Moving to Laos from Guatemala
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Guatemala to Laos — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Guatemala to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 77°F in Guatemala City, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
How Guatemala and Laos stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Guatemala 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
Guatemala 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
Guatemala 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
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Laos generally does better on infrastructure, though Guatemala 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Guatemala 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
Guatemala generally does better on family life, though Laos leads in literacy rate.
Data: Superintendence of the Tax Administration, 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 | Guatemala City | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) | 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) | 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Guatemala City | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) |
| Feb | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) |
| Mar | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) | 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) |
| Apr | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) |
| May | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) | 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) |
| Jun | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) | 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) |
| Jul | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) | 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) | 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) |
| Sep | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) | 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) |
| Nov | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Dec | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) | 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) |
Data:
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH),
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Guatemala 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.
Guatemala passport holder visiting Laos
Visa on Arrival
Laos passport holder visiting Guatemala
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?
With 2.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Laos can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Guatemala and Laos.
Is Laos safe for expats?
Guatemala performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Laos compared to Guatemala?
Guatemala 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 12.8 in Guatemala. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Guatemala: 59).
What's the weather like in Laos compared to Guatemala?
The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 77°F in Guatemala City. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Guatemala City gets 46.7 in.
What language do they speak in Laos?
The official language in Laos is Lao. In Guatemala, the official language is Spanish.
