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: $454 in Pakistan versus $408 in Laos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $683 in Pakistan versus $622 in Laos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $912 in Pakistan versus $836 in Laos.

Living in Pakistan is roughly 11% more expensive than in Laos on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Pakistan 67% lower, Laos 70% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.16 PKR 597
$2.27 LAK 50.7K
-4.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.02 PKR 3,884
$17.70 LAK 394.7K
-20.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.27 PKR 1,461
$5.28 LAK 117.6K
-0.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.15 PKR 596
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 PKR 1,134
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.94 PKR 538
$1.65 LAK 36.8K
17.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 PKR 107
$0.76 LAK 17.1K
-48.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 PKR 60.8
$0.45 LAK 10.0K
-51.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.29 LAK 28.7K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.77 LAK 39.5K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 PKR 242
$2.01 LAK 44.8K
-56.72%
White Bread (500g)
$0.63 PKR 174
$1.11 LAK 24.7K
-43.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 PKR 323
$1.05 LAK 23.3K
11.43%
Eggs
$1.19 PKR 329
$1.84 LAK 41.0K
-35.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.67 PKR 1,571
$23.07 LAK 514.5K
-75.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.80 PKR 775
$6.14 LAK 136.8K
-54.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.02 PKR 1,391
$6.76 LAK 150.7K
-25.74%
Apples (1kg)
$1.13 PKR 314
$1.83 LAK 40.9K
-38.25%
Banana (1kg)
$0.68 PKR 189
$1.11 LAK 24.8K
-38.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.86 PKR 238
$2.56 LAK 57.2K
-66.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.59 PKR 162
$1.50 LAK 33.5K
-60.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.31 PKR 87.2
$1.42 LAK 31.6K
-78.17%
Onion (1kg)
$0.39 PKR 107
$1.10 LAK 24.5K
-64.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 PKR 104
$1.07 LAK 23.9K
-65.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 PKR 112
$0.54 LAK 11.9K
-24.07%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.02 PKR 560
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 PKR 313
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 PKR 665
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.16 PKR 598
$1.78 LAK 39.7K
21.35%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$9.95 LAK 221.8K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.17 LAK 26.0K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.85 LAK 41.3K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 PKR 43.44
$0.50 LAK 11.1K
-68.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.21 PKR 2,828
$57.9 LAK 1.3M
-82.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.86 PKR 239
$1.26 LAK 28.0K
-31.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 PKR 157
$1.00 LAK 22.3K
-43.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.13 PKR 589
$4.43 LAK 98.9K
-51.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.17 PKR 324
$1.36 LAK 30.4K
-13.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.4K PKR 5.1M
$28.8K LAK 642.6M
-36.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K PKR 7.0M
$28.9K LAK 645.1M
-12.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 PKR 30.9K
$87.1 LAK 1.9M
27.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.33 PKR 1,475
$19.72 LAK 439.7K
-72.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.94 PKR 4,415
$11.07 LAK 246.9K
43.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.12 PKR 4,466
$55.6 LAK 1.2M
-71.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.90 PKR 3,018
$7.82 LAK 174.4K
39.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.29 PKR 1,189
$3.28 LAK 73.1K
30.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$42.45 PKR 11.8K
$320 LAK 7.1M
-86.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,378 PKR 381.6K
$10.6K LAK 236.7M
-87.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.34 PKR 4,525
$50.5 LAK 1.1M
-67.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.18 PKR 6,419
$63.6 LAK 1.4M
-63.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.2 PKR 21.9K
$73.1 LAK 1.6M
8.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$34.65 PKR 9,598
$52.4 LAK 1.2M
-33.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$137 PKR 37.9K
$799 LAK 17.8M
-82.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$77.4 PKR 21.4K
$481 LAK 10.7M
-83.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$307 PKR 85.1K
$1,554 LAK 34.7M
-80.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$171 PKR 47.3K
$969 LAK 21.6M
-82.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,022 PKR 283.1K
$2,574 LAK 57.4M
-60.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$533 PKR 147.7K
$890 LAK 19.9M
-40.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$188 PKR 51.9K
$483 LAK 10.8M
-61.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.96
10.06
38.77%

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

Last update for Pakistan: September 15, 2026

Last update for Laos: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $124 in Pakistan, $300 in Laos. Capital cities: $278 in Islamabad vs $657 in Vientiane.

National salary averages: $182 in Pakistan, $236 in Laos. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 142% higher in Laos.

Dining out costs 117% more in Pakistan.

Public transport is 100% more expensive in Laos.

Salaries are 30% higher in Laos, and purchasing power comes out stronger 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 $683 per month in Laos and $445 in Pakistan, there's a 53% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Pakistan: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 compared to Pakistan?
In Pakistan, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Laos it stretches only to regional areas and 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 in 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.

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