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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Pakistan costs about 22% less than in Laos on average.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.82 PKR 506
$2.38 LAK 52.0K
-23.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.25 PKR 3,409
$18.79 LAK 410.3K
-34.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.27 PKR 1,188
$5.70 LAK 124.4K
-25.09%
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
$1.77 PKR 493
$1.65 LAK 36.0K
7.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 PKR 93.3
$0.66 LAK 14.5K
-48.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 64.2
$0.41 LAK 8,929
-43.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.32 LAK 28.7K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.53 LAK 33.4K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.77 PKR 214
$1.89 LAK 41.2K
-59.26%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 PKR 155
$0.93 LAK 20.3K
-39.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 PKR 340
$1.06 LAK 23.1K
15.09%
Eggs
$1.21 PKR 337
$1.88 LAK 40.9K
-35.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.68 PKR 1,579
$23.54 LAK 513.8K
-75.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.00 PKR 835
$5.77 LAK 126.0K
-48.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.29 PKR 1,193
$6.11 LAK 133.4K
-29.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 PKR 284
$1.80 LAK 39.3K
-43.33%
Banana (1kg)
$0.62 PKR 174
$1.36 LAK 29.6K
-54.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.77 PKR 213
$2.10 LAK 45.8K
-63.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.49 PKR 138
$2.31 LAK 50.4K
-78.79%
Potato (1kg)
$0.35 PKR 98.2
$1.61 LAK 35.2K
-78.26%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 PKR 134
$1.07 LAK 23.4K
-55.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.38 PKR 106
$1.26 LAK 27.6K
-69.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 PKR 99.7
$0.49 LAK 10.6K
-26.53%
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 PKR 546
$1.96 LAK 42.8K
-
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
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 PKR 42.98
$0.59 LAK 12.9K
-74.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.14 PKR 1,987
$59.1 LAK 1.3M
-87.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.85 PKR 237
$1.61 LAK 35.1K
-47.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.51 PKR 143
$1.19 LAK 26.0K
-57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 PKR 503
$4.78 LAK 104.4K
-62.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 PKR 249
$1.30 LAK 28.5K
-30.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.4K PKR 4.8M
$29.8K LAK 650.6M
-41.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K PKR 6.7M
$29.0K LAK 632.7M
-17.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 PKR 30.7K
$85.3 LAK 1.9M
29.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.72 PKR 1,313
$20.18 LAK 440.6K
-76.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.34 PKR 4,268
$11.50 LAK 251.0K
33.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.40 PKR 3,728
$58.9 LAK 1.3M
-77.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.53 PKR 2,374
$7.86 LAK 171.5K
8.52%
Cinema Ticket
$4.31 PKR 1,199
$2.46 LAK 53.7K
75.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$38.86 PKR 10.8K
$312 LAK 6.8M
-87.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,143 PKR 318.1K
$9,461 LAK 206.5M
-87.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$15.81 PKR 4,398
$52.8 LAK 1.2M
-70.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.47 PKR 6,529
$64.0 LAK 1.4M
-63.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.0 PKR 20.0K
$75.9 LAK 1.7M
-5.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.27 PKR 9,255
$53.4 LAK 1.2M
-37.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$111 PKR 30.9K
$858 LAK 18.7M
-87.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$67.3 PKR 18.7K
$654 LAK 14.3M
-89.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$272 PKR 75.7K
$1,248 LAK 27.2M
-78.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$167 PKR 46.5K
$1,137 LAK 24.8M
-85.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$983 PKR 273.4K
$2,572 LAK 56.1M
-61.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$519 PKR 144.4K
$633 LAK 13.8M
-17.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$185 PKR 51.5K
$500 LAK 10.9M
-63.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
18.97
10.12
87.45%

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

Last update for Pakistan: June 2, 2026

Last update for Laos: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

National salary averages: $187 in Pakistan, $233 in Laos. 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
Pakistan vs Laos: 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.

Pakistan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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