
Keeping with the same logic that applied to the costs in Cambodia post, I wondered if I could continue traveling on the cheap while in Laos. The answer was yes – the real cost of travel in Laos can be as low as $30/day. In the three weeks I spent there, I ended up spending right around USD$750.
Activities can break the bank in Laos, with the Gibbon Experience and other zip lining tours costing a couple hundred dollars (but I didn’t do any of those. Been zip lining, it’s cool, but I don’t need to pay USD$270 to do it again).
My final verdict is that transportation is considerably more expensive in Laos, while accommodation, food, and activities run at about the same rate as Cambodia.
Accommodation:
If staying in dorms or sharing a room, it’s pretty easy to get by spending around $4-$6 in most places. Keep in mind that facilities tend to be very basic especially if you are staying in a locally-run hostel. Mattresses tend to be thin, and a hot shower is never guaranteed (though with Laos’s temperature, an ice cold shower may not sound bad at all). Most hostels do not have a kitchen that you can use, but many offer complimentary breakfast. The electricity might go out every now and then but some more established hostels have their own generator. I find the hostel staff in Laos a bit shy but incredibly sweet. Overall, expect little and just be happy with a clean bed to sleep on at night!
If you are traveling in the low season, it is possible to walk into a local guesthouse and score a private room for $3 a night. The cheapest place I have stayed in during the whole of my travels was in Laos, with my share costing only $1.25 for a shared bungalow and bathroom (though it was a squat toilet, everyone’s favorite)
Hostels in Luang Prabang: $4-$8 (click to book your hostels in Luang Prabang here)
Hostels in Vang Vieng: $4-$6 (click to book your hostels in Vang Vieng here)
Hostels in Vientiane: $4-$10 (click to book your hostels in Vientiane here)
Hostels in Pakse: $8-$12 (click to book your hostels in Pakse here)
Transportation:
Transportation is, unfortunately, neither cheap nor convenient in Laos. It is a very mountainous country with poor roads, so it takes a long time to get from point A to point B, even if the distance, km-wise, seems short. Local buses are cheaper but take a notoriously long time due to frequent and long stops (a buddy of mine got stuck on one for 12 hours to go a distance of only 100km), while night-time VIP busses can cost upwards of $20. Book directly at the bus depot to save a few dollars.
I never saw a taxi here, so tuk-tuks and moto taxis are the best mode of transport. As always, haggle the price down. The starting figure should never be the ending figure.
Tangent: My favorite was a quote from my buddy Michael when negotiating a tuk-tuk fare down from 30,000 kip to 20,000. “Wait,” he said “are we arguing over a dollar here?” to which I said “Yes, but it’s the principle, Michael, the principle.”
Food:
Local food tend to be cheap and basic at about $1-$3. Get ready to eat a lot of fried rice and sticky rice. Western food can be found for anywhere from $2-$6 for a standard meal. Breakfast is available at any time of the day. Street food is readily available if you make your way to the night markets. In Luang Prabang, for example, there was a vegetarian buffet for 10,000 kip, and with meat, the price was only 20,000 kip ($1.25-$2.50).
Cheap vs. Expensive Places in Laos:
Smaller towns are markedly cheaper in Laos. In Tat Lo, on the Bolaven Plateau loop, I only spent $1.25 for my half of the bungalow we stayed in. It was basic, made of nailed together boards of wood and housed only a mattress and a mosquito net, but what more do you really need? I also found Vang Vieng to be cheap, as I stayed at another modest bungalow on the river for only 30,000 kip ($3.75) per night.
The single most expensive town was Luang Prabang. While food was cheap, accommodation was not.
Other Incidentals:
I had three massages with Tiger Balm three days in a row while in Vang Vieng, each lasting an hour and only costing around $6. It was amazing, felt great, and left my skin tingling. Lao massages are AWESOME.
Sim cards for smartphones that utilize 3G are cheap and easy to get in Laos. I spent around $5 for unlimited internet each week (although there were plenty of places I stayed in that had no power for most of the day or were out of range).
*I didn’t get to visit as many towns in Laos as I did in Cambodia, due to the bad roads and my tendency to stay places longer. There is still much of the north I have yet to see/evaluate price-wise. That’ll be another trip!
Christina says
A $6 massage?! Sign. Me. Up.
Ava Apollo says
Right?! That’s why I went three days in a row!
The Workette says
gosh so much adventure! You are lucky.
xo cassy
http://theworkette.blogspot.com/
Kristin Addis says
I am 🙂
john G says
Love the piece! Tiger Balm massages, wowww!
Kristin says
They are so amazing.
Jacob says
Hey, great post! found it very useful as I will be heading up to laos at the end of the month for about ten days. Been spending the last three months in Chiang Mai/traveling all over Thailand. Heading to Malaysia after that.
Thanks for the tips!
Supreeth says
Laos was one of favorites… have been planning for a while now. Thanks for the tips in post. Most to make it there sometime.
Kristin says
I love love loved Laos
Som Saynganthone says
I really enjoy reading all your posts about traveling and I don’t have to be there but I call feel it. Why I can feel it? because I am excited just to read your posts and seating here this late with smiling on my face knowing that you guys have a great time and have been all over Southeast Asia. I just feel relax after reading your posts.
All the beautiful photos and many places you have gone through I really appreciated. I hope someday I can do that too. 🙂
By the way I was born in Laos I think I am too old to travel like you guys. Who knows right? I always think that life is too short to stay in one place.
Kristin says
That’s awesome. Thanks so much for the kind words. You’re never too old to travel!
Courtney says
I love your blog! You provide so much useful information! I’m going to SE Asia in November. Would you recommend Luang Prabang over Vientianne, or vice versa?
Kristin says
That’s tough but if I had to pick one I’d say Luang Prabang has a lot more things to do!
Courtney says
Thank you so much for recommending Luang Prabang. I went last month and had the most amazing time there! 🙂
koosha says
I want to travel to Vietnam and Cambodia, what do you think about Laos? is it necessary visit there or you think Laos same as Cambodia and Vietnam?!
Kristin says
Definitely not the same. I loved Laos.
michell Vazquez says
My hubby and I are planning to travel starting in 2024 so I am starting to plan now. I think I am more nervous on knowing safe places to stay. Did you book everything before you got there ? I am so excited to do this we may stay longer and even get part time jobs while
We are at each place. What are your thoughts?
Kristin says
I never booked anything prior. I winged the entire trip and made decisions on when to go where usually the day of or the day before based on what I heard was cool from other travelers and I recommend doing it that way. It was really no problem! Since I didn’t have any deadlines or limits on how long my trip could be I decided that the best option for me was complete freedom and serendipity and I never regretted it. I know that’s an uncomfortable thought for some people so you just have to decide what’s right for you!