MigrantoAverage salary in Laos
Gross and take-home pay, by industry and against other countries
Average salary
Take-home / mo
LAK 4.2M
Gross / yr
LAK 55.9M
Laos is among the lowest-earning places in the world, though it climbs a step when measured against its own region. Tax barely touches what you make, so the headline is simply how little there is to begin with — this is a small economy where careers pay quietly.
Salaries in Laos by industry
What you do shapes your pay here in a real way. Energy and utilities, tech and communications, and transport sit clearly ahead, while manufacturing, hospitality, and the odd-jobs service trades fall behind — enough of a gap that the field you pick genuinely moves the needle. For an established professional, getting into one of the stronger sectors is worth the effort.
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What you could earn in Laos
Tell us what you do and what you earn today — we'll estimate what someone with your background could earn in Laos, what your living costs might be, and what you could save
- What someone in your field earns
- What you could spend and save
- How it compares with today
Take-home in Laos
LAK 2,660,000/mo
vs LAK 26,400,000 in your country
Cost of living
LAK 1,010,000
vs LAK 17,600,000 in your country
Potential savings
LAK 1,650,000
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How salaries in Laos compare
Laos sits at the bottom of the world but only the lower band of Asia, so it reads worse globally than it does among its neighbours. It's a small, landlocked economy still building the industries that raise pay, which is most of why the figure stays where it is.
Data source: Mean monthly earnings 2022 (ILOSTAT), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Laos?
The average salary in Laos is LAK 4,660,000 a month before tax, or LAK 4,170,000 take-home after tax and social contributions. Over a year that's LAK 55,900,000 before tax and LAK 50,100,000 after.
What is the average salary in Laos in US dollars?
The average salary in Laos in US dollars is about $2,544 a year before tax, or $190 a month after tax.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Laos?
A typical person in Laos spends about LAK 2,110,000 a month, while the average take-home pay is LAK 4,170,000. How much you need to live comfortably depends on the city, your family situation, and how you usually spend. See the cost of living in Laos for the full picture.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Laos?
The highest-paying jobs in Laos are in energy, IT, and transport. Take-home pay in these industries averages around LAK 12,400,000 a month (about LAK 166,000,000 gross a year), roughly 198% above the national average.
What are the lowest-paying jobs in Laos?
Other is the lowest-paying industry in Laos. Pay there averages around LAK 3,160,000 a month take-home (about LAK 41,900,000 gross a year). For comparison, the highest-paying industries pay about 3.9 times more.
What is a good salary in Laos?
A good salary in Laos is generally one above the national average — more than LAK 4,170,000 take-home a month, or LAK 55,900,000 gross a year. But a lot depends on your spending, where you live, and your financial goals.
Is Laos a high-salary country?
No. By average after-tax pay, Laos is ahead of 14% of countries worldwide and ranks 23rd out of 30 countries in Asia.
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Living in Laos
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