Moving to Laos from North Carolina

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What to Expect

A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from North Carolina to Laos — from daily expenses to quality of life.

If you moved from North Carolina to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 67°F in Asheville, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

How North Carolina and Laos stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

NC
33.6%
LA
5.3%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

NC
88.7%
LA
62.0%

North Carolina 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

NC
3.4%
LA
1.2%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

NC
$59,308
LA
$8,400

North Carolina 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

NC
76.1 yrs
LA
68.2 yrs

North Carolina 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.

Asheville Rain: 37.0 in/yr (940 mm)
67° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Asheville Vientiane
Jan–Mar 52°/32°F (11°/0°C) 87°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 75°/53°F (24°/12°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 58°/38°F (15°/3°C) 85°/67°F (30°/20°C)
View all months
Month Asheville Vientiane
Jan 47°/28°F (8.1°/-2.4°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C)
Feb 50°/31°F (10.2°/-0.6°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C)
Mar 58°/37°F (14.4°/2.9°C) 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C)
Apr 67°/45°F (19.7°/7.3°C) 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C)
May 75°/53°F (23.9°/11.7°C) 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C)
Jun 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C)
Jul 85°/65°F (29.3°/18.1°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Aug 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.7°C) 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C)
Sep 77°/57°F (25.1°/13.8°C) 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C)
Oct 68°/46°F (19.9°/7.9°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Nov 58°/38°F (14.7°/3.1°C) 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C)
Dec 49°/30°F (9.4°/-0.9°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?

Working remotely from Laos's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in North Carolina and Laos.

How is healthcare in Laos compared to North Carolina?

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

What's the weather like in Laos compared to North Carolina?

The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 67°F in Asheville. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Asheville gets 37.0 in.

What language do they speak in Laos?

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

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At a Glance

LA
Population 9,535,483 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