Moving to Laos from Turkmenistan

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Turkmenistan to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 74°F in Ashgabat, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TM
8.0
LA
16.4

Turkmenistan 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

TM
$1,264
LA
$123
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

TM
21.4
LA
3.3

Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Turkmenistan leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

TM
87.0
LA
69.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TM
10.9t
LA
3.4t

Laos performs significantly better than Turkmenistan across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

TM
5.9
LA
2.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

TM
135.2%
LA
4.8%

Turkmenistan generally does better on infrastructure, though Laos leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

TM
4.1%
LA
1.2%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TM
$14,700
LA
$8,400

Turkmenistan 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

TM
71.8 yrs
LA
68.2 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TM
37.6
LA
37.8

Turkmenistan performs better than Laos across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Ashgabat Rain: 8.9 in/yr (227 mm)
74° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Ashgabat Vientiane
Jan–Mar 51°/34°F (11°/1°C) 87°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 86°/61°F (30°/16°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 96°/68°F (35°/20°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 62°/40°F (17°/5°C) 85°/67°F (30°/20°C)
View all months
Month Ashgabat Vientiane
Jan 45°/29°F (7.4°/-1.6°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C)
Feb 49°/32°F (9.6°/-0.2°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C)
Mar 60°/41°F (15.6°/4.9°C) 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C)
Apr 75°/52°F (24.1°/11.1°C) 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C)
May 86°/61°F (30.0°/16.2°C) 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C)
Jun 96°/69°F (35.7°/20.7°C) 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C)
Jul 101°/74°F (38.2°/23.1°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Aug 98°/69°F (36.6°/20.5°C) 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C)
Sep 89°/60°F (31.5°/15.4°C) 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C)
Oct 74°/48°F (23.2°/9.1°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Nov 62°/40°F (16.6°/4.6°C) 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C)
Dec 50°/33°F (9.8°/0.7°C) 83°/62°F (28.1°/16.7°C)

Data: 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 Turkmenistan 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.

Turkmenistan passport

Turkmenistan passport holder visiting Laos

Visa on Arrival
Turkmenistan passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Laos.
Laos passport

Laos passport holder visiting Turkmenistan

Visa Required
Laos passport holders need a visa to enter Turkmenistan.

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?

Turkmenistan performs better than Laos across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Laos compared to Turkmenistan?

Laos generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Turkmenistan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 3.3 doctors per 10,000 people in Laos, compared to 21.4 in Turkmenistan. Laos scores 52 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Turkmenistan: 75).

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

The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 74°F in Ashgabat. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Ashgabat gets 8.9 in.

What language do they speak in Laos?

The official language in Laos is Lao. In Turkmenistan, the official languages are Russian and Turkmen.

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At a Glance

TM LA
Population 5,636,011 7,749,595
Currency Turkmenistani Manat (TMT) Laotian Kip (LAK)
Languages Russian, Turkmen Lao
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +993 +856
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 191