Moving to Laos from Wisconsin

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Wisconsin to Laos? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Wisconsin to Laos, and you’d need to navigate life in Lao. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Vientiane averages 88°F vs 56°F in Madison, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Laos compared to Wisconsin.

How's the healthcare?

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

share of adults with obesity

WI
37.8%
LA
5.3%

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

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

share of households with internet

WI
89.5%
LA
62.0%

Wisconsin 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

WI
3.0%
LA
1.2%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

WI
$59,333
LA
$8,400

Wisconsin 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

WI
77.7 yrs
LA
68.2 yrs

Wisconsin 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.

Madison Rain: 34.5 in/yr (876 mm)
56° / 37°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Madison Vientiane
Jan–Mar 33°/17°F (1°/-8°C) 87°/66°F (31°/19°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/46°F (20°/8°C) 91°/76°F (33°/24°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/57°F (25°/14°C) 88°/76°F (31°/24°C)
Oct–Dec 44°/28°F (7°/-2°C) 85°/67°F (30°/20°C)
View all months
Month Madison Vientiane
Jan 26°/11°F (-3.1°/-11.6°C) 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.4°C)
Feb 31°/15°F (-0.5°/-9.4°C) 87°/65°F (30.3°/18.5°C)
Mar 43°/25°F (6.2°/-4.0°C) 91°/71°F (33.0°/21.5°C)
Apr 57°/36°F (14.1°/2.1°C) 94°/75°F (34.3°/23.8°C)
May 68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C) 91°/76°F (33.0°/24.6°C)
Jun 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.4°C) 89°/77°F (31.9°/24.9°C)
Jul 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) 88°/76°F (31.3°/24.7°C)
Aug 79°/59°F (26.3°/15.0°C) 87°/76°F (30.8°/24.6°C)
Sep 72°/50°F (22.1°/10.1°C) 88°/75°F (30.9°/24.1°C)
Oct 59°/39°F (14.9°/3.8°C) 87°/73°F (30.8°/22.9°C)
Nov 44°/28°F (6.7°/-2.1°C) 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C)
Dec 30°/16°F (-1.0°/-8.9°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?

From major Laos cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Wisconsin and Laos are what actually decide it long-term.

How is healthcare in Laos compared to Wisconsin?

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

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

The average high temperature in Vientiane is 88°F, compared to 56°F in Madison. Vientiane receives around 65.4 in of rainfall per year, while Madison gets 34.5 in.

What language do they speak in Laos?

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

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At a Glance

LA
Population 5,686,986 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