🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,365 in Luang Prabang versus $1,886 in Amstetten.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,117 in Luang Prabang versus $3,053 in Amstetten.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,869 in Luang Prabang versus $4,219 in Amstetten.
🌍Living in Luang Prabang costs roughly 28% less than in Amstetten, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Luang Prabang is 1% below, Amstetten is 37% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Luang Prabang
Amstetten
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.77LAK 39.4K
$17.48€15.07
-89.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.78LAK 374.3K
$58.6€50.6
-71.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.30LAK 118.2K
$13.87€11.96
-61.79%
Cappuccino
$1.55LAK 34.6K
$4.14€3.57
-62.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89LAK 19.9K
$3.13€2.70
-71.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53LAK 11.9K
$2.66€2.30
-80.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.30LAK 28.9K
$4.02€3.47
-67.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14LAK 25.3K
$3.85€3.32
-70.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Luang Prabang
Amstetten
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67LAK 37.3K
$1.83€1.58
-8.74%
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.55€2.20
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$2.98€2.57
-
Eggs
-
$4.89€4.22
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.10LAK 537.6K
$22.40€19.32
7.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$14.98€12.92
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$23.21€20.02
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.29LAK 28.7K
$3.12€2.69
-58.65%
Banana(1kg)
-
$2.50€2.16
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$3.22€2.78
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$3.81€3.29
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.93€1.66
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.04€1.76
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07LAK 23.8K
$1.99€1.72
-46.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68LAK 15.2K
$0.92€0.79
-26.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$7.42€6.40
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$9.22€7.95
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18LAK 26.3K
$1.17€1.01
0.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68LAK 15.2K
$1.70€1.46
-60.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Luang Prabang
Amstetten
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60LAK 13.3K
$2.42€2.08
-75.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.9LAK 1.3M
$53.3€46.01
8.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.93LAK 20.7K
$5.52€4.76
-83.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14LAK 25.5K
$2.69€2.32
-57.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.39LAK 98.0K
$36.35€31.36
-87.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18LAK 26.4K
$1.80€1.55
-34.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1KLAK 626.1M
$30.7K€26.5K
-8.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5KLAK 636.0M
$28.5K€24.6K
0.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Luang Prabang
Amstetten
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1LAK 1.8M
$296€255
-72.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.27LAK 117.5K
$11.79€10.17
-55.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.56LAK 146.2K
$35.01€30.20
-81.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Luang Prabang
Amstetten
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$82.7LAK 1.8M
$74.0€63.8
11.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.37LAK 164.3K
$28.65€24.71
-74.28%
Cinema Ticket
$2.37LAK 52.8K
$14.08€12.14
-83.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Luang Prabang
Amstetten
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$244LAK 5.4M
$524€452
-53.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,782LAK 195.9M
$5,781€4,986
51.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Luang Prabang
Amstetten
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.2LAK 1.6M
$109€93.9
-35.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.7LAK 1.3M
$43.98€37.94
33.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.0LAK 1.6M
$113€97.5
-35.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.1LAK 1.1M
$179€154
-71.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Luang Prabang
Amstetten
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,126LAK 25.1M
$619€534
82.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$841LAK 18.8M
$460€397
82.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,904LAK 42.5M
$1,164€1,004
63.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,669LAK 37.2M
$1,186€1,023
40.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,546LAK 56.8M
$3,147€2,714
-19.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$168LAK 3.7M
$2,927€2,525
-94.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Luang Prabang
Amstetten
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$198LAK 4.4M
$3,118€2,689
-93.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.12
3.66
176.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Luang Prabang: August 30, 2026
Last update for Amstetten: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,126 in Luang Prabang and $619 in Amstetten. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Amstetten pays 1477% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Luang Prabang vs $59.0 in Amstetten for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $115 vs $406 per month, with Luang Prabang cheaper across the board.
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
Luang Prabang vs Amstetten: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Luang Prabang and in Amstetten?
Luang Prabang and Amstetten differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($1,365 vs $1,886 including rent). Luang Prabang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 1477% lower in Amstetten. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Luang Prabang and in Amstetten?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,126 in Luang Prabang versus $619 in Amstetten. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Luang Prabang and Amstetten?
Childcare runs $244 in Luang Prabang versus $524 in Amstetten. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 253% higher in Amstetten. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,365 in Luang Prabang versus $1,886 in Amstetten, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Luang Prabang but tight or insufficient in Amstetten. The gap between the two cities makes Luang Prabang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Luang Prabang and Amstetten?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Luang Prabang or Amstetten safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Luang Prabang and Amstetten are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Luang Prabang or Amstetten?
Expats usually find Luang Prabang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Amstetten. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Luang Prabang vs other spots: cost of living compared