Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Laos and Budapest

For one person, living is cheaper in Laos: $1,157 a month against $1,621 in Budapest, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Jump to prices
🇱🇦 Laos
$1,157
/mo nomad
Budapest
🇭🇺 Hungary
$1,621
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: Laos is 28.7% cheaper than Budapest without rent, and 28.7% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Laos is 34.5% cheaper than Budapest without rent, and 31.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laos
Budapest
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.19 LAK 48.8K
$13.99 Ft 4,551
-84.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.04 LAK 402.4K
$60.3 Ft 19.6K
-70.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.28 LAK 117.7K
$9.96 Ft 3,241
-46.99%
Cappuccino
$1.78 LAK 39.7K
$3.38 Ft 1,100
-47.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 LAK 17.1K
$2.13 Ft 692
-63.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 LAK 9,154
$1.87 Ft 608
-78.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.29 LAK 28.8K
$3.75 Ft 1,221
-65.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 LAK 40.6K
$3.57 Ft 1,162
-49.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laos
Budapest
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.00 LAK 44.6K
$1.13 Ft 368
76.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 LAK 24.7K
$1.84 Ft 599
-39.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.04 LAK 23.3K
$2.39 Ft 777
-56.49%
Eggs
$1.91 LAK 42.7K
$3.83 Ft 1,245
-50.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.53 LAK 524.7K
$11.33 Ft 3,686
107.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.16 LAK 137.4K
$6.74 Ft 2,192
-8.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.76 LAK 150.8K
$14.69 Ft 4,780
-53.98%
Apples (1kg)
$1.75 LAK 38.9K
$1.84 Ft 597
-4.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 LAK 25.7K
$2.01 Ft 653
-42.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.55 LAK 56.8K
$2.36 Ft 767
8.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 LAK 33.4K
$3.77 Ft 1,226
-60.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 LAK 33.3K
$0.96 Ft 313
55.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 LAK 24.8K
$1.03 Ft 334
7.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 LAK 23.9K
$1.56 Ft 509
-31.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 LAK 11.5K
$0.66 Ft 216
-21.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.73 LAK 38.6K
$7.96 Ft 2,591
-78.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.04 LAK 223.8K
$6.01 Ft 1,954
67.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 LAK 24.9K
$1.30 Ft 421
-13.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 LAK 39.7K
$2.08 Ft 676
-14.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Laos
Budapest
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 LAK 10.9K
$1.50 Ft 489
-67.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.9 LAK 1.3M
$27.61 Ft 8,982
105.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.24 LAK 27.7K
$3.30 Ft 1,074
-62.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 LAK 21.9K
$1.30 Ft 424
-24.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.50 LAK 100.3K
$19.78 Ft 6,436
-77.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.46 LAK 32.6K
$1.81 Ft 591
-19.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K LAK 630.4M
$29.3K Ft 9.5M
-3.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K LAK 630.8M
$34.1K Ft 11.1M
-17.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos
Budapest
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.7 LAK 2.0M
$170 Ft 55.3K
-47.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.97 LAK 445.4K
$23.98 Ft 7,802
-16.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.96 LAK 244.5K
$23.42 Ft 7,621
-53.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laos
Budapest
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.9 LAK 1.2M
$66.2 Ft 21.6K
-15.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.53 LAK 167.8K
$19.18 Ft 6,239
-60.74%
Cinema Ticket
$3.29 LAK 73.4K
$9.52 Ft 3,098
-65.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laos
Budapest
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$326 LAK 7.3M
$537 Ft 174.6K
-39.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K LAK 233.2M
$16.6K Ft 5.4M
-37.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laos
Budapest
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.8 LAK 1.1M
$101 Ft 33.0K
-49.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.2 LAK 1.4M
$42.99 Ft 14.0K
46.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.4 LAK 1.6M
$113 Ft 36.7K
-34.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.5 LAK 1.2M
$119 Ft 38.6K
-55.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laos
Budapest
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$807 LAK 18.0M
$805 Ft 262.0K
0.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$487 LAK 10.9M
$629 Ft 204.7K
-22.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 LAK 34.1M
$1,549 Ft 504.1K
-1.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$953 LAK 21.3M
$1,167 Ft 379.7K
-18.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,554 LAK 57.0M
$5,618 Ft 1.8M
-54.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$883 LAK 19.7M
$3,968 Ft 1.3M
-77.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laos
Budapest
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$484 LAK 10.8M
$1,626 Ft 529.0K
-70.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.06
6.43
56.45%

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

Last update for Laos: October 6, 2026

Last update for Budapest: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Laos
$487
Budapest
$629 29.3% $143
Groceries & Markets
Laos
$244
Budapest
$258 5.4% $13
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos
$120
Budapest
$217 81.7% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Laos
$108
Budapest
$169 56.7% $61
Eating Out
Laos
$70
Budapest
$224 222% $155
Getting Around
Laos
$65
Budapest
$43 33.1% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Laos
$62
Budapest
$85 36.5% $23
Good to know
🇱🇦 Laos
🇭🇺 Budapest
🕒 Local time
18:59 6:59 PM
13:59 1:59 PM
5 h behind Laos
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,858,160
1,686,222 Capital
💱 Currency
Lao Kip LAK ₭
Hungarian Forint HUF Ft
📈 Exchange rate
100,000 LAK = 4.48 USD
100,000 LAK = 4 EUR
1,000 HUF = 3.07 USD
1,000 HUF = 2.74 EUR
Exchange rates and currency converter

HUF, USD, EUR to LAK – Lao Kip Converter

Lao Kip exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 22,300 LAK (100,000 LAK = 4.48 USD). 1 EUR = 24,989 LAK (100,000 LAK = 4 EUR).

Hungarian Forint exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 325 HUF (1,000 HUF = 3.07 USD). 1 EUR = 365 HUF (1,000 HUF = 2.74 EUR).

USD to LAK in detail →
On the map
Between locations
  • Laos Budapest 8,070 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Laos
  • Budapest

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Laos vs other spots: cost of living compared

🇱🇦 Laos
$1,157
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
🇱🇦 Laos
$1,157
/mo nomad
🇨🇳 China
$784
/mo nomad
🇱🇦 Laos
$1,157
/mo nomad
🇹🇷 Turkey
$1,199
/mo nomad
🇱🇦 Laos
$1,157
/mo nomad
🇮🇳 India
$380
/mo nomad
Show more

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