Cost of Living Comparison Between Laos and PakistanCost 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: Laos63% lower, Pakistan71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.38LAK 52.0K
$1.82PKR 506
30.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.79LAK 410.3K
$12.25PKR 3,409
53.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.70LAK 124.4K
$4.27PKR 1,188
33.49%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.80PKR 500
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.08PKR 1,136
-
Cappuccino
$1.65LAK 36.0K
$1.77PKR 493
-6.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66LAK 14.5K
$0.34PKR 93.3
94.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41LAK 8,929
$0.23PKR 64.2
78.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.32LAK 28.7K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53LAK 33.4K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89LAK 41.2K
$0.77PKR 214
145.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.93LAK 20.3K
$0.56PKR 155
66.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.06LAK 23.1K
$1.22PKR 340
-13.11%
Eggs
$1.88LAK 40.9K
$1.21PKR 337
55.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.54LAK 513.8K
$5.68PKR 1,579
314.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.77LAK 126.0K
$3.00PKR 835
92.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.11LAK 133.4K
$4.29PKR 1,193
42.42%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80LAK 39.3K
$1.02PKR 284
76.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36LAK 29.6K
$0.62PKR 174
119.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10LAK 45.8K
$0.77PKR 213
172.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.31LAK 50.4K
$0.49PKR 138
371.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.61LAK 35.2K
$0.35PKR 98.2
360.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07LAK 23.4K
$0.48PKR 134
122.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.26LAK 27.6K
$0.38PKR 106
231.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49LAK 10.6K
$0.36PKR 99.7
36.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.91PKR 532
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.09PKR 304
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.00PKR 557
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96LAK 42.8K
$1.96PKR 546
-
Wine(Bottle)
$10.48LAK 228.8K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07LAK 23.4K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16LAK 25.3K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59LAK 12.9K
$0.15PKR 42.98
293.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.1LAK 1.3M
$7.14PKR 1,987
728.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.61LAK 35.1K
$0.85PKR 237
89.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19LAK 26.0K
$0.51PKR 143
133.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.78LAK 104.4K
$1.81PKR 503
164.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30LAK 28.5K
$0.90PKR 249
44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8KLAK 650.6M
$17.4KPKR 4.8M
71.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0KLAK 632.7M
$24.0KPKR 6.7M
20.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$85.3LAK 1.9M
$110PKR 30.7K
-22.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.18LAK 440.6K
$4.72PKR 1,313
327.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.50LAK 251.0K
$15.34PKR 4,268
-25.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.9LAK 1.3M
$13.40PKR 3,728
339.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.86LAK 171.5K
$8.53PKR 2,374
-7.85%
Cinema Ticket
$2.46LAK 53.7K
$4.31PKR 1,199
-42.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312LAK 6.8M
$38.86PKR 10.8K
702.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,461LAK 206.5M
$1,143PKR 318.1K
727.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.8LAK 1.2M
$15.81PKR 4,398
234.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.0LAK 1.4M
$23.47PKR 6,529
172.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.9LAK 1.7M
$72.0PKR 20.0K
5.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.4LAK 1.2M
$33.27PKR 9,255
60.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$858LAK 18.7M
$111PKR 30.9K
673.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$654LAK 14.3M
$67.3PKR 18.7K
871.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,248LAK 27.2M
$272PKR 75.7K
358.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,137LAK 24.8M
$167PKR 46.5K
580.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,572LAK 56.1M
$983PKR 273.4K
161.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633LAK 13.8M
$519PKR 144.4K
21.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laos
Pakistan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500LAK 10.9M
$185PKR 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.