When you hear about Laos, you probably think that the country is really cheap. After all, it’s located in Southeast Asia and isn’t at the economic level of Thailand. We have to admit that we thought so too. But when we were in Laos for the first time, we immediately noticed that many things are more expensive than in Thailand. For example, if you go to the supermarket in Laos and take a closer look at the prices, you’ll immediately notice that many identical products are cheaper in the surrounding countries and that’s just one of many examples. Once you travel to Laos, you’ll know what we mean. Nevertheless, we would like to explain to you what is the reason for Laos being so expensive, since there’s a simple answer for that.
What makes Laos more expensive than Thailand
Laos relies on importing products from neighboring countries. The economy in Laos is still on the upswing and there’s little own industry and export products. Some of Laos main export products are coffee, rubber, wood, clothing and metals. In the food industry, however, Laos mainly exports corn. The demand for many types of food is high in Laos. Therefore a lot of goods are imported from other Asian countries. In addition to Thailand, this also includes China and Vietnam. Logically many products that you know from the supermarkets in Thailand are simply more expensive. The same is often the case, when you go out to eat in a restaurant. In addition, many Laotians rely on offering their services more expensive, because the cost of living is higher.
How you can easily save some money in Laos
Despite the fact that Laos is so expensive, you have a lot of possibilities to save some money. Sometimes you’ll have to pull yourself together, but it’s definitely possible. Especially if you always eat at street stalls or small street restaurants, you can save a lot for the entire duration of your trip. You’ll also have to haggle about the price now and then. Among other things, when driving with tuk tuks and buying clothes or souvenirs in the market. Just don’t forget about the economic situation of the people. If you overdo it with haggling, it could be disrespectful. Still, you should try to push the price down for some things. Otherwise, you won’t be able to afford to travel long in Laos.
Recent posts
Gyms in Vientiane: our recommendations for your holiday workouts
If you’re a fitness-oriented person and plan to stay a few days in Vientiane, you might want to know about the gyms there. In that case, we have good news for you, since the gym situation in the capital is pretty good. There are plenty of nice gyms, and you’ll be surprised about their standards. […]Methanol poisonings in Vang Vieng: from backpacker paradise to backpacker nightmare
We don’t usually like to talk about sad topics, but we feel it’s important to address the devastating news about the incident in Vang Vieng. As you may have already heard, there has been a tragic case of mass methanol poisoning in this popular backpacker destination. While the exact details remain unclear, reports indicate that, […]Monkeys in Laos: a primate paradise
If you’re planning to travel to Laos, you’re probably interested in the wildlife there. In that case we have good news, while some species like leopards are very rare, there are still a lot of monkeys to be found in the wild. The monkey you can see in the picture above is a crab-eating macaque, […]Obama’s visit to Laos and its importance for the relations between the two countries
In September 2016 Obama visited Laos and became the first U.S. president ever to step foot in the country. Most people don’t know that this visit was of utmost importance and helped to overcome a dark chapter in history. As you can see in the picture above Obama’s visit remains an important event. Many people […]Things you should know about money in Laos
Money is always an interesting topic and in Laos it’s no different. Therefore in this article we want to talk about some relevant topics regarding money in Laos. First of all: If you’ve always wanted to be a millionaire, Laos is the right country for you, because the local currency is not worth much compared […]
