Is Laos expensive to travel?

How expensive is Laos to visit?

Laos cheap? Yeah, mostly. Wait, am I forgetting something?

Okay, Laos averages $20-$50 a day. That sounds about right, depending. What was I doing last May? Oh, Laos!

• Accommodation is def affordable, like super cheap guesthouses. Think I paid $10 a night? Or less?

• Food! Street food is the way to go. So good and so cheap. Eating like a local saves tons of money. Sticky rice!

• Transport’s a steal. Buses everywhere. Slow boats? More expensive, but a total experience. Remember that river trip?

Free stuff exists too. Temples, hiking (is that free?)… Plenty to do without spending much.

But, like, if you want fancy hotels and expensive tours, obviously it’ll cost more. No brainer. So $20-$50 is like, bare bones to decent backpacking. What about flights to get there? Did I budget for that? Ack, another spreadsheet.

Additional Information

Laos can be very budget-friendly if you stick to local options.

• Budget Accommodation: Guesthouses and hostels are widely available. Prices are negotiable, especially during the low season. Some dorm beds can be found for under $5 a night.

• Food Choices: Street food is not only delicious but also the cheapest way to eat. A bowl of noodle soup or a grilled meat skewer can cost less than $2. Local restaurants are also reasonably priced. Western-style restaurants, of course, charge more.

• Transportation Tips: Local buses (songthaews) are the cheapest option. Tuk-tuks and taxis are more expensive, but negotiable. Consider renting a motorbike if you’re comfortable driving. Boat travel, especially on the Mekong, is a popular but more expensive option.

• Free Activities: Many temples are free to enter or have a small donation fee. Hiking is generally free, but national parks may charge entrance fees. Explore local markets and villages to experience the culture. Don’t forget the Kuang Si Falls. Amazing!

• Luxury vs. Budget: Prices can easily double or triple if you stay in high-end hotels, eat at tourist restaurants, and take private tours. It’s all about your travel style and what you prioritize. Think about how much you want to spend and research costs of experiences.

Is $100 a lot of money in Laos?

$100 in Laos? A king’s ransom, practically. Think 850,000 kip. Imagine what that looks like. It’s a stack. Money goes far in Laos. Further than a tuk-tuk on a tank of gas. Laos is less prosperous, sure. But that’s the beauty. Your dollar stretches like a rubber band. Value shifts depending on where you stand. Makes you think.

• Accommodation: $100 can get you a nice hotel room for several nights. Not a hostel. Think comfort.
• Food: Eat like royalty. Street food feasts for days. Restaurant meals? No problem. $100 covers a lot of delicious meals. Noodle soups, sticky rice…
• Transportation: Buses, tuk-tuks, even domestic flights within the country become accessible with that kind of cash. Think about it – freedom to move.
• Activities: Temple visits, exploring nature, taking a cooking class—$100 unlocks experiences. You can do things.

The exchange rate fluctuates, naturally. But the principle remains. $100 holds significant weight in Laos. More than you might think. I once bought a handwoven silk scarf. Beautiful. Cost next to nothing. Perspective is everything. The value of a dollar is relative. Funny how that works. Always a trade-off.

Is Laos or Vietnam cheaper?

Laos, yes, Laos whispers of cheaper days. Drifting down the Mekong, gold gleaming…a blur, like fireflies. Is it cheaper? yes, like the dust on my sandals in Luang Prabang.

Vietnam hums, a faster beat. Motorbikes swarming, memories flashing… pho fragrant steam. The price… higher, perhaps? Developed, yes, more polished a brighter shine.

Laos, ah, the guesthouses. Simple, woven dreams and sweet rice wine under stars. Accommodation? Cheaper, definitely, cheaper than rain.

Food stalls… Laos wins. Sticky rice, grilled fish, dreams of chili, dirt cheap. Vietnam… also cheap, but… street food, a symphony, cheaper in Laos, a simpler song.

Buses rumble in Laos, slow, dusty, filled with smiles. Transport, domestic, cheaper… yes. Trains whistle in Vietnam, faster, slicker, but costing more.

