Moving to Laos from Bhutan
What to Expect
Considering a move from Bhutan to Laos? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Bhutan to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 72°F in Thimphu, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Laos compared to Bhutan.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Bhutan performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Bhutan performs better than Laos across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
Bhutan generally does better on infrastructure, though Laos leads in broadband per 100 people.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Bhutan generally does better on employment & economy, though Laos leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
Bhutan generally does better on family life, though Laos leads in literacy rate.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Thimphu | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) | 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) | 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Thimphu | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) |
| Feb | 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) |
| Mar | 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) | 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) |
| Apr | 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) |
| May | 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) | 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) |
| Jun | 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) | 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) |
| Jul | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) | 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) | 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) |
| Sep | 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) | 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) |
| Nov | 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Dec | 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) | 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) |
Data:
National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM),
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bhutan and Laos. To live, work, or study long-term in Laos, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Laos's immigration authority.
Bhutan passport holder visiting Laos
Visa on Arrival
Laos passport holder visiting Bhutan
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Laos?
Connectivity is usually fine (Laos: 2.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Laos offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Laos safe for expats?
Bhutan performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Laos compared to Bhutan?
Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Laos, compared to 5.5 in Bhutan. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bhutan: 60).
What's the weather like in Laos compared to Bhutan?
The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 72°F in Thimphu. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Thimphu gets 23.3 in.
What language do they speak in Laos?
The official language in Laos is Lao. In Bhutan, the official language is Dzongkha.
