The cost of living in Laos

Hi folks, NatNomad here. An ex-Buddhist monk from Laos with a big dream of seeing the world. Throughout my time for over 10 years being a monk I kept asking myself one question "What life is like out there beyond the monastery?" and because of this question alone made me take a big step in 2014 when I finally said goodbye to my wonderful monastic life.
And now I'm doing what I've always wanted to do. Though I am not quite sure if I can say that I'm living my dream but you know what I'm loving my new adventure.
Please make sure to stick with me so we can explore new exotic places together.
Let the adventure begins!
Thanks so much for your support.

[@jon780]

This was a great video. Straight to the point and lots of good info. Thank you!!

[@natnomad]

My pleasure. I'm glad you found it useful 😊

[@penninewayne1967]

Great information Nat. Thanks for that as I would like to go back to Laos one day in the future. I was there in 2007 and had a great time. 👍

[@natnomad]

My pleasure, I hope it helps. Hopefully you come visit Laos again very soon. Things are a bit different compared to 2007.

[@nickhubbard3671]

Great information - thanks!

[@deuvang8361]

Thanks for sharing this great informations. Keep up the awesome video.👍

[@natnomad]

Thank you so much for always supporting my channel 😊🙏

[@MyJourneySolo]

Interesting. Always good information.

[@leesinnorai1871]

Thanks 🙏 it’s good for to know !

[@TheSushiandme]

500 to 550 a month? Rent being 300ish. That is so affordable I just need unlimited internet and I'm golden

[@natnomad]

You can have the wifi installed for the unlimited internet.

[@TheSushiandme]

@natnomad thank you. I can't wait when I save enough. Maybe late 2024 or early 2025. Plus I might want to go exploring too so I'll need unlimited data for the phone. 😀

[@natnomad]

Sounds good. I've been using the package 30gb per month deal, and that cost me $6. Simcard internet

[@majorcat]

@@natnomad hey but what is the quality of it? good speed to make video calls?

[@mixtereE]

great attention to detail, appreciate that

[@natnomad]

You're welcome

[@havechopstickswilltravel2990]

Very good information. Thank you. We plan to visit Luang Prabang for one month stay while exploring the area. It is true about healthcare. My cousin was not feeling well when she was staying in Paksan. Went to hospital and they cannot do much for her there. Took the boat across to Thailand and they had the facility to address her pre stroke symptoms. They flew her to Bangkok and she had a double bypass in Bangkok. They they flew her back to France in business. She is now recovering and just taking it easy back in France.

[@natnomad]

Yes, Laos still has a long way to go in terms of medical care and some others that are related to health issues. I'm glad that your cousin is saved now.

[@mkommany43]

sabaidee, thankyou for information, love it. again thanks

[@natnomad]

My pleasure. I'm glad you find it useful

[@AzerPaul]

Good info. Thanks.

[@natnomad]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jasonking6892]

Good video greeting from Colombia 🇨🇴 👍

[@natnomad]

Thank you for stopping by🙂

[@chanthasendarath1906]

👍❤

[@han870529]

Hi Nat, visit Laos soon. seek ur advise on simcard for visitor 15 days, need a good coverage for location searching as well as keep contact with my family since i am travel alone

[@natnomad]

I'd recommend Unitel. They provide the best service among all. And with the packages you can have from one week-15 days to one month. When you get the simcard, you can tell them for 15 days package. You can get the simcard at every phone store in town or on the main street, if you're in Luang Prabang.

[@han870529]

@@natnomad Thanks Nat. i will arrive Vientiane airport and move to pakse, 4000 island back to Van Vieng.

[@ckenealy8]

Thank you, what is the best way to get a rental for 1 month? AirBnB listing seems sparse.

[@natnomad]

Guesthouses would be a cheaper option for a month. Many guesthouses offer monthly deals as well. Air BnB oftentimes are expensive.

[@BadMedizin]

👍👍👍🙏

[@simonesmith7877]

Great 411 Ty

[@EcleticMusicFilm]

Hi, Do you know anything about how to get a retirement visa for Laos? Does anyone know out there?

[@natnomad]

I don't know about it, but do join the Facebook Group called" Vientiane Expats " there you can ask some advice from those who'd been living in Laos for sometimes. Good luck!

