Moving to Laos from Russia

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Russia to Laos — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Russia to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 48°F in Moscow, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Russia to Laos.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RU
10.6
LA
16.4

Russia performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

RU
$3,204
LA
$123
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

RU
38.3
LA
3.3

Russia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RU
39.0
LA
69.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RU
14.0t
LA
3.4t

Russia generally does better on environment, though Laos leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

RU
24.8
LA
2.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RU
4.1%
LA
4.8%

Russia performs better than Laos across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RU
3.3%
LA
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RU
$39,800
LA
$8,400

Russia generally does better on employment & economy, though Laos leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

RU
72.4 yrs
LA
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RU
6.4
LA
37.8

Russia performs better than Laos across all family life metrics.

Data: Federal Tax Service of Russia, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Moscow Rain: 27.2 in/yr (691 mm)
48° / 34°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Moscow Vientiane
Jan–Mar 27°/15°F (-3°/-10°C) 87°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 68°/52°F (20°/11°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 36°/26°F (2°/-3°C) 85°/67°F (30°/20°C)
View all months
Month Moscow Vientiane
Jan 21°/10°F (-6.3°/-12.3°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C)
Feb 24°/12°F (-4.2°/-11.1°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C)
Mar 35°/22°F (1.5°/-5.6°C) 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C)
Apr 51°/35°F (10.4°/1.7°C) 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C)
May 65°/46°F (18.4°/7.6°C) 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C)
Jun 71°/53°F (21.7°/11.5°C) 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C)
Jul 74°/56°F (23.1°/13.5°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Aug 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.0°C) 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C)
Sep 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.1°C) 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C)
Oct 47°/36°F (8.2°/2.1°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Nov 34°/26°F (1.1°/-3.3°C) 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C)
Dec 26°/17°F (-3.5°/-8.6°C) 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C)

Data: Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, 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 Russia 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.

Russia passport

Russia passport holder visiting Laos

Visa Free
Russia passport holders can enter Laos without a visa.
Laos passport

Laos passport holder visiting Russia

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Laos passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Russia.

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?

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?

Russia performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Laos compared to Russia?

Russia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Laos leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Laos, compared to 38.3 in Russia. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Russia: 79).

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

The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 48°F in Moscow. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Moscow gets 27.2 in.

What language do they speak in Laos?

The official language in Laos is Lao. In Russia, the official language is Russian.

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At a Glance

RU LA
Population 142,021,981 7,749,595
Currency Russian Ruble (RUB) Laotian Kip (LAK)
Languages Russian Lao
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +7 +856
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 112 191