Price of a trip to Laos
Budget, Comfort or Luxury? Our 2025 Guide
What you need to know about Laos’ economy
Laos is a landlocked country, nestled in the heart of the mountains, with no access to the sea and limited local production. Around 90% of the products sold in the country are imported from neighboring countries. This results in significant transportation costs, combined with reseller margins—factors that directly impact consumer prices.
In recent years, Laos has not been spared by the global economic crisis. Between January 2022 and March 2023, the country experienced inflation of 40.8% (source: Laotian Times, April 21, 2023). This situation led to a rise in the cost of living and, consequently, increased costs for the main players in the tourism sector.
To give you a clear benchmark: today, the cost of traveling in Laos is on average higher than in Vietnam (+40%), Thailand (+25%), and Cambodia (+10%).
This is comparable to price differences one finds when traveling in Europe: visiting Portugal, Spain, or Greece does not involve the same costs as traveling to Corsica, Switzerland, or England.
What is the real budget for a trip to Laos?
There is no single, definitive answer to this question. It all depends on your travel style and what you expect from your adventure in Laos.
For example, hiring a private tuk-tuk in town costs around €50 per day, while a private minivan to travel to the countryside costs approximately €160 per day. The price of a basic traditional Laotian hotel in Luang Prabang starts at around €45 per night, while the most luxurious properties can reach up to €2,700 per night.
ITB Berlin 2024 - Charly RENAUDIN One of our co-founders
“Laos is a captivating destination, increasingly sought after by travelers in search of authenticity.
Through this article, we aim to inform you that Laos is not an underdeveloped country, but rather a nation in full development, one that has recognized the true value of its cultural heritage, traditions, and preserved natural environment. Traveling to Laos means discovering extraordinary treasures… at their true and fair value.”
How much does a trip to Laos cost?
Dreaming of a trip to Laos but wondering what budget to plan for? Whether you are a minimalist backpacker or a traveler seeking comfort, here is a realistic cost estimate to plan your journey for 2025 and 2026.
A complete guide, designed to support you
How to budget your trip to Laos? Why choose a local travel agency?
As a local agency specializing in tailor-made journeys, we are committed to providing you with honest, up-to-date information on the country’s economic realities. In this guide, we address all the questions our travelers ask before departure, with clarity and transparency. This is not just a simple price range overview: it is a practical tool, based on our on-the-ground experience, to help you plan your trip with peace of mind.
We strongly recommend taking the time to read it carefully. You will find a comprehensive overview of Laos’ economic realities, along with practical advice to adapt your trip to your budget ...without compromising on quality.
Here are some concrete examples of prices in Laos:
It is important not to confuse cost of living with the cost of traveling in Laos.
In Laos, daily life can be inexpensive. For Laotians and long-term residents, the cost of living is relatively low: riding a scooter to work, eating at small local street restaurants, or shopping at local markets remains very affordable.
However, this everyday local lifestyle cannot be directly compared to the expenses involved in a travel experience.
To put it into perspective, organizing a tailor-made trip with a specialized agency is a bit like buying a smartphone: you expect it to work perfectly, to be reliable, optimized, and adapted to your needs. Of course, it would be possible to buy all the individual components and assemble it yourself at home but the result would never be the same. It would take an enormous amount of time, involve risks, and would not offer the same quality or level of service as a company that refines its expertise year after year.
Travel works in much the same way. Choosing a local travel agency means ensuring a smooth itinerary beyond mass tourism, carefully selected accommodations, authentic encounters, and above all, professional support at every stage of the journey. The price therefore reflects not only the trip itself, but also peace of mind, expertise, and a level of experience you simply won’t find in guidebooks or online.
1. Transportation costs
In Laos, around 90% of the minivans in use are imported from Thailand. Their original price, approximately €28,000, rises to about €38,000 once sold in Laos, after adding transportation costs, import taxes, border crossing fees, and the local dealer’s margin. The same applies to spare parts and maintenance, which explains why the daily cost of a minivan with driver is higher than in Thailand or Vietnam. Prices generally range from €120 to €160 per day, depending on the route and logistical requirements.
Another realistic example: an international flight from Paris to Geneva can cost as little as €67, while a domestic flight from Luang Prabang to Pakse, in southern Laos, costs about 20% more, around €87.
2. The cost of a French-speaking guide in Laos
The cost of a French-speaking guide is naturally higher than that of an English-speaking guide, as fluency in French remains a rare and valuable skill in Laos. Depending on the type of day (city visits, trekking, or travel in the provinces), a French-speaking guide typically earns between €60 and €75 per day. As this profession is highly seasonal, guides mainly work during the high season, around 6 to 8 months per year, sometimes up to 25 working days per month. This represents an average monthly income of around €1,000, not including tips.
