Moving to Laos from Ecuador

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Ecuador to Laos? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Ecuador to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 71°F in Quito, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Laos compared to Ecuador.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

EC
23.4
LA
16.4

Laos performs significantly better than Ecuador across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

EC
$1,238
LA
$123
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

EC
23.1
LA
3.3

Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ecuador leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

EC
23.0
LA
69.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

EC
2.6t
LA
3.4t

Ecuador 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

EC
15.0
LA
2.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

EC
6.8%
LA
4.8%

Ecuador generally does better on infrastructure, though Laos leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

EC
3.4%
LA
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

EC
$14,300
LA
$8,400

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

EC
77.5 yrs
LA
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

EC
18.1
LA
37.8

Ecuador performs better than Laos across all family life metrics.

Data: Servicio de Rentas Internas del Ecuador, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Quito Rain: 43.2 in/yr (1098 mm)
71° / 50°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Quito Vientiane
Jan–Mar 70°/50°F (21°/10°C) 87°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 70°/50°F (21°/10°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/49°F (22°/9°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 70°/49°F (21°/10°C) 85°/67°F (30°/20°C)
View all months
Month Quito Vientiane
Jan 70°/50°F (21.2°/9.8°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C)
Feb 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C)
Mar 69°/50°F (20.8°/10.1°C) 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C)
Apr 70°/50°F (20.9°/10.2°C) 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C)
May 70°/50°F (21.0°/10.1°C) 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C)
Jun 70°/50°F (21.1°/9.8°C) 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C)
Jul 71°/49°F (21.5°/9.4°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Aug 72°/49°F (22.2°/9.6°C) 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C)
Sep 72°/49°F (22.3°/9.4°C) 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C)
Oct 71°/49°F (21.8°/9.5°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Nov 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.6°C) 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C)
Dec 70°/49°F (21.3°/9.7°C) 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C)

Data: Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI Instituto Nacional de Meteorología e Hidrología - INAMHI, 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 Ecuador 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.

Ecuador passport

Ecuador passport holder visiting Laos

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

Laos passport holder visiting Ecuador

Visa Free
Laos passport holders can enter Ecuador without a 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?

Laos performs significantly better than Ecuador across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Laos compared to Ecuador?

Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Ecuador leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Laos, compared to 23.1 in Ecuador. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Ecuador: 77).

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

The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 71°F in Quito. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Quito gets 43.2 in.

What language do they speak in Laos?

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

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At a Glance

EC LA
Population 17,289,554 7,749,595
Currency United States Dollar ($) Laotian Kip (LAK)
Languages Spanish Lao
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +593 +856
Time zones 2 1
Emergency number 911 191