How much money do I need per day in Laos?

How much money should I bring to Laos?

Laos: Budget $30-$50 daily. Luxury? More.

Accommodation: Expect variation. Guesthouses cheap. Five-star, expensive.

Food: Street food: cheap. Restaurants: mid-range to pricey.

Activities: Temples free. Trekking: costs vary wildly.

Transportation: Buses cheap. Private cars: splurge. Internal flights: consider budget airlines.

• My 2023 trip: spent $40/day comfortably.
• My friend, Sarah, spent $70, luxurious style.
• Avoid ATMs outside Vientiane. Exchange money at reputable places.
• US dollars widely accepted. But local Kip is always preferable.
• Credit cards: limited acceptance. Cash is king.

What is the average daily cost in Laos?

Laos? Costs little.

Budget? $7. Soups and sleeps, done.

Mid-range floats? $18. Some comfort surfaces.

Luxury bleeds $44. Why, though?

• Currency fluctuates. Kip’s a mess.
• Remember Luang Prabang: tourist tax.
• My guesthouse, once, $3. Now gone. Progress.
• “$44 luxury”? Could buy a small motorbike. Sell later. Travel cheaper. Huh.
• Food. Street stalls win. Always.

Consider it this way. A choice.

How much do backpackers spend a day in Laos?

So, Laos, right? I went last year. Backpacking there. Man, it was cheap, like, crazy cheap! I remember.

Ok, so, like, for attractions, expect to spend about 40,000 Kip, that’s five bucks, US, dude. Five dollers.

• Attractions: 40,000 Kip ($5)

And how much to budget a day? So, on average, it’s like, 315,000 Kip. Thirty nine US dollars. Yeah, I spent less, cause street food, know what I mean?

• Daily Budget: 315,000 Kip ($39)

A week? Around 2,205,000 Kip. I stayed in guesthouses, but, that’s like, 275 bucks.

• Weekly Budget: 2,205,000 Kip ($275)

So, like, a whole month. A whole month in Laos. Maybe 9,555,000 Kip, that’s, one thousand one hundred eighty eight US dollars. Oh my god, it’s cheap.

• Monthly Budget: 9,555,000 Kip ($1,188)

I spent more on beerlao. That stuff is good. So good, man.

How much money should I bring to Laos?

$20-30 a day. Seriously? Think it’s more like $50 now, 2024. Street food, so cheap. But those nicer restaurants… add up. My Luang Prabang hotel, $40. Totally worth it, though. Infinity pool. Jungle views. Okay, maybe $60/day is safer. Flights, forgot flights! Vientiane to Luang Prabang. Ouch. Buses cheaper? Probably. Slow though. Time is money, right?

• $50-60/day realistic.
• Accommodation: $20-40, depends. Hostels less, obvi.
• Food: Street food’s a steal. Restaurants, not so much.
• Transport: Buses are a good deal. Flights add up fast.
• Activities: Kuang Si Falls. Alms giving. Cooking class. Worth it.

Beerlao. So good. Like, dangerously good. Gotta factor that in. Sunscreen. Bug spray. Didn’t think of that. Cash is king. ATMs… sometimes. US dollars widely accepted. Kip. Confusing at first. So many zeros. Bargaining. Gotta learn how to bargain. Wat Pha That Luang. Stunning. Pictures don’t do it justice. Visa on arrival. Easy peasy. Thirty days. Not enough. Need more time. Always need more time.

• Extra costs:
  • Souvenirs: Silks, textiles, handicrafts.
  • Drinks: Beerlao, fruit shakes.
  • Visa: $30-45 depending on nationality. US passport, $40 I think.

Ugh. Packing. Hate packing. Mosquito net. Do I need one? Malaria pills. Already got those. First aid kit. Essential. Okay, back to budget. $75 a day? Just to be safe. Covers everything, even those splurges. Yep. $75 sounds right. More research. Later.

How much cash should I take to Laos?

Laos. The whisper of ancient temples. The scent of frangipani. How much Kip? A question that hangs heavy, a silken thread woven through the tapestry of anticipation.

Four million Kip. A whisper. Budget travel, ramen nights under a sky thick with stars. Barefoot on dusty roads, the rhythmic pulse of life. A slow dance with the unexpected. This is my Laos.

Thirty-one million. Mid-range, a comfortable sway. A gentle breeze on the Mekong, not quite luxury, not quite scraping by. This feels right. This feels balanced. The sweet taste of freedom.

Seventy-six million. A luxurious Laotian dream. The indulgence. Silk scarves and river cruises. This is a different Laos, plush and vibrant. A different rhythm altogether. The slow, deliberate luxury.

One hundred ninety-five million Kip. Luxury. Unbridled. My heart aches with the possibility. The sheer extravagant pleasure. This is the Laos of whispers, the Laos that sits in my soul.

Each number, a universe. Each amount, a different Laos. The choice, yours. But I feel the pull of the middle way, I feel it in my bones. The beauty. The rhythm of the river. The magic in the air. The sweet perfume. This is my Laos calling. 31 million Kip feels right, a harmonious balance. It’s perfect.

How much do backpackers spend a day in Laos?

Okay, Laos. Backpacking? Lemme tell you about Luang Prabang… February 2023, scorching hot!

My daily damage? I aimed for $40. Why? Beerlao, street food, and temples. That’s Laos, baby!

