Cost of Living Comparison Between Vientiane and Pakse Cost of Living Comparison Between Vientiane and Pakse

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,424 per month in Vientiane vs $9.93 in Pakse, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,245 per month in Vientiane vs $13.00 in Pakse, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,066 per month in Vientiane vs $15.20 in Pakse, rent included.

Vientiane costs about 14237% more than Pakse, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Vientiane sits 6% above the global median, while Pakse is 99% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.27 LAK 49.6K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.58 LAK 427.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.47 LAK 97.5K

Cappuccino

$1.63 LAK 35.6K

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 LAK 11.3K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 LAK 8,126

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 LAK 25.9K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 LAK 37.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 LAK 43.0K

White Bread (500g)

$0.91 LAK 19.8K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 LAK 20.1K

Eggs

$1.77 LAK 38.7K

Local Cheese (1kg)

$28.42 LAK 620.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 LAK 145.7K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.26 LAK 136.7K

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 LAK 43.5K

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 LAK 23.8K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 LAK 44.2K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 LAK 29.9K

Potato (1kg)

$1.68 LAK 36.6K

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 LAK 22.7K

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 LAK 13.4K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 LAK 8,424

$0.46 LAK 10.1K

-15.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 LAK 43.6K

$1.97 LAK 43.1K

1.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.99 LAK 218.2K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 LAK 21.5K

$0.87 LAK 19.1K

13.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 LAK 37.4K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 LAK 9,696

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.1 LAK 1.1M

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 LAK 43.0K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.19 LAK 26.0K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.69 LAK 102.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 LAK 31.0K

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.6K LAK 624.7M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.2K LAK 658.3M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$73.8 LAK 1.6M

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$32.14 LAK 701.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$11.43 LAK 249.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.1 LAK 1.1M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.85 LAK 127.7K

Cinema Ticket

$2.45 LAK 53.4K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$336 LAK 7.3M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,402 LAK 205.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.33 LAK 618.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.9 LAK 1.5M

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.5 LAK 1.3M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.02 LAK 939.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$859 LAK 18.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$777 LAK 17.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$936 LAK 20.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,640 LAK 35.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,357 LAK 51.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,120 LAK 24.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 LAK 5.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

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

Last update for Vientiane: May 31, 2026

Last update for Pakse: May 31, 2026

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

Vientiane vs Pakse: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Vientiane is pricier by about 14237%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,136 per month in Vientiane and $14.90 in Pakse. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,424 in Vientiane and $9.93 in Pakse. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 2422% more in Vientiane, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pakse, where all-in costs run around $9.93, than in Vientiane at $1,424. In Pakse it covers expenses comfortably, while in Vientiane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pakse – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Pakse. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Vientiane makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.