I just came from Laos and wow I thought household items are almost as expensive as USA.  The only things are cheaper food, but restaurant food a bit pricey I think for Laos.  Any comments is appreciated.  I was thinking to move to Laos and live, but I don't know if I can make a living.  Maybe I would like to retired first. What do you guys think? A good secretary only makes about $100.00 in Laos.   :'(

$100 per month

Well, I hope you had a whiz of a wiz time in Laos.

You just have to know where to buy things, and you need to have bargaining skills. American tourists also suffer more than in the past because the US dollar has dropped alot in Laos these days.

Household items and restaurants is cheaper if you go outside Vientiane city. Even in Pakse city, food is cheaper than in Vientiane. So if you want to retire, maybe you need to settle in the countryside.

$100 per month is not alot of money these days, but yes, that's about how much the average skilful workers earns.

By the time you retire. Let say at 60 year old you should be good. But need to save about $100,000. You got 401k? There is less expense, bills in Laos if your house, car is pay for. Then you only need to worry about food. You can also rent apartment starting at $150 a month. If you moving back to Laos don't plan to work for someone else for $100 a month. Open some kind of small business better.

Thanks guys,

Maybe you are right admin.  I need to learn how to bargain better next time I go there.  Yes, I hope by the time I retire I still get my retirement money. lol  I don't know if I ever going to see my retirement benefit the way Mr. Obama is pending money right now.   :'(

Yeah U.S is about $12 trillion in debt. I don't think we will get social security benefits by the time we retire. Better save up ourselves, and company 401k retirement saving. Hopefully dollars will worst something by then.  

LaoguySoCal wrote on 8^th Nov, 2010 at 11:13pm:

$100 per month

Seem like socialist country don't want to pay their worker too much. There's some people in Laos who make good money, that's why they have nice house, and drive news car. You can't afford that with $100 a month salary. I'm not sure why some worker in developing country get $2,000 a month for example. In Cuba government worker get pay only $20 a month, but they also get subsidy for housing, food, free medical and education.

The people in Laos who own a nice house and car don't work for other people. That's the difference. They are most likely a boss of a business or company.

Let me tell you about a lady in Vientiane who is just over 30 years old. She sells sandwiches and drinks, and makes about $1,000 US a day. That's about $30,000 US a month. She doesn't stand around making sandwiches, she employs her staff. Her family owns three cars, I'm told. It looks like a simple sandwich stall, but a very profitable business. Many customers like to buy from there because they think it tastes nice.

There is rich and poor in every country. I agree with you LP Admins some business people in Laos are doing very well. If there a will there a way.

It goes to show that you don't need to start a big company in Laos. A simple business can reap many profits as well.

There is still more poor people in Laos, but they get by.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 10^th Nov, 2010 at 10:20pm:

The people in Laos who own a nice house and car don't work for other people. That's the difference. They are most likely a boss of a business or company. Let me tell you about a lady in Vientiane who is just over 30 years old. She sells sandwiches and drinks, and makes about $1,000 US a day. That's about $30,000 US a month. She doesn't stand around making sandwiches, she employs her staff. Her family owns three cars, I'm told. It looks like a simple sandwich stall, but a very profitable business. Many customers like to buy from there because they think it tastes nice.

these people must gone mad for her sandwiches $1k per day? shtt no way lolz. maybe you should find out her contact so i license her recipes over here in U.S,

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 11^th Nov, 2010 at 11:11pm:

It goes to show that you don't need to start a big company in Laos. A simple business can reap many profits as well. There is still more poor people in Laos, but they get by.

I'm a Capitalist Socialist. The more big company, corporation the better. Big business created jobs and opportunity for the people. With government pro business policy. Singapore business rank number one in the world with a GDP of $40,000 a year. China is another good example Capitalist Socialist where the East meet the West. China are pro business Capitalist, big corporation with socialist one party system, and they are very successful. Vietnam are also trying to be like China. I just hope China and Vietnam help Laos more with modernization, and  economic development. I don't care who is in power. I just want to see Laos prosper like Singapore, South Korea or Japan.

