Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Laos and Pakistan
For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $1,154 in Laos, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Laos and in Pakistan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,154 in Laos versus $483 in Pakistan.
Laos $1,154
Pakistan $483
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,755 in Laos versus $736 in Pakistan.
Laos $1,755
Pakistan $736
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,356 in Laos versus $988 in Pakistan.
Laos $2,356
Pakistan $988
📏
Laos ($1,076–$1,393) and Pakistan ($291–$607) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
🌍
Living in Laos is roughly 139% more expensive than in Pakistan on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Laos 15% lower, Pakistan 65% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.27LAK 50.9K
$2.11PKR 583
7.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.46LAK 391.3K
$13.97PKR 3,866
24.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.18LAK 116.1K
$5.50PKR 1,523
-5.82%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.22PKR 616
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.31PKR 1,193
-
Cappuccino
$1.77LAK 39.5K
$1.97PKR 546
-10.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76LAK 17.1K
$0.38PKR 105
100.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40LAK 8,996
$0.23PKR 63.7
73.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.25LAK 28.0K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74LAK 39.1K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.99LAK 44.5K
$0.87PKR 240
128.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16LAK 26.0K
$0.60PKR 165
93.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01LAK 22.5K
$1.21PKR 335
-16.53%
Eggs
$1.91LAK 42.9K
$1.21PKR 334
57.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.05LAK 516.4K
$5.42PKR 1,500
325.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.31LAK 141.3K
$2.83PKR 783
122.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.66LAK 149.3K
$5.06PKR 1,400
31.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75LAK 39.1K
$1.20PKR 331
45.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15LAK 25.8K
$0.64PKR 176
79.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55LAK 57.2K
$0.87PKR 241
193.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56LAK 35.0K
$0.54PKR 149
188.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48LAK 33.1K
$0.33PKR 91.8
348.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05LAK 23.5K
$0.39PKR 108
169.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07LAK 24.1K
$0.37PKR 104
189.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52LAK 11.7K
$0.41PKR 113
26.83%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.08PKR 575
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.07PKR 296
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.36PKR 652
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.74LAK 39.0K
$2.14PKR 593
-18.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.16LAK 227.6K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16LAK 26.0K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74LAK 38.9K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49LAK 11.0K
$0.20PKR 55.0
145.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.4LAK 1.3M
$10.01PKR 2,768
483.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20LAK 26.9K
$0.88PKR 243
36.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98LAK 21.9K
$0.56PKR 155
75.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.36LAK 97.6K
$2.22PKR 614
96.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41LAK 31.6K
$1.29PKR 357
9.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9KLAK 647.6M
$17.8KPKR 4.9M
62.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KLAK 654.6M
$24.3KPKR 6.7M
20.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.5LAK 1.9M
$110PKR 30.5K
-21.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.89LAK 445.7K
$5.41PKR 1,496
267.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.01LAK 246.7K
$15.79PKR 4,369
-30.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9LAK 1.2M
$18.50PKR 5,119
196.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.77LAK 174.2K
$11.09PKR 3,067
-29.94%
Cinema Ticket
$3.39LAK 75.9K
$4.32PKR 1,195
-21.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$329LAK 7.4M
$56.4PKR 15.6K
483.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KLAK 240.6M
$1,511PKR 418.2K
610.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.99LAK 1.1M
$17.56PKR 4,859
184.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0LAK 1.4M
$23.58PKR 6,523
158.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.9LAK 1.6M
$76.7PKR 21.2K
-6.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.1LAK 1.1M
$35.08PKR 9,706
45.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$789LAK 17.7M
$150PKR 41.5K
425.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$490LAK 11.0M
$87.4PKR 24.2K
461.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,521LAK 34.1M
$320PKR 88.7K
374.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$937LAK 21.0M
$190PKR 52.5K
393.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,533LAK 56.8M
$970PKR 268.5K
161.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$900LAK 20.2M
$520PKR 144.0K
72.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$491LAK 11.0M
$192PKR 53.2K
155.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.06
14.1
-28.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Laos: October 24, 2026
Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Laos
$490 42.5%
Pakistan
$87 18.1% ↓ 82.2%$403
🛒Groceries & Markets
Laos
$244 21.2%
Pakistan
$94 19.5% ↓ 61.5%$150
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos
$117 10.2%
Pakistan
$131 27.2% ↑ 12%$14
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Laos
$105 9.1%
Pakistan
$69 14.3% ↓ 34.7%$37
🍽Eating Out
Laos
$69 6%
Pakistan
$59 12.3% ↓ 14.2%$9.8
🚌Getting Around
Laos
$66 5.8%
Pakistan
$14 3% ↓ 78.2%$52
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Laos
$62 5.3%
Pakistan
$27 5.6% ↓ 56%$34
🏠Accommodation & Living
Laos
$937 39.8%
Pakistan
$190 19.2% ↓ 79.7%$747
🛒Groceries & Markets
Laos
$562 23.9%
Pakistan
$228 23% ↓ 59.5%$335
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos
$137 5.8%
Pakistan
$137 13.9% ↓ 0.3%$0.4
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Laos
$234 9.9%
Pakistan
$153 15.5% ↓ 34.7%$81
🍽Eating Out
Laos
$220 9.4%
Pakistan
$186 18.9% ↓ 15.5%$34
🚌Getting Around
Laos
$134 5.7%
Pakistan
$29 3% ↓ 78.1%$104
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Laos
$131 5.6%
Pakistan
$65 6.6% ↓ 50.1%$66
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $874 in Laos, $137 in Pakistan. Capital cities: $642 in Vientiane vs $261 in Islamabad.
💰National salary averages: $234 in Laos, $185 in Pakistan. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 538% higher in Laos.
⭐Dining out costs 38% more in Laos.
⭐Public transport is 430% more expensive in Laos.
⭐Salaries are 26% higher in Laos, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Pakistan.
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 Pakistan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Laos or Pakistan?
At $1,154 per month in Laos and $483 in Pakistan, Pakistan comes out about 58% cheaper. 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?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Pakistan: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $874 in Laos and $137 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How do I choose between living in Laos and in Pakistan?
It depends on what you’re after: Pakistan wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.