Moving to Laos from New Zealand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Zealand to Laos — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Zealand 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 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Zealand to Laos.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand performs 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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand generally does better on environment, though Laos leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Laos 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Laos generally does better on employment & economy, though New Zealand 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
New Zealand performs better than Laos across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, 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 | Wellington | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Laos
Visa on Arrival
Laos passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa RequiredData: 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?
New Zealand performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Laos compared to New Zealand?
Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Laos, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Laos compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Laos?
The official language in Laos is Lao. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
