Cost of Living Comparison Between Laos and Pakistan Cost of Living Comparison Between Laos and Pakistan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $501 in Laos versus $392 in Pakistan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $778 in Laos versus $591 in Pakistan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,054 in Laos versus $790 in Pakistan.

Living in Laos is roughly 28% more expensive than Pakistan on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Laos 63% lower, Pakistan 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.38 LAK 52.0K
$1.82 PKR 506
30.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.79 LAK 410.3K
$12.25 PKR 3,409
53.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 LAK 124.4K
$4.27 PKR 1,188
33.49%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.80 PKR 500
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.08 PKR 1,136
-
Cappuccino
$1.65 LAK 36.0K
$1.77 PKR 493
-6.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 LAK 14.5K
$0.34 PKR 93.3
94.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 LAK 8,929
$0.23 PKR 64.2
78.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.32 LAK 28.7K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53 LAK 33.4K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 LAK 41.2K
$0.77 PKR 214
145.45%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 LAK 20.3K
$0.56 PKR 155
66.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 LAK 23.1K
$1.22 PKR 340
-13.11%
Eggs
$1.88 LAK 40.9K
$1.21 PKR 337
55.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.54 LAK 513.8K
$5.68 PKR 1,579
314.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.77 LAK 126.0K
$3.00 PKR 835
92.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.11 LAK 133.4K
$4.29 PKR 1,193
42.42%
Apples (1kg)
$1.80 LAK 39.3K
$1.02 PKR 284
76.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 LAK 29.6K
$0.62 PKR 174
119.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.10 LAK 45.8K
$0.77 PKR 213
172.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 LAK 50.4K
$0.49 PKR 138
371.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.61 LAK 35.2K
$0.35 PKR 98.2
360.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 LAK 23.4K
$0.48 PKR 134
122.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.26 LAK 27.6K
$0.38 PKR 106
231.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 LAK 10.6K
$0.36 PKR 99.7
36.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.91 PKR 532
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.09 PKR 304
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.00 PKR 557
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96 LAK 42.8K
$1.96 PKR 546
-
Wine (Bottle)
$10.48 LAK 228.8K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 LAK 23.4K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 LAK 25.3K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 LAK 12.9K
$0.15 PKR 42.98
293.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.1 LAK 1.3M
$7.14 PKR 1,987
728.15%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.61 LAK 35.1K
$0.85 PKR 237
89.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.19 LAK 26.0K
$0.51 PKR 143
133.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.78 LAK 104.4K
$1.81 PKR 503
164.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 LAK 28.5K
$0.90 PKR 249
44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K LAK 650.6M
$17.4K PKR 4.8M
71.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K LAK 632.7M
$24.0K PKR 6.7M
20.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.3 LAK 1.9M
$110 PKR 30.7K
-22.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.18 LAK 440.6K
$4.72 PKR 1,313
327.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.50 LAK 251.0K
$15.34 PKR 4,268
-25.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 LAK 1.3M
$13.40 PKR 3,728
339.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.86 LAK 171.5K
$8.53 PKR 2,374
-7.85%
Cinema Ticket
$2.46 LAK 53.7K
$4.31 PKR 1,199
-42.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 LAK 6.8M
$38.86 PKR 10.8K
702.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,461 LAK 206.5M
$1,143 PKR 318.1K
727.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8 LAK 1.2M
$15.81 PKR 4,398
234.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.0 LAK 1.4M
$23.47 PKR 6,529
172.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.9 LAK 1.7M
$72.0 PKR 20.0K
5.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.4 LAK 1.2M
$33.27 PKR 9,255
60.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$858 LAK 18.7M
$111 PKR 30.9K
673.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 LAK 14.3M
$67.3 PKR 18.7K
871.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,248 LAK 27.2M
$272 PKR 75.7K
358.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,137 LAK 24.8M
$167 PKR 46.5K
580.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,572 LAK 56.1M
$983 PKR 273.4K
161.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$633 LAK 13.8M
$519 PKR 144.4K
21.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 LAK 10.9M
$185 PKR 51.5K
170.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.12
18.97
-46.65%

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

Last update for Laos: May 31, 2026

Last update for Pakistan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $335 in Laos, $78.0 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $859 in Vientiane vs $198 in Islamabad.

National salary averages: $233 in Laos, $187 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 329% higher in Laos.

Dining out costs 83% more in Pakistan.

Public transport is 157% more expensive in Laos.

Salaries are 25% higher in Laos.

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 Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Laos or Pakistan?
At $786 per month in Laos and $408 in Pakistan, there's a 93% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Laos or Pakistan?
Pakistan is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between Laos and Pakistan?
Rent in Laos beats Pakistan across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $1,000 go in Laos vs Pakistan?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Laos, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Laos and Pakistan?
It depends on what you're after. Pakistan wins on affordability; Laos may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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