Imported things…whiskey burning, the price…the same, maybe? Both lands know import, same prices, alcohol, imported goods, bittersweet.

Vietnam glitters, a brighter star. Better roads, more choices, maybe worth the cost. Tourist stuff costs more. Developed infrastructure. but Laos, yes, the soul remembers.

Laos: Generally cheaper. My heart still aches.

Vietnam: Higher-end options. Never forget the taste of Banh Mi on the street.

Is travelling to Laos cheap?

Man, Laos. Went in 2023, June. Luang Prabang was gorgeous, but holy crap, expensive for what it was. Seriously. Thought it’d be backpacking budget like everywhere else in Southeast Asia, but nope. Food wasn’t cheap. Like, street food was okay, but eating out? Ouch.

My hostel, okay, that was cheap. But everything else… Souvenirs were tourist-trap priced. Entrance fees to temples? Steep. Transportation added up too. Tuk-tuks are everywhere. Loved them, but they nickel and dime you.

Highlights:

• Stunning scenery. Seriously, breathtaking.
• Incredible temples, lots of them.
• The food, some of it. The Khao Soi was amazing!

Lowlights:

• Prices were higher than expected. Way higher. Budget accordingly. I swear it cost more than a similar trip to Thailand.
• Tuk-tuk drivers are masters of negotiation, some downright aggressive. Learn to haggle.

I ended up spending more than I planned. It wasn’t ruinous, but it wasn’t the bargain I’d anticipated. I’m a pretty frugal traveler usually. Laos just…wasn’t as cheap as the blogs made it out to be. The blogs were lying, total lies. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

The whole thing left me feeling kinda disappointed, actually. I’d saved up and really looked forward to it. But still, amazing place. I’d go back, but I’d be much more prepared. Next time, maybe more focus on the less-touristy areas.

What is the average daily cost in Laos?

Seven dollars. Bare minimum. Noodles. Eighteen for a bit more comfort. Forty-four? Luxury. Laos. Cheap. But what is value?

• Budget: $7 (₭157,097)
• Mid-Range: $18 (₭393,696)
• Luxury: $44 (₭972,929)

Exchange rates fluctuate. This is 2024 data, October. My last trip cost more. Beer. Temples. Luang Prabang. Expensive. Still cheap, relatively. Western standards. A skewed perspective. What’s necessary? What’s desired?

Is Laos good for backpackers?

Laos? Backpacking? Oh, absolutely, if you fancy trading Bangkok’s neon for Vientiane’s…dust? Joking! (Mostly.) Seriously, it’s a gem. Think Thailand, but dialed down. Less “same-same,” more “unique-unique.”

• Dirt cheap? Oh yeah. Your wallet will thank you. Or at least not actively revolt.
• Untouched paradise? Sort of. It’s more “lightly touched,” by, say, a friendly water buffalo or three.
• Less touristy: Compared to Thailand’s hordes? Definitely. You might actually hear yourself think. (A novel experience, I know.)

It’s not all serene temples and breathtaking nature, mind you. Expect the occasional pothole that could swallow a small car. But hey, adventure, right? And who needs a fancy spa when you have the Mekong River? (Answer: Probably everyone. But work with me here.)

What is the average income in Laos in dollars?

Okay, Laos income…uh…right.

Like, how much do they make there? Laos, average income, gotta be super low.

• Laos: $100-135/month. That’s rough!

• Vietnam: $150-200. Better.

• Thailand: $400-450. Wow, big jump.

• Cambodia: $170-190. Okay, closer to Vietnam.

Thinking about my trip last year…or was it this year? Saw so many monks. Anyway, those numbers seem really low. I mean, how do people live on that? And compare to, like, my salary! Ugh, guilt.

Vietnam seems to be doing better than Laos. Are there many factories there now?

Cambodia, kind of in the middle then. Thailand is where I wanna go. Beaches, income…

But still, the Laos figure is stuck in my head. How much is that per day? Like, seriously? Time to do the math.

Sigh.