Travel Costs in Laos
All figures are approximate estimates in USD for comparison.
- Budget / day
- $30
- Mid-range / day
- $75
- Luxury / day
- $200
- Budget meal
- $2.5
- Coffee
- $2
- Local transport
- $0.5
- Budget hotel
- $10
- Mid-range hotel
- $45
Overview
Laos is one of Southeast Asia's more affordable destinations, with food and local transport being remarkably cheap, especially at local markets and street stalls. Costs rise notably for boat trips, organized tours, and accommodation in tourist hubs like Luang Prabang, which is pricier than Vientiane or smaller towns. Overall, budget travelers can live very comfortably on modest sums, while mid-range and luxury options remain well below comparable Western prices.
Notes
Eat at local markets and family-run restaurants rather than tourist-facing establishments to cut food costs significantly, and consider slow boats over flights for intercity travel as they are far cheaper and offer a memorable experience.