Laos · Asia

Vientiane

Best for: Mekong-side capital base — slow-pace Southeast Asia at sub-Bangkok prices.

Mid-tier monthly cost

Full breakdown

$900/mo

Rent$400
Groceries$180
Dining out$130
Transport$30
Utilities$70
Coworking$90

Climate at a glance

Year heatmap

Tropical savanna

Best months

Annual range: 22°–30°C

Living essentials

Mostly country-level baselines. City-specific signals (air, neighborhood) override where we have them.

Tap water: Bottled only
Power: Type A/B/C/F · 230V/50Hz
Internet (typical): Under 50 Mbps
Cards & cash: Cash-first — carry local
Tipping: 10% optional
Ride apps: Local tuk-tuk
Medical infrastructure: Limited; medevac strongly advised

Visa for nomads

Medium nomad-friendly

Pathway

Extendable tourist

Program

—

Typical max stay

3 months

Same Laos visa story as Luang Prabang — 30-day visa-on-arrival or e-visa, extendable in-country up to 90 days total. No formal DNV. Many longer-term nomads run visa runs to Thailand.

Visa concierges

Editorial summary, not legal advice. Verify with the relevant consulate before applying — visa programs change with little notice.

FIRE math at this cost

Run scenarios

Annual spend

$10,800

FIRE target (4% SWR)

$270,000

Coast-FIRE @ 7%/30yr

$35,469

Editorial estimates using the standard 4% Trinity-study rule. Run the FIRE calculator for sequence-of-returns risk, custom withdrawal rates, and country-specific tax assumptions.

Mid-tier monthly cost

Climate at a glance

Living essentials

Visa for nomads

FIRE math at this cost

Similar bases

Build your stack for Vientiane