Moving to Laos from Switzerland
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Switzerland to Laos — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Switzerland to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 55°F in Bern, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Get free moving quotes to Laos
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Switzerland to Laos.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland 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 Switzerland 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
Switzerland 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
Switzerland 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
share of people below the poverty line
Switzerland 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
Switzerland performs better than Laos across all family life metrics.
Data: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, 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 | Bern | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) | 87°/66°F (31°/19°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 91°/76°F (33°/24°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 88°/76°F (31°/24°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) | 85°/67°F (30°/20°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bern | Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) | 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) | 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C) |
| Mar | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) | 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C) |
| Apr | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) | 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) | 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C) |
| Jun | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) | 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C) |
| Jul | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) | 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C) |
| Aug | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) | 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C) |
| Sep | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) | 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C) |
| Oct | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) | 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C) |
| Nov | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Dec | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) | 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C) |
Data:
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology,
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Lao PDR
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland 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.
Switzerland passport holder visiting Laos
Visa Free
Laos passport holder visiting Switzerland
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?
Switzerland performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in Laos compared to Switzerland?
Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Laos, compared to 44.4 in Switzerland. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).
What's the weather like in Laos compared to Switzerland?
The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.
What language do they speak in Laos?
The official language in Laos is Lao. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
