Moving to Laos from Idaho

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Idaho to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 64°F in Boise, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

ID
33.5%
LA
5.3%

Laos performs significantly better than Idaho across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

ID
91.3%
LA
62.0%

Idaho performs better than Laos across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

ID
3.5%
LA
1.2%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

ID
$49,054
LA
$8,400

Idaho generally does better on employment & economy, though Laos leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

ID
78.4 yrs
LA
68.2 yrs

Idaho performs better than Laos across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Boise Rain: 11.7 in/yr (298 mm)
64° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Boise Vientiane
Jan–Mar 46°/29°F (8°/-2°C) 87°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 87°/57°F (30°/14°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 50°/32°F (10°/0°C) 85°/67°F (30°/20°C)
View all months
Month Boise Vientiane
Jan 38°/25°F (3.2°/-4.1°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C)
Feb 45°/28°F (7.1°/-2.1°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C)
Mar 55°/34°F (12.6°/1.3°C) 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C)
Apr 62°/39°F (16.8°/4.1°C) 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C)
May 72°/47°F (22.0°/8.1°C) 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C)
Jun 81°/54°F (27.4°/12.1°C) 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C)
Jul 91°/60°F (32.9°/15.8°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Aug 90°/60°F (32.1°/15.3°C) 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C)
Sep 79°/51°F (26.0°/10.6°C) 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C)
Oct 65°/41°F (18.2°/4.9°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Nov 48°/32°F (9.0°/-0.1°C) 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C)
Dec 38°/24°F (3.1°/-4.4°C) 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, 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 United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Laos

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

Laos passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Laos passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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?

Usually fine from major cities in Laos. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Laos compared to Idaho?

Laos performs significantly better than Idaho across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 64°F in Boise. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Boise gets 11.7 in.

What language do they speak in Laos?

The official language in Laos is Lao. In Idaho, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

LA
Population 1,567,582 7,749,595
Currency United States Dollar ($) Laotian Kip (LAK)
Languages English Lao
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +856
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 191