I'm going to give you a first-hand experience of the local cost of living in Vientiane, Laos.
The cost of living is always an important factor when traveling, and I've broken down the cost of living in Vientiane.1. A simple lunch and a price check
I started my lunch in Vientiane with a simple but delicious dish of khao piay yak, a traditional Lao rice noodle soup that you can find everywhere in Laos. I had it at a local restaurant, and it cost about 2,000 kyat. The chewy noodles and rich broth were delicious.
The water provided at the restaurant was about 330 kyat a bottle, and there was no extra charge if you didn't drink it. It was nice to have a satisfying meal for such a low price.
2. Coffee and cell phone SIMcard prices
After the meal, I went for a cup of coffee. In the cafes in Vientiane, an Americano costs about $1, and lattes and cappuccinos cost about $1.5. The coffee was cheaper than I expected, so I was able to enjoy good quality coffee without breaking the bank.
I also bought a sim card to use the internet and chose a $24 plan with 15GB of data from Lao Telecom, which came in handy as I needed to upload data quickly for a short period of time. With such a cheap data plan, I don't think I'll have to worry about using the internet while traveling.
3. Transportation and laundry costs
Transportation in Vientiane is fairly inexpensive, with city buses and taxis costing around $0.2, and laundry at the coin-operated laundromats costing around $1 per kilogram.
The prices at the laundromats were similar, so I knew I could take care of my laundry needs while traveling.
4. Food and drink prices
For dinner, we ate at a fast food restaurant where you could get a set menu with a burger, fries, and a drink for around $3. It was nice to have a hearty meal at a fast food restaurant for such a low price.
At the local market, fruits and snacks were sold very cheaply. For example, a small potato chip was around $0.8 and a large potato chip was around $1.5. Fruits were also inexpensive, with a good-sized fruit costing around $0.7.
5. Beer and snack prices
Beer prices in Laos are really cheap, with BeerLao starting at around $0.5, and higher-end products such as Dark beerlao costing around $0.8.
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There are also a variety of snacks that cost between $0.8 and $1.5. Beer in Laos is especially delicious and affordable, so it's a good option to enjoy a drink or two while traveling.
Wrapping up
After experiencing the cost of living in Vientiane today, I felt that the overall cost of living in Laos is low and affordable. The prices were much lower in local markets than in touristy areas. I think that the low cost of daily living and food will make my trip less financially stressful.
I hope that my experience on the cost of living will be helpful to many people. I think the best way to get the most accurate price information is to experience the local market rather than visiting tourist attractions. Have a great trip in Vientiane!