- Information
- History
- Weather
- When to go
- Good to know
- Culture
- Costs
- Visa and Passport
- Food
- Nightlife
- Glossary
- Traveler Advice
- Forums
48HourVisit.com
Planning a short visit? Check out 48HourVisit.com, your online guide for short stays and weekend getaways. Ad
The Glossary
)
)
to:
70,000.00 LAK (8.22 USD
)
)
to:
600,000.00 LAK (70.46 USD
)
)
More expensive charge for imported beer.
)
to:
35,000.00 LAK (4.11 USD
)
Midrange price.
)
)
)
)
)
to:
22,500.00 LAK (2.64 USD
)
)
)
)
to:
2,000.00 LAK (0.23 USD
)
Price for two.
)
)
Cost of a 3-minute phone call (landline)
)
)
)
Cost for 3 kilometers.
)
Taxi rate per kilometer.
)
More about Laos costs
Laos is an ideal budget destination, whose currency is inconvertible outside the country. The local currency is kip, with an exchange rate of 8500 kip to the dollar. The kip comes in 500.00 LAK (0.06 USD), 1,000.00 LAK (0.12 USD), 2,000.00 LAK (0.23 USD), 5,000.00 LAK (0.59 USD), 10,000.00 LAK (1.17 USD), and 20,000.00 LAK (2.35 USD) denominations. US dollars are accepted as payment in the country but come with a 5 to 10 percent less official rate. Places near the border, particularly Vientiane, accept Thai baht bills.
Since Laos is a very inexpensive country, about 170,000.00 LAK (19.96 USD) is enough for a daily budget. Comfortable travel can reach as low as 17,000.00 LAK (2.00 USD). Food is very cheap, with meal prices going as low as 43,000.00 LAK (5.05 USD). Local dishes cost less than 8,500.00 LAK (1.00 USD). Laos' national drink is the Beerlao, made from jasmine rice and carries a mythical reputation among beer enthusiasts. A 640 ml bottle costs only 10,000.00 LAK (1.17 USD) to 12,000.00 LAK (1.41 USD). Another interesting local drink is the lao-lao or rice whiskey, which costs less than 2,500.00 LAK (0.29 USD) for a 750 ml bottle.