Cost of living comparison
Laos is 13.5% cheaper than South Korea overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 45.2% less in Laos
- Groceries
-
pay 33.0% less in Laos
- Transportation
-
pay 14.3% more in Laos
- Housing
-
pay 45.7% more in Laos
- Childcare
-
pay 41.0% less in Laos
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 37.3% less in Laos
- Clothing
-
pay 1.7% more in Laos
The cost of housing, transportation, and clothing in Laos are more expensive than in South Korea. Expenses including restaurants, childcare, entertainment and sports, and groceries are lower in Laos.
If you lived in Laos instead of South Korea, you would:
pay 45.2% less for restaurants
|
South Korea
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$6.16
₩8,990
|
$1.90
LAK41,101
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$5.24
₩7,646
|
$4.20
LAK91,089
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$1.47
₩2,148
|
$0.69
LAK14,957
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.79
₩1,156
|
$0.49
LAK10,519
|
|
pay 33.0% less for groceries
|
South Korea
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.08
₩4,490
|
$1.00
LAK21,715
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$5.40
₩7,888
|
$13.03
LAK282,319
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$7.46
₩10,886
|
$6.40
LAK138,663
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$2.76
₩4,025
|
$2.06
LAK44,733
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$3.32
₩4,847
|
$2.07
LAK44,848
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$3.17
₩4,623
|
$0.75
LAK16,142
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.49
₩2,173
|
$0.74
LAK16,071
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.53
₩3,695
|
$0.96
LAK20,740
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.41
₩3,524
|
$1.29
LAK27,930
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.82
₩2,663
|
$0.70
LAK15,058
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.21
₩1,766
|
$0.45
LAK9,794
|
|
pay 14.3% more for transportation
|
South Korea
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.39
₩6,411
|
$4.61
LAK99,774
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$45.32
₩66,139
|
$53.85
LAK1,166,645
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$27,023.07
₩39,440,435
|
$28,167.89
LAK610,221,112
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$8.17
₩11,927
|
$10.57
LAK229,062
|
|
pay 45.7% more for housing
|
South Korea
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$17.65
₩25,766
|
$8.98
LAK194,616
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$426.93
₩623,111
|
$993.83
LAK21,530,005
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$328.41
₩479,322
|
$809.30
LAK17,532,522
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$111.42
₩162,622
|
$58.85
LAK1,274,812
|
|
pay 41.0% less for childcare
|
South Korea
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$373.40
₩544,982
|
$291.32
LAK6,311,173
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,907.58
₩33,433,835
|
$9,140.14
LAK198,009,475
|
|
pay 37.3% less for entertainment and sports
|
South Korea
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.09
₩4,516
|
$1.11
LAK23,959
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$3.39
₩4,947
|
$1.62
LAK35,074
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$3.21
₩4,691
|
$1.78
LAK38,657
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$45.71
₩66,716
|
$66.31
LAK1,436,560
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$10.10
₩14,739
|
$2.97
LAK64,384
|
|
pay 1.7% more for clothing
|
South Korea
|
Laos
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$60.70
₩88,599
|
$78.60
LAK1,702,730
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$44.52
₩64,981
|
$61.45
LAK1,331,174
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$72.99
₩106,533
|
$65.22
LAK1,412,895
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$93.73
₩136,800
|
$46.67
LAK1,011,046
|
|
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