Laos
How much does a trip to Laos cost? Daily budget and prices
Plan on LAK 550,000–850,000 (about $25–40) a day backpacking, LAK 1,300,000–2,300,000 ($60–105) mid-range, and LAK 4,500,000+ ($210+) for comfort, per person, excluding flights. Cash in kip still runs markets, tuk-tuks and food stalls, so carry small notes and a backup card.
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- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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GuideLaos
Key facts
- Currency
- Lao kip (LAK); many hotels quote in US dollars
- Backpacker day
- LAK 550,000–850,000 (about $25–40)
- Mid-range day
- LAK 1,300,000–2,300,000 (about $60–105)
- Comfort day
- LAK 4,500,000+ (about $210+)
- Cheap meal
- Khao piak sen or noodle soup LAK 30,000–40,000
- Beerlao, large bottle
- LAK 20,000–35,000
- Tuk-tuk across Luang Prabang
- LAK 30,000–60,000
- Train Vientiane–Luang Prabang, second classcheck
- LAK 300,000–350,000
- Cash vs card
- Cash is needed for markets, tuk-tuks and stalls; cards work at hotels and larger restaurants, often with a surcharge
- ATMs
- Available in Luang Prabang and Vientiane, low withdrawal limits and fees
- Prices move fast
- 2026 estimate; inflation is high and the kip moves quickly
Daily budget by travel style
Laos is one of the cheaper countries in Southeast Asia, but the spread between styles is wide. A backpacker sleeping in a dorm or fan room, eating noodle soup and market food, and taking second-class trains can stay under LAK 900,000 a day. Mid-range travellers in a boutique guesthouse with café meals, tuk-tuks and a guided day trip land around LAK 1,100,000–2,250,000. Comfort travel — a heritage hotel in Luang Prabang, restaurant meals and a private car — starts around LAK 3,200,000 and goes well past LAK 7,900,000.
These figures are per person per day, with a room shared at mid and comfort levels. They exclude international flights, domestic flights and the slow boat. Treat them as 2026 estimates: kip prices move fast and hotels often quote in dollars.
| Tier | Bed | Food | Transport | Sights | Extras | Total per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | LAK 150,000–300,000 | LAK 150,000–250,000 | LAK 50,000–150,000 | LAK 40,000–100,000 | LAK 50,000–100,000 | LAK 440,000–900,000 |
| Mid-range | LAK 400,000–900,000 | LAK 300,000–500,000 | LAK 150,000–350,000 | LAK 150,000–300,000 | LAK 100,000–200,000 | LAK 1,100,000–2,250,000 |
| Comfort | LAK 1,500,000–4,000,000 | LAK 700,000–1,500,000 | LAK 500,000–1,200,000 | LAK 300,000–700,000 | LAK 200,000–500,000 | LAK 3,200,000–7,900,000 |
2026 estimate, per person per day, sharing a room at mid and comfort. Flights and slow boats not included.
What things cost
Street and market food is the cheapest way to eat: a bowl of khao piak sen or noodle soup runs LAK 30,000–40,000, and a large Beerlao LAK 20,000–35,000. Café and restaurant meals cost more, especially in Luang Prabang. A one-hour traditional Lao massage is LAK 100,000–150,000.
Transport adds up on long legs. A tuk-tuk across Luang Prabang is LAK 30,000–60,000. Train legs cost LAK 150,000–600,000 depending on class and distance; the Vientiane–Luang Prabang second-class fare sits around LAK 300,000–350,000 (check current fares). The slow boat between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang adds LAK 500,000–800,000. A domestic flight is around LAK 2,200,000 one way.
