Moving to Laos from Illinois
What to Expect
Considering a move from Illinois to Laos? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Illinois to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 63°F in Springfield, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Get free moving quotes to Laos
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Laos compared to Illinois.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Laos performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Illinois performs better than Laos across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Illinois generally does better on employment & economy, though Laos leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Illinois 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Springfield | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) | 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) | 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Springfield | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) |
| Feb | 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) |
| Mar | 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) | 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) |
| Apr | 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) |
| May | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) | 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) |
| Jun | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) | 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) |
| Jul | 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) | 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) | 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) |
| Sep | 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) | 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) |
| Nov | 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Dec | 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) | 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
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 holder visiting Laos
Visa on Arrival
Laos passport holder visiting United States
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?
From major Laos cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Illinois and Laos are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Laos compared to Illinois?
Laos performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Laos compared to Illinois?
The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.
What language do they speak in Laos?
The official language in Laos is Lao. In Illinois, the official language is English.
