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A note on timing: we stayed in Laos in 2023, so while our experience and costs are genuine, prices and conditions may have shifted since. We always recommend checking a few different places to compare prices.

We knew Laos was going to be cheap. Kie had visited previously so we knew we could cut back our expenses while we were here. But how cheap was it going to be?

We entered Laos from Thailand, which was great as it was a more sustainable way to travel plus it meant we got to enjoy the slow boat. We got a 30-day visa on arrival and then we extended this once for another 30 days.

Both were easy to get and worth it to be able to stay longer in this beautiful country. All up, we spent 48 days in the country. So I averaged out our expenses to make this for an average month.

Below is a breakdown of the average monthly living costs for the two of us. Hopefully, this helps if you’re wondering how much it costs to live as a digital nomad. We definitely couldn’t live the lifestyle we did in Laos back in New Zealand on this kind of budget. If you’re curious you can also check out our other cost of living posts.

Rent - $748

This is always our biggest expense so no surprise it topped the list again. We did struggle to find places within budget at first.

We arrived in Luang Prabang on the Slow Boat with a hotel booked for the first few nights. But it was a pretty sparse room with a bed and nothing else. Not exactly the best setup for two digital nomads for a month.

We hunted around to find something with a kettle, fridge and desk but we couldn’t find anything in budget. So we started to look further south in Vang Vieng.

After 10 days in Luang Prabang, we headed south on the train.

We had a cute little room at Vang Vieng Camellia Hotel in the centre of town for the first week. Then we headed to Vang Vieng Savanh Sunset View Resort on the outskirts of town for a month. We really appreciated their pool as it started getting hotter and drier.

Our final stop was in Vientiane for five days. Definitely, more time than you need in Vientiane, but we were pretty tired of Vang Vieng by then.

Everywhere we stayed before Vientiane included breakfast, which meant our food costs dropped, and the price here is slightly higher than at other places. It was nice to have breakfast on-site when we didn’t have our own kitchen.

Dining Out - $357

We only ate out for lunch and dinner almost the whole time in Laos. In Vang Vieng, we were big fans of the excellent sandwiches available all over town. These are similar to Vietnamese bánh mì and just as delicious.

Dinners were usually pretty cheap. There aren’t that many fancy restaurants in Vang Vieng. However, we did indulge a few times in Luang Prabang.

Spending - $303

Luang Prabang is a gorgeous town, and we spent a bit of money enjoying it. We wanted to be out and about, enjoying the city vibes.

We also visited Kuang Si Waterfall, which is a must-do. Try to get there early, before the tourist buses arrive.

There is very little to do in Vang Vieng when you’re there for a month. It was the burning season, so we watched the sky slowly cloud over and avoided spending too much time outside.

This was great for spending less. We did enjoy the Blue Lagoon and explored Tham Chang Cave.

The other thing we spent a lot of money on was the kitten we rescued, Tofu. He was left for dead and we kept him in our hotel room while he built up enough strength to go to a more permanent home. Worth every penny.

Visa - $109

We paid for two visas each in Laos. One for 30 days when we arrived. Then we got an extension while we were in Vang Vieng.

These weren’t cheap, but they meant we could travel more sustainably and just use ground transportation.

Groceries - $77

We didn’t have a kitchen while we were in Laos, so we did very little grocery shopping. We didn’t need to get coffee or fruit as we’d usually have these at breakfast, or we could buy really reasonably priced juice.

Going to a grocery store can add up as you sneak those extras into your trolley, so this helped cut back our expenses.

Transport - $51

While we were in Laos, we took a lot of different transport. We took the highly efficient train from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng. We took a minibus from Vang Vieng to Vientiane.

Kie borrowed a scooter one day, and it blew a tyre. So we paid to repair that. We also hired a scooter on the weekends to explore Vang Vieng.

We took a few Grab rides around the capital to go to museums and other sites. But elsewhere we stayed so centrally we didn’t need a lot of taxis.

Subscriptions, Cellphone, Bank Fees - $65

Cellphone charges are definitely a lot cheaper here than back home. We used 4G a couple of times for work. but overall we were impressed with the connectivity at our hotels and the coffee shops.

Consider getting an eSIM to help keep things simple. Our favourite one is Saily and we’ve shared a full breakdown of the service here.

Bank fees were charged by the Laos ATMs each time we took money out, but there were limits on how much you could take out at one time. All the ATMs charged different amounts but it wasn’t enough of a difference for us to track down the cheapest one.

What we have done is to make sure our banks aren’t overcharging us for taking money out. That’s why we recommend Wise accounts to anyone who is travelling.

No matter how long you’re travelling for, it’s always a good idea to consider getting travel insurance. There are plenty of options out there, but Safety Wing is designed for people travelling long-term and have flexible policies.

laos monks collecting alms — *Laos monks collecting their alms early in the morning*

Final Note

Laos is a beautiful country that is changing rapidly. I’m so glad we visited when we did, but I would recommend timing your trip so that you’re not there during the burning season!

All up, if you can find well-priced accommodation in Luang Prabang, I would definitely recommend it for a digital nomad stay.

Vang Vieng is fine, but very quiet. Vientiene was not one of my favourite places. So I’d recommend just a few days on your way in or out of the country.

Have you tried living in Laos as a digital nomad? I’d love to hear about your experience. Let us know in the comments below.