Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Laos Cost of Living Comparison Between China and Laos

🙂 Solo nomad: China is 18.1% cheaper than Laos without rent, and 39.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: China is 13.2% cheaper than Laos without rent, and 30.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
China
Laos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.85 ¥20.46
$2.3 LAK 49.4K
23.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.97 ¥172
$18.46 LAK 396.2K
29.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥35.61
$5.72 LAK 122.7K
-13.29%
Cappuccino
$3.13 ¥22.47
$1.58 LAK 33.9K
98.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥3.18
$0.66 LAK 14.1K
-33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 ¥2.1
$0.45 LAK 9,586
-35.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.95 ¥6.83
$1.31 LAK 28.1K
-27.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 ¥15.32
$1.53 LAK 32.8K
39.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
China
Laos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ¥13.23
$1.89 LAK 40.6K
-2.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.68 ¥12.06
$0.98 LAK 21K
71.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 ¥6.81
$1.06 LAK 22.7K
-10.38%
Eggs
$1.55 ¥11.11
$1.98 LAK 42.4K
-21.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.25 ¥95.1
$24.02 LAK 515.5K
-44.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ¥23.52
$5.6 LAK 120.1K
-41.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.85 ¥77.8
$6.3 LAK 135.3K
72.22%
Apples (1kg)
$1.77 ¥12.66
$1.79 LAK 38.5K
-1.12%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 ¥9.01
$1.36 LAK 29.1K
-7.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.5 ¥10.73
$2.08 LAK 44.6K
-27.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.19 ¥8.5
$2.31 LAK 49.5K
-48.48%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 ¥5.4
$1.64 LAK 35.2K
-54.27%
Onion (1kg)
$0.86 ¥6.15
$1.08 LAK 23.1K
-20.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.61 ¥4.37
$1.27 LAK 27.2K
-51.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥4.14
$0.49 LAK 10.4K
18.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 ¥24.74
$1.99 LAK 42.7K
73.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.3 ¥81.1
$11.17 LAK 239.6K
1.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 ¥6
$1.08 LAK 23.2K
-22.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 ¥12.05
$1.15 LAK 24.7K
46.09%
🚌 Getting Around
China
Laos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.86
$0.61 LAK 13.2K
-34.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.83 ¥149
$60.3 LAK 1.3M
-65.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ¥9.74
$1.62 LAK 34.8K
-16.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 ¥2.55
$1.19 LAK 25.5K
-70.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.8 ¥48.75
$4.73 LAK 101.5K
43.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 ¥8.05
$1.33 LAK 28.6K
-15.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥137.7K
$30.2K LAK 648.8M
-36.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥119.8K
$29.9K LAK 640.9M
-44.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
China
Laos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.4 ¥369
$85.2 LAK 1.8M
-39.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.77 ¥70.1
$20.21 LAK 433.7K
-51.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.34 ¥81.3
$11.28 LAK 242.2K
0.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
China
Laos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.55 ¥284
$59.9 LAK 1.3M
-33.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.89 ¥107
$8.2 LAK 176K
81.59%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 ¥44.71
$2.56 LAK 54.9K
143.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
China
Laos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$417 ¥2,989
$306 LAK 6.6M
36.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥126.8K
$9,268 LAK 198.9M
90.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
China
Laos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.65 ¥327
$51.1 LAK 1.1M
-10.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.49 ¥240
$65.1 LAK 1.4M
-48.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.8 ¥515
$74.2 LAK 1.6M
-3.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.9 ¥523
$52.9 LAK 1.1M
37.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
China
Laos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$445 ¥3,194
$837 LAK 18M
-46.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$255 ¥1,830
$638 LAK 13.7M
-60.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ¥6,566
$1,255 LAK 26.9M
-27.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$543 ¥3,895
$1,104 LAK 23.7M
-50.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,142 ¥44.1K
$2,251 LAK 48.3M
172.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,860 ¥20.5K
$128 LAK 2.8M
2129.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
China
Laos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$942 ¥6,755
$501 LAK 10.8M
87.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
10.12
-59.88%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

Last update for Laos: October 28, 2025

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