Moving to Laos from Kentucky

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Kentucky to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 69°F in Bowling Green, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

KY
38.2%
LA
5.3%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

KY
87.4%
LA
62.0%

Kentucky 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

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

a broad measure of economic output per person

KY
$50,135
LA
$8,400

Kentucky 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

KY
73.5 yrs
LA
68.2 yrs

Kentucky 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.

Bowling Green Rain: 49.9 in/yr (1267 mm)
69° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bowling Green Vientiane
Jan–Mar 52°/31°F (11°/-1°C) 87°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 78°/55°F (25°/13°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 87°/64°F (30°/18°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 59°/38°F (15°/3°C) 85°/67°F (30°/20°C)
View all months
Month Bowling Green Vientiane
Jan 45°/26°F (7.2°/-3.1°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C)
Feb 50°/30°F (10.0°/-1.3°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C)
Mar 60°/37°F (15.4°/2.8°C) 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C)
Apr 70°/46°F (20.9°/7.6°C) 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.4°/12.8°C) 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C)
Jun 86°/64°F (30.1°/17.7°C) 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C)
Jul 89°/68°F (31.9°/19.9°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Aug 89°/66°F (31.6°/18.9°C) 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C)
Sep 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.4°C) 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C)
Oct 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Nov 59°/38°F (15.2°/3.1°C) 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C)
Dec 48°/29°F (8.8°/-1.6°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 Kentucky?

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

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

The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 69°F in Bowling Green. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Bowling Green gets 49.9 in.

What language do they speak in Laos?

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

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At a Glance

LA
Population 4,339,367 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