Moving to Laos from China
What to Expect
Considering a move from China to Laos? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from China to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 64°F in Beijing, making it significantly warmer.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from China to Laos.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Laos compared to China.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Laos performs significantly better than China 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
China 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
China generally does better on environment, though Laos leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
China generally does better on infrastructure, though Laos leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Laos generally does better on employment & economy, though China leads in gdp per capita.
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
China performs better than Laos across all family life metrics.
Data: State Administration of Taxation, 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 | Beijing | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/22°F (6°/-6°C) | 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 78°/55°F (26°/13°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/66°F (29°/19°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 51°/32°F (11°/0°C) | 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Beijing | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/15°F (1.6°/-9.4°C) | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) |
| Feb | 39°/20°F (4.0°/-6.9°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) |
| Mar | 52°/31°F (11.3°/-0.6°C) | 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) |
| Apr | 68°/45°F (19.9°/7.2°C) | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) |
| May | 80°/56°F (26.4°/13.2°C) | 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) |
| Jun | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.2°C) | 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) |
| Jul | 87°/71°F (30.8°/21.6°C) | 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 85°/69°F (29.5°/20.4°C) | 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) |
| Sep | 78°/58°F (25.8°/14.2°C) | 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 66°/45°F (19.0°/7.3°C) | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) |
| Nov | 50°/31°F (10.1°/-0.4°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Dec | 38°/20°F (3.3°/-6.9°C) | 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) |
Data:
China Meteorological Administration,
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between China 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.
China passport holder visiting Laos
Visa on Arrival
Laos passport holder visiting China
Visa RequiredData: 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?
Laos performs significantly better than China across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Laos compared to China?
China 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 25.2 in China. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (China: 81).
What's the weather like in Laos compared to China?
The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 64°F in Beijing. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Beijing gets 22.8 in.
What language do they speak in Laos?
The official language in Laos is Lao. In China, the official language is Chinese.
