Moving to Bhutan from Laos
What to Expect
Considering a move from Laos to Bhutan? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Laos to Bhutan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dzongkha. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Thimphu averages 72°F vs 88°F in Vientiane, making it significantly cooler.
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Bhutan compared to Laos.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Bhutan performs significantly 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
Bhutan 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
Bhutan performs significantly 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
Laos generally does better on infrastructure, though Bhutan leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Laos generally does better on employment & economy, though Bhutan leads in gdp per capita.
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
Bhutan generally does better on family life, though Laos leads in literacy rate.
Data: 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 | Vientiane | Thimphu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) | 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) | 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) | 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) | 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) |
View all months
| Month | Vientiane | Thimphu |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) | 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) |
| Feb | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) | 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) |
| Mar | 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) | 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) |
| Apr | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) | 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) |
| May | 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) | 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) |
| Jun | 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) | 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) |
| Jul | 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) |
| Aug | 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) | 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) |
| Sep | 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) | 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) |
| Oct | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) | 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) |
| Nov | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) |
| Dec | 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) | 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) |
Data:
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR,
National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Laos and Bhutan. To live, work, or study long-term in Bhutan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Bhutan's immigration authority.
Laos passport holder visiting Bhutan
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Bhutan passport holder visiting Laos
Visa on ArrivalData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Bhutan?
Connectivity is usually fine (Bhutan: 0.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Bhutan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Bhutan safe for expats?
Bhutan performs significantly better than Laos across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to Laos?
Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Bhutan, compared to 3.3 in Laos. Bhutan scores 60 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Laos: 52).
What's the weather like in Bhutan compared to Laos?
The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 88°F in Vientiane. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Vientiane gets 65.4 in.
What language do they speak in Bhutan?
The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha. In Laos, the official language is Lao.