At ORLA Tours, we are committed to paying our guides fairly. They are dedicated professionals who also have families to support, and whose expertise, kindness, and commitment you will truly appreciate throughout your journey. While it is possible to find cheaper guides, they are often less qualified and may operate outside the official framework of the Lao Association of French-speaking Guides.
3. Accommodation in Laos
With more than four million visitors per year, Luang Prabang is one of the country’s most popular destinations. During the high season, the city’s roughly 350 hotels are often fully booked, and prices range from €45 to €2,700 per night, depending on the category. On average, a charming hotel with a swimming pool costs between €70 and €280 per night, while a stay at the Sofitel exceeds €400 per night. Fortunately, homestays and local guesthouses remain far more affordable. This allows us at ORLA Tours to design well-balanced, tailor-made itineraries, combining comfort, immersion, and budget control, for a journey that is both highly personalized and truly authentic.
4. The cost of meals
In Laos, it is difficult to generalize, but you should budget between €15 and €50 per day for three meals with drinks, depending on whether you choose simple local cuisine or Western-inspired dishes, which are often more expensive. Indeed, as soon as you opt for international cuisine, prices rise: ingredients are often imported from neighboring countries, making meals more expensive than in Thailand or Vietnam. As an example, a dinner at a street food stall costs around €3 to €4 per person, while a more elaborate meal in a standard restaurant with table service and a dedicated kitchen ranges from €4 to €10. In a hotel restaurant, expect to pay €12 to €30 per person.
Lao meals are traditionally shared: 3 dishes for 2 people, 4 for 3, and 5 for 4, in keeping with local customs. Finally, a bowl of street noodle soup costs around €2, though it is best to have a well-prepared digestive system and not be too concerned about the basic hygiene of utensils, which are often washed with tap water and a well-worn sponge.
Income in Laos
A rapidly changing economic reality
Long long associated with poverty, Laos has experienced rapid development over recent decades, driven by a new generation born after 1975, determined to work hard and open up to the world. Today, in urban areas, Lao people enjoy a better quality of life, travel each year, invest in land, open businesses, and the 4x4 vehicle has become a symbol of the emerging middle class.
This social transformation has profoundly reshaped the country’s economic dynamics. However, significant inequalities remain: while some live comfortably in urban centers, a large part of the rural population continues to live at or below the poverty line. Average income in Laos is therefore a difficult indicator to interpret, as it masks the deep disparity between cities and rural areas.
At ORLA Tours, we are committed to promoting community-based and responsible tourism, working with as many local families as possible, especially those who need it most.
Wages in Laos
Figures often cited regarding very low wages in Laos generally reflect public sector salaries. Civil servants frequently combine several parallel activities while maintaining a certain social status. The private sector, on the other hand, offers significantly higher levels of remuneration, closer to European standards, though still adapted to the local context. Moreover, international statistics often overlook a large portion of the active population working in the informal economy, which represents a substantial part of the country’s real economic activity.
What budget should I plan for my 2025 trip to Laos?
What budget should you plan for depending on the number of travelers?
To summarize, a private circuit for a small group of 4 people costs on average €150 to €180 per day per person, which represents approximately €1,100 to €1,300 for one week.
For a couple, the budget is generally €220 to €260 per day per person.
Traveling solo or in a group: the impact on price
A solo trip organized by a local agency means bearing all fixed costs alone, which makes it economically unviable (this is why we do not offer this format).
On the other hand, the more travelers there are, the more costs are shared, making the trip more affordable.
A concrete example
A private minivan costs around €160 per day.
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For 2 people, this equals €80 per day per person
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For 4 people, it drops to €40 per day per person
What fixed costs should be expected?
Fixed costs include:
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Guide and driver services, as well as their meals and accommodation
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Your meals and accommodation
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Your minivan or tuk-tuk in town, and fuel
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Private boats and canoes
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Domestic flights if you travel to southern Laos
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The agency’s margin (year-round staff salaries, scouting new itineraries, marketing & communication costs, office rent, utilities, etc.)
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Government taxes required to operate legally (around 12% per trip)
You will have understood it by now: traveling in Laos with a serious and fully licensed agency does come at a cost, but it is the guarantee of an unforgettable, safe journey rich in authentic encounters.
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Looking for the lowest possible price often means exposing yourself to a standardized trip, lacking soul and genuine attention to service quality.
ORLA Tours has been physically based in the heart of Luang Prabang for nearly 15 years and is recognized for its professionalism and reliability, both locally and internationally.
Before every departure, our team ensures that all travel documents are officially validated by the relevant authorities (Tourism Office and Tourism Police). This is the invisible side of your peace of mind—ensuring a well-supervised, secure journey with no unpleasant surprises.