Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pakistan and Laos

For one person, living is cheaper in Pakistan: $483 a month against $1,154 in Laos, rent and utilities included – about $8,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pakistan
Laos
🇵🇰 Pakistan
$483
/mo nomad
🇱🇦 Laos
$1,154
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pakistan and in Laos

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Pakistan and in Laos actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $483 in Pakistan versus $1,154 in Laos.

  • Pakistan $483
  • Laos $1,154

Estimated couple costs with rent: $736 in Pakistan versus $1,755 in Laos.

  • Pakistan $736
  • Laos $1,755

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $988 in Pakistan versus $2,356 in Laos.

  • Pakistan $988
  • Laos $2,356

Pakistan ($291–$607) and Laos ($1,076–$1,393) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.

Living in Pakistan costs about 58% less than in Laos on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Pakistan 65% lower, Laos 15% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.11 PKR 582
$2.27 LAK 50.9K
-7.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.97 PKR 3,863
$17.46 LAK 391.3K
-19.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.50 PKR 1,522
$5.18 LAK 116.1K
6.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 PKR 615
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.31 PKR 1,192
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.97 PKR 545
$1.77 LAK 39.5K
11.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 PKR 105
$0.76 LAK 17.1K
-50.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 PKR 63.6
$0.40 LAK 8,996
-42.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.25 LAK 28.0K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.74 LAK 39.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 PKR 239
$1.99 LAK 44.5K
-56.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 PKR 164
$1.16 LAK 26.0K
-48.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 PKR 334
$1.01 LAK 22.5K
19.80%
Eggs
$1.21 PKR 333
$1.91 LAK 42.9K
-36.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.42 PKR 1,499
$23.05 LAK 516.4K
-76.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.83 PKR 782
$6.31 LAK 141.3K
-55.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.06 PKR 1,399
$6.66 LAK 149.3K
-24.02%
Apples (1kg)
$1.20 PKR 331
$1.75 LAK 39.1K
-31.43%
Banana (1kg)
$0.64 PKR 176
$1.15 LAK 25.8K
-44.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.87 PKR 241
$2.55 LAK 57.2K
-65.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.54 PKR 148
$1.56 LAK 35.0K
-65.38%
Potato (1kg)
$0.33 PKR 91.7
$1.48 LAK 33.1K
-77.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.39 PKR 108
$1.05 LAK 23.5K
-62.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 PKR 104
$1.07 LAK 24.1K
-65.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 PKR 113
$0.52 LAK 11.7K
-21.15%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.08 PKR 574
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 PKR 296
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 PKR 652
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 PKR 593
$1.74 LAK 39.0K
22.99%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.16 LAK 227.6K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.16 LAK 26.0K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.74 LAK 38.9K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 PKR 55.0
$0.49 LAK 11.0K
-59.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.01 PKR 2,766
$58.4 LAK 1.3M
-82.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 PKR 243
$1.20 LAK 26.9K
-26.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 PKR 155
$0.98 LAK 21.9K
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.22 PKR 613
$4.36 LAK 97.6K
-49.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 PKR 357
$1.41 LAK 31.6K
-8.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K PKR 4.9M
$28.9K LAK 647.6M
-38.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K PKR 6.7M
$29.2K LAK 654.6M
-16.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 PKR 30.5K
$86.5 LAK 1.9M
27.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.41 PKR 1,494
$19.89 LAK 445.7K
-72.80%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.79 PKR 4,365
$11.01 LAK 246.7K
43.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.50 PKR 5,114
$54.9 LAK 1.2M
-66.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.09 PKR 3,064
$7.77 LAK 174.2K
42.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.32 PKR 1,194
$3.39 LAK 75.9K
27.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$56.4 PKR 15.6K
$329 LAK 7.4M
-82.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,511 PKR 417.8K
$10.7K LAK 240.6M
-85.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.56 PKR 4,855
$49.99 LAK 1.1M
-64.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.58 PKR 6,517
$61.0 LAK 1.4M
-61.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.7 PKR 21.2K
$71.9 LAK 1.6M
6.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.08 PKR 9,697
$51.1 LAK 1.1M
-31.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$150 PKR 41.5K
$789 LAK 17.7M
-80.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$87.4 PKR 24.2K
$490 LAK 11.0M
-82.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$320 PKR 88.6K
$1,521 LAK 34.1M
-78.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$190 PKR 52.5K
$937 LAK 21.0M
-79.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$970 PKR 268.2K
$2,533 LAK 56.8M
-61.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$520 PKR 143.9K
$900 LAK 20.2M
-42.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakistan
Laos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$192 PKR 53.1K
$491 LAK 11.0M
-60.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
14.1
10.06
40.16%

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

Last update for Pakistan: October 25, 2026

Last update for Laos: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakistan
$131
Laos
$117 10.7% $14
Groceries & Markets
Pakistan
$94
Laos
$244 160% $150
Accommodation & Living
Pakistan
$87
Laos
$490 461% $403
Clothing & Footwear
Pakistan
$69
Laos
$105 53.1% $37
Eating Out
Pakistan
$59
Laos
$69 16.5% $9.8
Sport & Entertainment
Pakistan
$27
Laos
$62 127% $34
Getting Around
Pakistan
$14
Laos
$66 359% $52

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $137 in Pakistan, $874 in Laos. Capital cities: $261 in Islamabad vs $642 in Vientiane.

National salary averages: $185 in Pakistan, $234 in Laos. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 538% higher in Laos.

Dining out costs 38% more in Laos.

Public transport is 430% more expensive in Laos.

Salaries are 26% higher in Laos, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Pakistan.

Good to know
🇵🇰 Pakistan
🇱🇦 Laos
🕒 Local time
09:40 9:40 AM
11:40 11:40 AM
2 h ahead of Pakistan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
223,773,700
6,858,160
💱 Currency
Lao Kip LAK ₭
Exchange rates and currency converter

LAK, USD, EUR to PKR – Pakistani Rupee Converter

Pakistani Rupee exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 276 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.62 USD). 1 EUR = 309 PKR (1,000 PKR = 3.24 EUR).

Lao Kip exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 22,407 LAK (100,000 LAK = 4.46 USD). 1 EUR = 25,019 LAK (100,000 LAK = 4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pakistan Laos 3,420 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Pakistan
  • Laos

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
Pakistan vs Laos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Laos or Pakistan?
At $1,154 per month in Laos and $483 in Pakistan, Pakistan comes out about 58% cheaper. 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 cheaper in Pakistan: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $874 in Laos and $137 in Pakistan. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How do I choose between living in Laos and in Pakistan?
It depends on what you’re after: Pakistan wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.

Pakistan vs other spots: cost of living compared

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