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

😐 Solo nomad: Laos is 22.1% more expensive than China without rent, and 65% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Laos is 15.2% more expensive than China without rent, and 44.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laos
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.3 LAK 49.4K
$2.85 ¥20.46
-19.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.46 LAK 396.2K
$23.97 ¥172
-22.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.72 LAK 122.7K
$4.96 ¥35.61
15.32%
Cappuccino
$1.58 LAK 33.9K
$3.13 ¥22.47
-49.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 LAK 14.1K
$0.44 ¥3.18
50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 LAK 9,586
$0.29 ¥2.1
55.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.31 LAK 28.1K
$0.95 ¥6.83
37.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 LAK 32.8K
$2.14 ¥15.32
-28.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laos
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 LAK 40.6K
$1.85 ¥13.23
2.16%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 LAK 21K
$1.68 ¥12.06
-41.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 LAK 22.7K
$0.95 ¥6.81
11.58%
Eggs
$1.98 LAK 42.4K
$1.55 ¥11.11
27.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$24.02 LAK 515.5K
$13.25 ¥95.1
81.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.6 LAK 120.1K
$3.28 ¥23.52
70.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.3 LAK 135.3K
$10.85 ¥77.8
-41.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.79 LAK 38.5K
$1.77 ¥12.66
1.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 LAK 29.1K
$1.26 ¥9.01
7.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 LAK 44.6K
$1.5 ¥10.73
38.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 LAK 49.5K
$1.19 ¥8.5
94.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 LAK 35.2K
$0.75 ¥5.4
118.67%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 LAK 23.1K
$0.86 ¥6.15
25.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 LAK 27.2K
$0.61 ¥4.37
108.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 LAK 10.4K
$0.58 ¥4.14
-15.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99 LAK 42.7K
$3.45 ¥24.74
-42.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.17 LAK 239.6K
$11.3 ¥81.1
-1.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 LAK 23.2K
$0.84 ¥6
28.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 LAK 24.7K
$1.68 ¥12.05
-31.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Laos
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 LAK 13.2K
$0.4 ¥2.86
52.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.3 LAK 1.3M
$20.83 ¥149
189.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 LAK 34.8K
$1.36 ¥9.74
19.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.19 LAK 25.5K
$0.35 ¥2.55
240.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.73 LAK 101.5K
$6.8 ¥48.75
-30.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 LAK 28.6K
$1.12 ¥8.05
18.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K LAK 648.8M
$19.2K ¥137.7K
57.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.9K LAK 640.9M
$16.7K ¥119.8K
78.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.2 LAK 1.8M
$51.4 ¥369
65.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.21 LAK 433.7K
$9.77 ¥70.1
106.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.28 LAK 242.2K
$11.34 ¥81.3
-0.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laos
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.9 LAK 1.3M
$39.55 ¥284
51.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.2 LAK 176K
$14.89 ¥107
-44.93%
Cinema Ticket
$2.56 LAK 54.9K
$6.23 ¥44.71
-58.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laos
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 LAK 6.6M
$417 ¥2,989
-26.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,268 LAK 198.9M
$17.7K ¥126.8K
-47.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laos
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.1 LAK 1.1M
$45.65 ¥327
11.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.1 LAK 1.4M
$33.49 ¥240
94.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 LAK 1.6M
$71.8 ¥515
3.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.9 LAK 1.1M
$72.9 ¥523
-27.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laos
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 LAK 18M
$445 ¥3,194
88.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$638 LAK 13.7M
$255 ¥1,830
150.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,255 LAK 26.9M
$915 ¥6,566
37.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,104 LAK 23.7M
$543 ¥3,895
103.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,251 LAK 48.3M
$6,142 ¥44.1K
-63.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$128 LAK 2.8M
$2,860 ¥20.5K
-95.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laos
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 LAK 10.8M
$942 ¥6,755
-46.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
4.06
149.26%

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

Last update for Laos: October 28, 2025

Last update for China: October 29, 2025

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