Cost of living comparison

compared to

Vientiane vs. Banjul Cost of Living Summary

Vientiane is 2.5 times more expensive than Banjul.

Restaurants
pay 57.8% less in Vientiane
Groceries
pay 50.0% more in Vientiane
Transportation
pay 4.4 times more in Vientiane
Housing
pay 4.4 times more in Vientiane
Childcare
pay 87.1 times more in Vientiane
Entertainment and Sports
pay 17.4% less in Vientiane
Clothing
pay 33.7% less in Vientiane

The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, and groceries in Vientiane are more expensive than in Banjul. Expenses including restaurants, clothing, and entertainment and sports are lower in Vientiane. Notably, childcare, housing, and transportation are significantly more expensive in Vientiane.

Vientiane vs. Banjul Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Vientiane instead of Banjul, you would:

pay 57.8% less for restaurants

 
Banjul
Vientiane
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $7.31
GMD536.99
$2.67
LAK60,254
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$7.86
GMD577.36
$5.35
LAK121K
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.64
GMD193.83
$0.71
LAK16,068

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pay 50.0% more for groceries

 
Banjul
Vientiane
Bread
1 loaf
$0.63
GMD46.35
$1.14
LAK25,737
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.04
GMD223.48
$13.59
LAK306K
Milk (1 gallon) $5.12
GMD375.98
$7.61
LAK171K

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pay 4.4 times more for transportation

 
Banjul
Vientiane
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.00
GMD294.08
$5.62
LAK127K
Monthly public transit pass $6.55
GMD481.43
$48.44
LAK1M
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $2,635.13
GMD194K
$28,190.13
LAK635M

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pay 4.4 times more for housing

 
Banjul
Vientiane
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$45.05
GMD3,310.81
$12.33
LAK278K
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $102.56
GMD7,538.16
$643.47
LAK15M
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $81.08
GMD5,959.46
$414.50
LAK9M

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pay 87.1 times more for childcare

 
Banjul
Vientiane
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $6.76
GMD496.62
$625.02
LAK14M
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $135.14
GMD9,932.43
$11,083.07
LAK250M

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pay 17.4% less for entertainment and sports

 
Banjul
Vientiane
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.61
GMD412.40
$1.36
LAK30,629
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.69
GMD271.01
$1.79
LAK40,336
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$1.69
GMD124.16
$1.78
LAK40,169

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pay 33.7% less for clothing

 
Banjul
Vientiane
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$56.00
GMD4,116.00
$26.74
LAK603K
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$44.34
GMD3,258.99
$66.85
LAK2M
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$99.43
GMD7,308.11
$56.75
LAK1M

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated October 2026). How we calculate this

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