For one person, living is cheaper in Laos: $1,154 a month against $1,775 in Spain, rent and utilities included – about $7,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Spain and in Laos actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,775 in Spain versus $1,154 in Laos.
Spain $1,775
Laos $1,154
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,606 in Spain versus $1,755 in Laos.
Spain $2,606
Laos $1,755
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,438 in Spain versus $2,356 in Laos.
Spain $3,438
Laos $2,356
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Spain: monthly costs span $931 to $2,610, compared to $1,076–$1,393 in Laos. City choice carries more weight in Spain.
🌍
Living in Spain is roughly 54% more expensive than in Laos on average.
📊
Spain (30% above) and Laos (15% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Spain
Laos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.69€14.89
$2.27LAK 50.9K
635.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.7€49.69
$17.46LAK 391.3K
219.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.37€10.14
$5.18LAK 116.1K
119.50%
Cappuccino
$2.42€2.16
$1.77LAK 39.5K
36.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.39
$0.76LAK 17.1K
252.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79€1.60
$0.40LAK 8,996
347.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.42€3.06
$1.25LAK 28.0K
173.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88€3.46
$1.74LAK 39.1K
122.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Spain
Laos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.07
$1.99LAK 44.5K
-39.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.48€1.32
$1.16LAK 26.0K
27.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67€1.49
$1.01LAK 22.5K
65.35%
Eggs
$3.42€3.05
$1.91LAK 42.9K
79.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.17€12.64
$23.05LAK 516.4K
-38.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.33€7.43
$6.31LAK 141.3K
32.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.20€14.46
$6.66LAK 149.3K
143.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45€2.19
$1.75LAK 39.1K
40.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03€1.81
$1.15LAK 25.8K
76.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08€1.85
$2.55LAK 57.2K
-18.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.58€2.30
$1.56LAK 35.0K
65.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83€1.63
$1.48LAK 33.1K
23.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.79
$1.05LAK 23.5K
90.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31€1.17
$1.07LAK 24.1K
22.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.69
$0.52LAK 11.7K
48.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.36€5.68
$1.74LAK 39.0K
265.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.64€5.03
$10.16LAK 227.6K
-44.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30€1.16
$1.16LAK 26.0K
12.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09€1.86
$1.74LAK 38.9K
20.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Spain
Laos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64€1.47
$0.49LAK 11.0K
234.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.91€29.36
$58.4LAK 1.3M
-43.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.43€3.95
$1.20LAK 26.9K
269.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47€1.31
$0.98LAK 21.9K
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.98€22.29
$4.36LAK 97.6K
472.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77€1.58
$1.41LAK 31.6K
25.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K€31.7K
$28.9KLAK 647.6M
22.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6K€27.3K
$29.2KLAK 654.6M
4.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
Laos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$149€133
$86.5LAK 1.9M
72.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.67€15.77
$19.89LAK 445.7K
-11.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.88€28.44
$11.01LAK 246.7K
189.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Spain
Laos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.24€39.47
$54.9LAK 1.2M
-19.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.29€13.64
$7.77LAK 174.2K
96.78%
Cinema Ticket
$9.66€8.62
$3.39LAK 75.9K
184.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Spain
Laos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$544€486
$329LAK 7.4M
65.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.6K€9,463
$10.7KLAK 240.6M
-1.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Spain
Laos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.9€75.8
$49.99LAK 1.1M
69.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.11€33.11
$61.0LAK 1.4M
-39.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.2€79.6
$71.9LAK 1.6M
24.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106€94.3
$51.1LAK 1.1M
107.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Spain
Laos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,056€943
$789LAK 17.7M
33.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$808€721
$490LAK 11.0M
64.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,446
$1,521LAK 34.1M
6.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,112
$937LAK 21.0M
32.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,135€3,690
$2,533LAK 56.8M
63.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,633€2,349
$900LAK 20.2M
192.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Spain
Laos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,999€1,784
$491LAK 11.0M
307.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.3
10.06
-67.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Spain: October 24, 2026
Last update for Laos: October 24, 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
Spain
$808 45.5%
Laos
$490 42.5% ↓ 39.3%$318
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$272 15.3%
Laos
$244 21.2% ↓ 10.1%$27
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$239 13.5%
Laos
$69 6% ↓ 71.1%$170
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$199 11.2%
Laos
$117 10.2% ↓ 41%$81
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$143 8%
Laos
$105 9.1% ↓ 26.2%$37
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$64 3.6%
Laos
$62 5.3% ↓ 3%$1.9
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$51 2.9%
Laos
$66 5.8% ↑ 29.7%$15
🏠Accommodation & Living
Spain
$1.2K 36.3%
Laos
$937 39.8% ↓ 24.8%$309
🛒Groceries & Markets
Spain
$646 18.8%
Laos
$562 23.9% ↓ 13%$84
🍽Eating Out
Spain
$763 22.2%
Laos
$220 9.4% ↓ 71.1%$543
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Spain
$217 6.3%
Laos
$137 5.8% ↓ 36.6%$79
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Spain
$317 9.2%
Laos
$234 9.9% ↓ 26.2%$83
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Spain
$142 4.1%
Laos
$131 5.6% ↓ 8%$11
🚌Getting Around
Spain
$106 3.1%
Laos
$134 5.7% ↑ 26.6%$28
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $920 in Spain, $874 in Laos. Capital cities: $1,508 in Madrid vs $642 in Vientiane.
💰National salary averages: $1,972 in Spain, $234 in Laos. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 5% higher in Spain.
⭐Dining out costs 217% more in Spain.
⭐Public transport is 71% more expensive in Laos.
⭐Salaries are about 8.4 times higher in Spain, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Spain.
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
Spain vs Laos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Laos or Spain?
At $1,154 per month in Laos and $1,775 in Spain, Laos comes out about 35% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
How do rents compare between Laos and Spain?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $920 in Spain and $874 in Laos. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
How far does $2,000 go in Laos compared to Spain?
In Laos, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Spain 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 Spain?
It depends on what you’re after: Laos wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.