Communist was supposed to be for poor, peasant and farmer. With the size of Laos population only 6.8 million there shouldn't be many or any poor people in Laos. Most Laos population should be middle class. Not poor. :-[

longhang wrote on 12^th Nov, 2010 at 2:42pm:

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 10th Nov, 2010 at 10:20pm: The people in Laos who own a nice house and car don't work for other people. That's the difference. They are most likely a boss of a business or company. Let me tell you about a lady in Vientiane who is just over 30 years old. She sells sandwiches and drinks, and makes about $1,000 US a day. That's about $30,000 US a month. She doesn't stand around making sandwiches, she employs her staff. Her family owns three cars, I'm told. It looks like a simple sandwich stall, but a very profitable business. Many customers like to buy from there because they think it tastes nice. these people must gone mad for her sandwiches $1k per day? shtt no way lolz. maybe you should find out her contact so i license her recipes over here in U.S,

I don't know much about small business in Laos, but I know someone in Laos who are in water bottle manufacturing business. I don't know how well they do, but they can afford to buy couple house, and new truck cash. 8-)

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 11^th Nov, 2010 at 11:11pm:

It goes to show that you don't need to start a big company in Laos. A simple business can reap many profits as well. There is still more poor people in Laos, but they get by.

The problem is not everybody can make $30k a month in Laos, and accomplish like that lady. But let say if she decide to sell her food, and other food product all over Laos, and export it to other country. That mean her business, profits is growing so she need to hire more worker to help her out. The more she make the more she will spend, and hire more and more worker in the future. That's why I say yes to big business, and corporation.

In the U.S someone with good idea with enough fund, cash can get bank loan to open business. Small businesses employ a little more than half of all private-sector workers, pay 44% of total U.S. private payroll and have generated 64% of net new jobs over the past 15 years, according to the SBA's Office of Advocacy. In 2008, an average of 320 out of 100,000 adults created a business each month — representing about 530,000 new businesses a month. That's a slight increase from 2007. That's why people called U.S land of opportunity.

She can't sell her sandwiches all over Laos and overseas. It's made and need to eaten straight away, just like foods at McDonald's.

Actually, many people in Laos are in middle class group. People who earn between $100 - $300 per month is considered a middle class. This is Laos, not America remember, so the amount of salary is different.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 12^th Nov, 2010 at 10:43pm:

She can't sell her sandwiches all over Laos and overseas. It's made and need to eaten straight away, just like foods at McDonald's. Actually, many people in Laos are in middle class group. People who earn between $100 - $300 per month is considered a middle class. This is Laos, not America remember, so the amount of salary is different.

I'm just giving example of Capitalist. How small business, idea can expand. Lao government need to keep it up and work with China, Thailand, Vietnam to industrialize Laos. Because of big many business and corporation in Thailand that's why many young Lao go there to look for better paying jobs.

Yes If you make $300-$500 a month is very good in Laos. That's why some expats prefer to retire in Laos because cost of living is cheaper.  

Hey admin,

what is the name of her business? Next year I am going back and I want to taste her sandwich.  If you don't mind let me know.  Thanks   :)

A basic sandwich stall on the streets doesn't have a name, there are many in Vientiane.

LaoguySoCal wrote on 14^th Nov, 2010 at 7:04am:

Hey admin, what is the name of her business? Next year I am going back and I want to taste her sandwich.  If you don't mind let me know.  Thanks   :)

Have fun in Laos. There a lot of good food in Laos, and good prices too. I like any food that's good.

longhang wrote on 12^th Nov, 2010 at 2:42pm:

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 10th Nov, 2010 at 10:20pm: The people in Laos who own a nice house and car don't work for other people. That's the difference. They are most likely a boss of a business or company. Let me tell you about a lady in Vientiane who is just over 30 years old. She sells sandwiches and drinks, and makes about $1,000 US a day. That's about $30,000 US a month. She doesn't stand around making sandwiches, she employs her staff. Her family owns three cars, I'm told. It looks like a simple sandwich stall, but a very profitable business. Many customers like to buy from there because they think it tastes nice. these people must gone mad for her sandwiches $1k per day? shtt no way lolz. maybe you should find out her contact so i license her recipes over here in U.S,

LP Admins was just joking with you longhang. ;D ;D

Actually, it's not a joke.

Just want to see Laos develope, more jobs and opportunity. Hopefully Laos bussiness ranking also improve, and all Lao people has better living standard.
:)