[@sebastianniqvist3144]

Good info it’s super cheap. In which order from most to least expensive are these countries? Myanmar Laos Cambodia

[@natnomad]

By far Myanmar is the least expensive country then Laos and Cambodia

[@mikestout9588]

The other questions (for me): Which of these has the easiest visa situation/route to legally staying long term. I've been thinking about this a lot lately- it seems like the key is to not stay in one country for over 6 months- for tax, visa issues, etc. So maybe 4 months in each country per year. I have a friend who does something like this, although he has a solid income. I'm looking and looking for remote jobs that would facilitate moving there- especially Laos with the French cultural history part. Hard to imagine living on under $1000 per month but maybe it's possible.

[@denis4072]

I know this a year old vid. But, $500-600 to live comfortable is insane. Is this in Luang Prabang? Thanks

[@natnomad]

You can still live with that quite ok but not too comfortably due to the increasing of cost of living.

[@smurfhits5688]

How much is one unit of electric in lao?

[@natnomad]

Umm...good question. I honestly not sure how much it is. I suppose that I depends on how much you use the power.

[@smurfhits5688]

@@natnomad yes one unit means 1000 wattshours so one kilowatt. In Thailand for example one kilowatt or unit is 4thb. So if you use 1000 units you get a bill for 5000thb

[@laekham374]

How do you find the places?

[@natnomad]

You can join a Facebook group called"Rent Luang Prabang or Vientiane House for rent" like that. Or just walk around you'll see plenty in town

[@Jh12348]

Im paying $1000 a month just to live 20 square meter one room in seoul gangnam 😢 hope to live at laos or thailand...

[@natnomad]

What a contrast.

[@619elephant9]

$350 and a whole house. I would definitely move there in the future.

[@natnomad]

It is quite affordable here

[@douglasdupre3461]

Convert your pricing to US $.

[@Vlogged-off]

X2 more than Thailand

[@natnomad]

Yes, in someway Laos is more expensive than Thailand, especially the groceries because most of the goods are imported. But the rent is still cheap in Laos

[@briansounalath]

Does it come with servants?

[@natnomad]

Well, not with that price

[@Jason.cbr1000rr]

I'm 🇱🇦 but was born here in Australia. You can hire servants for cheap, whether it's through private/personal connections or a conpany/agency.

[@anthonylutz118]

Yo!

[@natnomad]

Right? I am confused myself that they added S when saying it in English, when in fact it is just Lao.

[@andrewfraser3343]

when it has a 711 we will talk

[@natnomad]

Only in Vientiane for now hehe

[@philippesaidani9415]

Blablablablabla!!!

[@judithgrace9850]

S is silent like. Illlinois

[@VenusAllmighty]

Why so worried man?! Cheer up a bit, you’re not sharing info about funerals!

[@TheSushiandme]

Probably hot as hell there 😂😂😂

[@Vlogged-off]

If your paying 350 dollars for that if be pissed too lol

[@sulaimandev]

😂​@@Vlogged-off

[@angryox3102]

If my monthly budget was $350 a month I’d be worried too.

[@steadylearner1]

Lol, you almost killed me. He needs to smile a bit .

[@BlackHmong85]

Luang Prabang is overrated

[@fazbell]

350 a month might get you an apartment, but don't try to retire in Laos on less than 2000 USD a month.

[@natnomad]

2000 usd a month that must be a very high standard living. I can live like a king with that amount of money in Laos

[@KinkyHeadMonkey]

I am Laotian currently living in the U.S I will visit Laos only but I plan to live in Thailand instead. I am not sure yet where in Thailand I want to live. Therefore, I will live in Bangkok for a month, in Hua Hin for a month, in Patong, Phuket for a month, and in Pattaya for a month then I will be heading to Isaan. I will decide where my base would be later. I will just visit Laos while I am in Thailand. The minimum budget of $500 - $550 a month in Laos, is that included in rent and food?

[@natnomad]

Thailand is a good choice given the convenience. Yes the budget that I mentioned is for both the rent and the living expenses. Welcome home soon🙂

[@KinkyHeadMonkey]

@@natnomad That's very cheap. I am in my 50s receiving a decent lifetime pension. I can live comfortably in Thailand or Laos and anywhere in Asia. Cost of living is very cheap and dollars is very strong against Lao Kip and Thai Baht. The value of Lao Kip is going down lower and lower every month. As of today, $1.00 = 18,115.00 Kip already.

[@natnomad]

Yeah, that's your advantage.

[@KinkyHeadMonkey]

@@natnomad The truth is, in Thailand, I can live by the beach in a very nice condo that has gym, swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzi for less than $275.00/month and infrastructure is also better plus so much entertainment and food everywhere. I have American friends living in Hua Hin, Patong, Jomtien, and Pattaya and in Isaan as well. I will visit Laos because I have family there.

[@natnomad]

I agree, Thailand has more choices compares to Laos