For one person, living is cheaper in Laos: $1,154 a month against $1,212 in Turkey, rent and utilities included – about $700 less a year. The total is higher in Turkey despite lower rent and utilities.
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 Turkey actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,154 in Laos versus $1,212 in Turkey.
Laos $1,154
Turkey $1,212
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,755 in Laos versus $1,844 in Turkey.
Laos $1,755
Turkey $1,844
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,356 in Laos versus $2,475 in Turkey.
Laos $2,356
Turkey $2,475
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Turkey: monthly costs span $656 to $1,765, compared to $1,076–$1,393 in Laos. City choice carries more weight in Turkey.
🌍
Living in Laos costs about 5% less than in Turkey on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Laos 15% lower, Turkey 11% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Laos
Turkey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.27LAK 50.9K
$9.14₺456
-75.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.46LAK 391.3K
$40.12₺2,003
-56.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.18LAK 116.1K
$8.91₺445
-41.86%
Cappuccino
$1.77LAK 39.5K
$3.75₺187
-52.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76LAK 17.1K
$1.47₺73.5
-48.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40LAK 8,996
$0.56₺27.71
-28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.25LAK 28.0K
$3.84₺192
-67.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74LAK 39.1K
$4.91₺245
-64.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laos
Turkey
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.99LAK 44.5K
$1.02₺51.2
95.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16LAK 26.0K
$1.00₺50.0
16.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01LAK 22.5K
$2.20₺110
-54.09%
Eggs
$1.91LAK 42.9K
$2.21₺111
-13.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.05LAK 516.4K
$9.72₺485
137.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.31LAK 141.3K
$4.86₺243
29.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.66LAK 149.3K
$20.09₺1,003
-66.85%
Apples(1kg)
$1.75LAK 39.1K
$1.86₺92.6
-5.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15LAK 25.8K
$1.98₺99.1
-41.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55LAK 57.2K
$1.06₺53.2
140.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56LAK 35.0K
$1.36₺68.0
14.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48LAK 33.1K
$0.54₺26.91
174.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05LAK 23.5K
$0.45₺22.35
133.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07LAK 24.1K
$1.00₺49.70
7.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52LAK 11.7K
$0.69₺34.29
-24.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.74LAK 39.0K
$2.26₺113
-23.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.16LAK 227.6K
$11.91₺594
-14.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16LAK 26.0K
$2.24₺112
-48.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74LAK 38.9K
$2.85₺142
-38.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Laos
Turkey
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49LAK 11.0K
$0.76₺38.08
-35.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.4LAK 1.3M
$39.49₺1,972
47.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20LAK 26.9K
$1.42₺71.1
-15.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98LAK 21.9K
$0.84₺41.73
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.36LAK 97.6K
$7.98₺398
-45.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41LAK 31.6K
$1.38₺69.0
2.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9KLAK 647.6M
$41.6K₺2.1M
-30.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KLAK 654.6M
$40.3K₺2.0M
-27.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos
Turkey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.5LAK 1.9M
$75.0₺3,743
15.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.89LAK 445.7K
$10.38₺518
91.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.01LAK 246.7K
$15.56₺777
-29.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laos
Turkey
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9LAK 1.2M
$55.2₺2,758
-0.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.77LAK 174.2K
$21.01₺1,049
-63.02%
Cinema Ticket
$3.39LAK 75.9K
$6.87₺343
-50.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laos
Turkey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$329LAK 7.4M
$680₺34.0K
-51.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KLAK 240.6M
$15.9K₺794.0K
-32.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laos
Turkey
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.99LAK 1.1M
$54.7₺2,729
-8.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0LAK 1.4M
$42.98₺2,146
42.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.9LAK 1.6M
$102₺5,084
-29.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.1LAK 1.1M
$93.9₺4,686
-45.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laos
Turkey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$789LAK 17.7M
$614₺30.7K
28.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$490LAK 11.0M
$441₺22.0K
11.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,521LAK 34.1M
$1,011₺50.5K
50.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$937LAK 21.0M
$703₺35.1K
33.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,533LAK 56.8M
$1,710₺85.4K
48.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$900LAK 20.2M
$1,115₺55.7K
-19.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laos
Turkey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$491LAK 11.0M
$1,061₺53.0K
-53.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.06
41.67
-75.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Laos: October 24, 2026
Last update for Turkey: October 26, 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%
Turkey
$441 36.4% ↓ 10.1%$50
🛒Groceries & Markets
Laos
$244 21.2%
Turkey
$239 19.8% ↓ 2%$4.8
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos
$117 10.2%
Turkey
$101 8.3% ↓ 14%$16
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Laos
$105 9.1%
Turkey
$132 10.9% ↑ 25.3%$27
🍽Eating Out
Laos
$69 6%
Turkey
$182 15% ↑ 163%$113
🚌Getting Around
Laos
$66 5.8%
Turkey
$48 4% ↓ 27.5%$18
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Laos
$62 5.3%
Turkey
$69 5.7% ↑ 11.9%$7.3
🏠Accommodation & Living
Laos
$937 39.8%
Turkey
$703 28.4% ↓ 25%$234
🛒Groceries & Markets
Laos
$562 23.9%
Turkey
$549 22.2% ↓ 2.3%$13
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laos
$137 5.8%
Turkey
$111 4.5% ↓ 18.9%$26
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Laos
$234 9.9%
Turkey
$293 11.9% ↑ 25.3%$59
🍽Eating Out
Laos
$220 9.4%
Turkey
$562 22.7% ↑ 155%$342
🚌Getting Around
Laos
$134 5.7%
Turkey
$98 4% ↓ 26.9%$36
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Laos
$131 5.6%
Turkey
$159 6.4% ↑ 21.3%$28
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $874 in Laos, $446 in Turkey. Capital cities: $642 in Vientiane vs $765 in Ankara.
💰National salary averages: $234 in Laos, $1,034 in Turkey. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 96% higher in Laos.
⭐Dining out costs 89% more in Turkey.
⭐Public transport is 61% more expensive in Laos.
⭐Salaries are about 4.4 times higher in Turkey, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Turkey.
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 Turkey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Laos or Turkey?
At $1,154 per month in Laos and $1,212 in Turkey, Laos comes out about 5% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Does the cost gap hold in every spending category?
Overall, Laos is the cheaper option, but not in every category: rent, groceries, transport, and eating out each follow their own pattern. Check the categories you spend the most on before deciding.
How do I choose between living in Laos and in Turkey?
It depends on what you’re after: Laos wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.