Moving to Samoa from Laos

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Laos to Samoa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

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

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Samoa compared to Laos.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

LA
16.4
WS
9.6

Samoa performs significantly better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

LA
$123
WS
$474
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

LA
3.3
WS
5.5

Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

LA
69.0
WS
34.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

LA
3.4t
WS
1.6t

Samoa performs significantly 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

LA
2.4
WS
0.8
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

LA
62.0%
WS
78.0%

Laos generally does better on infrastructure, though Samoa leads in internet access.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

LA
1.2%
WS
9.8%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

LA
$8,400
WS
$6,000

Laos performs better than Samoa across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

LA
68.2 yrs
WS
75.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

LA
37.8
WS
17.0

Samoa performs significantly better than Laos across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Apia Rain: 116.7 in/yr (2965 mm)
86° / 74°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Vientiane Apia
Jan–Mar 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) 87°/75°F (31°/24°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) 87°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Jul–Sep 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) 85°/73°F (30°/23°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) 87°/74°F (30°/24°C)
View all months
Month Vientiane Apia
Jan 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.9°C)
Feb 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) 87°/76°F (30.6°/24.2°C)
Mar 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) 87°/75°F (30.6°/24.0°C)
Apr 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) 87°/75°F (30.7°/23.8°C)
May 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) 87°/74°F (30.4°/23.4°C)
Jun 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) 86°/74°F (30.0°/23.2°C)
Jul 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) 85°/73°F (29.5°/22.6°C)
Aug 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) 85°/73°F (29.6°/22.8°C)
Sep 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.1°C)
Oct 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.4°C)
Nov 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.6°C)
Dec 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) 87°/75°F (30.5°/23.8°C)

Data: 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 Laos and Samoa. To live, work, or study long-term in Samoa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Samoa's immigration authority.

Laos passport

Laos passport holder visiting Samoa

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

Samoa passport holder visiting Laos

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

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Samoa?

Connectivity is usually fine (Samoa: 0.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Samoa offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Samoa safe for expats?

Samoa performs significantly better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Samoa compared to Laos?

Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Samoa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Samoa, compared to 3.3 in Laos. Samoa scores 55 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Laos: 52).

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

The average high temperature in Apia is 86°F, compared to 88°F in Vientiane. Apia receives around 116.7 in of rainfall per year, while Vientiane gets 65.4 in.

What language do they speak in Samoa?

The official languages in Samoa are English and Samoan. In Laos, the official language is Lao.

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At a Glance

LA WS
Population 7,749,595 206,179
Currency Laotian Kip (LAK) Samoan Tala (WST)
Languages Lao English, Samoan
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +856 +685
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 191