Moving to Laos from Colombia

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Colombia to Laos — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Colombia to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 61°F in Bogota, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Colombia to Laos.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

CO
16.2
LA
16.4

Colombia performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CO
$1,758
LA
$123
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

CO
24.5
LA
3.3

Colombia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CO
24.0
LA
69.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CO
1.8t
LA
3.4t

Colombia performs better than Laos across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CO
17.0
LA
2.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CO
4.4%
LA
4.8%

Colombia performs better than Laos across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

CO
9.6%
LA
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

CO
$18,800
LA
$8,400

Laos generally does better on employment & economy, though Colombia leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

CO
74.9 yrs
LA
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CO
11.7
LA
37.8

Colombia performs better than Laos across all family life metrics.

Data: Directorate of National Taxes and Customs (DIAN), The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bogota Rain: 31.5 in/yr (799 mm)
61° / 45°F

Avg. annual high / low

Vientiane Rain: 65.4 in/yr (1660 mm)
88° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bogota Vientiane
Jan–Mar 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) 87°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/47°F (16°/9°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 60°/45°F (15°/7°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 85°/67°F (30°/20°C)
View all months
Month Bogota Vientiane
Jan 62°/42°F (16.4°/5.6°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C)
Feb 62°/44°F (16.7°/6.5°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C)
Mar 62°/46°F (16.7°/7.6°C) 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C)
Apr 61°/47°F (16.0°/8.6°C) 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C)
May 61°/48°F (16.2°/8.7°C) 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C)
Jun 60°/47°F (15.7°/8.3°C) 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C)
Jul 59°/46°F (14.9°/7.7°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Aug 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.3°C) 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C)
Sep 60°/45°F (15.8°/7.1°C) 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C)
Oct 61°/46°F (15.9°/7.7°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Nov 61°/46°F (16.0°/7.9°C) 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C)
Dec 61°/43°F (16.1°/6.3°C) 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C)

Data: Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies, Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Colombia 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.

Colombia passport

Colombia passport holder visiting Laos

Visa on Arrival
Colombia passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Laos.
Laos passport

Laos passport holder visiting Colombia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Laos passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Colombia.

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?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Laos has 2.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Laos safe for expats?

Colombia performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Laos compared to Colombia?

Colombia 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 24.5 in Colombia. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Colombia: 80).

What's the weather like in Laos compared to Colombia?

The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 61°F in Bogota. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Bogota gets 31.5 in.

What language do they speak in Laos?

The official language in Laos is Lao. In Colombia, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

CO LA
Population 49,059,221 7,749,595
Currency Colombian Peso (COP) Laotian Kip (LAK)
Languages Spanish Lao
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +57 +856
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 123 191