Philippines vs Laos
Laos costs roughly 20% less than Philippines, though Philippines scores higher on healthcare. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Laos is approximately 20% less expensive than Philippines based on cost of living including rent. This makes Laos a more expensive option for expats considering a move.
Philippines has a FIRE Score of 100/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The country's safety index is 56.9, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Philippines is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $1,500/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
$2,147/mo
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About Laos
Laos offers no retirement visa, though a digital nomad visa is available, and healthcare scores a weak 27.8 with limited English-speaking doctors. Only budget-focused expats comfortable with real risk should push past that, drawn by rent as low as $490.47/mo outside the center and a COL index of just 24 versus NYC. Political stability sits near zero and the ease of access score is 4/10, so plan around bureaucracy, not through it.
$1,588/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
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Country Details →Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Philippines | Laos |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 2: Increased Caution | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 96.9 +5.3 | 91.6 |
| Healthcare Index | 67.3 +39.5 | 27.8 |
| Safety Index | 56.9 | 61.4 +4.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 28.8 | 24 +4.8 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $520.8 +67.8 | $588.6 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $1,854 +299.4 | $2,153.4 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $332.57 +491.25 | $823.82 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $186.21 +304.26 | $490.47 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $663.94 +749.59 | $1,413.53 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $362.86 +500.21 | $863.07 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 187.25 Mbps +96.8 | 90.44 Mbps |
Expat taxes filed by specialists
Greenback Expat Tax handles US taxes for Americans living in Laos. File confidently from abroad.
File your taxes →International health insurance from $45/mo
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