Moving to Laos from Jamaica

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Jamaica to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JM
17.8
LA
16.4

Laos performs significantly better than Jamaica across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JM
$869
LA
$123
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

JM
5.5
LA
3.3

Jamaica 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

JM
22.0
LA
69.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JM
2.8t
LA
3.4t

Jamaica 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

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

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

JM
12.4%
LA
4.8%

Jamaica 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

JM
4.4%
LA
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JM
$10,300
LA
$8,400

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JM
75.8 yrs
LA
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JM
11.2
LA
37.8

Jamaica performs better than Laos across all family life metrics.

Data: Tax Admministration of Jamaica, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kingston Rain: 32.0 in/yr (813 mm)
89° / 73°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kingston Vientiane
Jan–Mar 87°/70°F (30°/21°C) 87°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 89°/74°F (32°/23°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) 85°/67°F (30°/20°C)
View all months
Month Kingston Vientiane
Jan 87°/70°F (30.3°/21.1°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C)
Feb 86°/70°F (30.2°/21.0°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C)
Mar 87°/71°F (30.7°/21.6°C) 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C)
Apr 88°/73°F (31.1°/22.6°C) 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C)
May 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.6°C) 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C)
Jun 90°/76°F (32.1°/24.2°C) 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C)
Jul 91°/76°F (32.8°/24.3°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Aug 91°/76°F (32.7°/24.2°C) 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C)
Sep 90°/75°F (32.1°/24.0°C) 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C)
Oct 89°/74°F (31.7°/23.4°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Nov 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.8°C) 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C)
Dec 87°/71°F (30.6°/21.8°C) 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C)

Data: Meteorological Service, Jamaica Meteorological Service, Jamaica, 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 Jamaica 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.

Jamaica passport

Jamaica passport holder visiting Laos

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

Laos passport holder visiting Jamaica

Visa Required
Laos passport holders need a visa to enter Jamaica.

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?

Laos performs significantly better than Jamaica across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Laos compared to Jamaica?

Jamaica 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 5.5 in Jamaica. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Jamaica: 74).

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

The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 89°F in Kingston. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Kingston gets 32.0 in.

What language do they speak in Laos?

The official language in Laos is Lao. In Jamaica, the official languages are English and Jamaican Patois.

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At a Glance

JM LA
Population 2,818,596 7,749,595
Currency Jamaican Dollar (JMD) Laotian Kip (LAK)
Languages English, Jamaican Patois Lao
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +1 +856
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 119 191