Sight entries are modest. Kuang Si falls entry is about LAK 60,000 (check).
| Item | Price | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Khao piak sen (noodle soup) | LAK 30,000–40,000 | No |
| Beerlao, large bottle | LAK 20,000–35,000 | No |
| Tuk-tuk across Luang Prabang | LAK 30,000–60,000 | No |
| Traditional Lao massage, 1 hour | LAK 100,000–150,000 | No |
| Kuang Si falls entry | LAK 60,000 | Yes |
| Train Vientiane–Luang Prabang, second class | LAK 300,000–350,000 | Yes |
| Domestic flight, one way | LAK 2,200,000 | Yes |
| Slow boat, Huay Xai–Luang Prabang | LAK 500,000–800,000 | Yes |
Cash, cards and ATMs
Laos still runs on cash. Carry kip in small notes for markets, tuk-tuks and food stalls. ATMs exist in Luang Prabang and Vientiane, but per-withdrawal limits are low and fees are high, so take out larger amounts when you can and keep a backup card. Card payments work at hotels and larger restaurants, often with a surcharge, and QR wallet payments are common among locals but less useful for short-stay visitors.
Many hotels quote in US dollars, so you may pay in dollars or kip. Check the rate before you agree, and keep some cash in reserve for the days when the machine is empty or your card is refused.
- Carry small kip notes for markets, tuk-tuks and stalls.
- Withdraw larger amounts at ATMs to limit fees; keep a backup card.
- Expect a card surcharge at hotels and larger restaurants.
- Keep a cash reserve for ATM outages or card refusals.
How to keep costs down
Book the train early for the cheapest class that suits you, and use it instead of flying where the route allows. Eat where locals eat: market stalls and small noodle shops cost a fraction of café meals. Guesthouses outside the Luang Prabang peninsula are cheaper than heritage stays, and tuk-tuk fares are negotiable before you get in.
Slow travel is cheaper travel in Laos. Long road and river legs cost time, not much money, and staying three or four nights in one base cuts transport spending. For a rough total for your own dates and style, use the trip cost estimator.
- Take the train rather than flying where possible.
- Eat at markets and small noodle shops.
- Stay just outside the main tourist strip.
- Agree tuk-tuk fares before boarding.
- Base in one town for 3–4 nights to cut transport costs.
What changes the bill
Season matters: high season from November to February brings higher room rates in Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng, while the green season can lower them. Festivals such as Pi Mai (Lao New Year) push prices up and fill rooms early. Long-distance legs — the slow boat, domestic flights, overnight buses — are the biggest single costs after your room.
Inflation is the wild card. The kip has moved fast in recent years, so prices quoted in kip can look very different a few months later. Check current fares and room rates close to your trip, and treat every figure here as a 2026 estimate.
FAQ
Sources and checked date
Questions people ask
How much money do you need per day in Laos?
Backpackers can manage on LAK 550,000–850,000 (about $25–40) a day; mid-range travellers spend LAK 1,300,000–2,300,000 ($60–105); comfort travel starts around LAK 4,500,000 ($210+). These are 2026 estimates per person, excluding flights.
Is Laos expensive for tourists?
No. Laos is one of the cheaper countries in Southeast Asia for food, guesthouses and local transport. Costs rise with boutique hotels, café meals and private cars, and long legs such as the slow boat or a domestic flight add a large one-off cost.
What do meals, hotels and transport cost in Laos?
Noodle soup or khao piak sen is LAK 30,000–40,000 and a large Beerlao LAK 20,000–35,000. Rooms range from LAK 150,000 for a dorm or fan room to LAK 4,000,000+ for a heritage hotel. Tuk-tuks are LAK 30,000–60,000 around Luang Prabang; train legs LAK 150,000–600,000.
Do I need cash in Laos?
Yes, for markets, tuk-tuks and food stalls. ATMs exist in Luang Prabang and Vientiane but have low withdrawal limits and fees, so carry small kip notes and a backup card. Cards work at hotels and larger restaurants, often with a surcharge.
How much should I budget for a two-week trip to Laos?
At backpacker level, roughly LAK 7,700,000–11,900,000 for 14 days, plus flights. Mid-range runs about LAK 15,400,000–31,500,000. Add domestic flights or the slow boat separately, and check current fares before you book.
Are prices in Laos quoted in kip or dollars?
Both. The kip is the local currency, but many hotels and tour operators quote in US dollars. Check the exchange rate before you agree, and keep some kip for everyday spending.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialMinistry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Laos
- officialLao National Railway
- officialBank of the Lao PDR
- secondaryWikivoyage – Laos