Moving to Laos from Macau
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Macau to Laos — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Macau to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 77°F in Macao, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Macau to Laos.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Macau performs better than Laos across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
share of households with internet
Macau 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Macau generally does better on employment & economy, though Laos leads in unemployment rate.
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
Macau performs better than Laos across all family life metrics.
Data: Secretariat for Economy and Finance, 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 | Macao | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 66°/57°F (19°/14°C) | 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 82°/73°F (28°/23°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 74°/64°F (23°/18°C) | 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Macao | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64°/54°F (17.7°/12.2°C) | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) |
| Feb | 64°/56°F (17.7°/13.1°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) |
| Mar | 69°/61°F (20.7°/16.2°C) | 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) |
| Apr | 76°/68°F (24.5°/20.2°C) | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) |
| May | 83°/74°F (28.1°/23.6°C) | 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) |
| Jun | 87°/78°F (30.3°/25.7°C) | 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) |
| Jul | 89°/79°F (31.5°/26.3°C) | 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 88°/79°F (31.2°/26.0°C) | 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) |
| Sep | 86°/77°F (30.0°/24.9°C) | 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 81°/72°F (27.4°/22.3°C) | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) |
| Nov | 74°/64°F (23.4°/17.8°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Dec | 67°/57°F (19.6°/13.8°C) | 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) |
Data:
Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau,
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Macau 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.
Macau passport holder visiting Laos
Visa on Arrival
Laos passport holder visiting Macau
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 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.
What's the weather like in Laos compared to Macau?
The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 77°F in Macao. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Macao gets 83.6 in.
What language do they speak in Laos?
The official language in Laos is Lao. In Macau, the official languages are Chinese and Portuguese.
