72
ZAR912.71
|
$78.60
LAK1,699,248
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$32.06
ZAR613.24
|
$61.45
LAK1,328,452
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$90.39
ZAR1,728.99
|
$65.22
LAK1,410,006
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$81.37
ZAR1,556.42
|
$46.67
LAK1,008,978
|
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Laos or South Africa. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.