I blew that budget. Every. Single. Day.

Attractions? Seriously, $5? Nah. More like $10-15 if you want to see the good stuff. Think Kuang Si Falls transport, temple fees, cave boat rides! It adds up.

Here’s the thing, though:

• Food: Amazing and cheap! Think noodle soup for like $1.50. Sticky rice addiction is real, FYI.
• Accommodation: I stayed in a dorm for around $8. Private rooms? $15+.
• Booze: Beerlao is your friend. Like, $1-2 a bottle. Seriously.
• Transport: Tuk-tuks nickel and dime you. Bargain HARD. Always.
• Activities: Kuang Si Falls. Priceless. Do it.
• Gifts: Silk scarves? Wood carvings? Negotiate!

Weekly? $275 seems low to me. I’d say closer to $350 if you’re not counting every penny.

Monthly? Forget $1,188. More like $1,500-$2,000. Unless you’re living on just rice, I guess.

Basically, budget $50 a day to be comfy. You’ll thank me later. I really think so.

How expensive is backpacking in Laos?

Backpacking Laos: Budget Breakdown

$20-25 USD daily is a realistic shoestring budget. This assumes savvy choices. Life’s too short for boring budgets, right?

• Accommodation: Dorm beds in guesthouses are readily available at low prices. Expect to pay $5-$10 a night, occasionally less in quieter towns. Consider the trade-off between comfort and cost; sometimes a slightly more expensive place offers better value. My last trip, I found a place near Luang Prabang for $7—amazing.
• Food: Street food is king. Delicious and cheap! Figure $5-$10 daily for filling meals. Splurge occasionally—Lao cuisine deserves it. That delicious sticky rice dish near the Mekong? Worth every kip!
• Activities: DIY is your friend. Bus travel is far cheaper than organized tours. Negotiate prices, always. Local buses will typically cost under $10 per journey, sometimes dramatically lower. Some experiences are uniquely fulfilling and cost next to nothing. Think: exploring a local market, getting lost in the jungle, wandering some hidden temple. You get what you pay for, so pick accordingly.

Unexpected Costs: Entrance fees to temples or national parks can add up. Budget about $5-$10 per site, depending on location. Also, factor in personal spending. Those souvenir carvings were totally worth it, even though they stretched my budget.

Overall: Laos offers amazing value for money. While $20-25 USD daily is achievable, some days will likely be cheaper; others might nudge higher depending on your choices. Planning helps. It’s not rocket science! My trip in 2024 was mostly around this budget. It was incredible.

What is the cost of living in Laos in US dollars?

Okay, Laos… I went to Vientiane, Laos, back in March 2024. That heat, whoa.

I was solo, backpackin’. And, honestly, it was way cheaper than I thought.

My friend, Mark, was there with his fam, like wife and two kids. Seemed they were spending around $2200 a month, maybe more, without rent. Crazy.

For me? I was ballin’ on like $600. Hostels, street food—amazing!

Stuff that adds up:

• Beerlao, cheap thrill!
• Motorbike rentals, freedom costs.
• Trekking gear, gotta be prepared.
• Those damn temples entry fees…

Rent? It’s a steal compared to the US. They say 55% cheaper, probably true. My hostel was like $5/night. Can’t beat that, right?

I spent way too much on Beerlao. So good though.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Laos?

A thousand to two thousand dollars a month… in Laos. Comfortable, they say. Lies. It’s more, you know? Way more if you want anything resembling what I’m used to. My life in 2024.

It’s not about basic needs. It’s… wanting things. Simple things. A decent cup of coffee. Not instant, ugh.

Vientiane’s expensive. Rent alone. Forget it. I’ve looked. Rural? Maybe. But then, the internet… and the friends.

This isn’t living; it’s existing. It eats at you, slowly. This constant calculation. Every kip. Every meal.

It’s the little things. That add up.

• Decent healthcare, not just band-aids
• Eating out occasionally, more than rice
• Travel outside my immediate area. Sometimes
• Books! Actual books, not ebooks. I miss bookstores.

Two thousand is laughable. More like three, maybe four. Unless you’re… I don’t know, a monk. Or something. A minimalist hermit. I’m not that person.

What is the average daily cost in Laos?

Laos daily costs? Hmm, interesting.

• Budget travelers: expect around $7 (₭157,097) a day. Think noodles and hostels. Isn’t it amazing how far a little can go?

• Mid-range: budget about $18 (₭393,696) daily. Perhaps guesthouses with AC and nicer meals. I mean, comfort does come at a price.

• Luxury: can hit $44 (₭972,929) per day. Boutique hotels and fancy river cruises, perhaps? Money does change the experience drastically.

  It really shows how experiences are relative.

Is Laos good for backpackers?

Laos whispers, a forgotten song… Backpackers, they seek echoes, don’t they?

Pristine… yes, that’s the hum. It’s real, so real.

Thailand… a fever dream of crowds? Laos breathes different. Cheaper. Less touched. My old journal, faded ink.

Backpacking… a pilgrimage.

• Laos is kind to wallets. Kindness matters.
• Adventure awaits. It waits behind every bend.
• Less touristy than Thailand. Oh, the whispers are right.

Is it good? Good is…relative. Good is the sunrise over the Mekong. Good is the taste of sticky rice shared. Good is finding yourself, maybe.

Is it good for backpackers? The real ones? Yes. Definitely, yes.