I’ve been here in Vientiane over a week and it’s been interesting to discover which things are drastically cheaper than at home in the US and which are comparably priced. The currency here is the kip, and 1 dollar roughly equals 8000 kip (although I usually round it up to 10,000 in my head to make it easier to convert prices). The largest note is 50,000 kip, or just over $5, which has been quite amusing when paying for larger purchases, like the registration fee for my Lao class, which required that I bring in a ridiculous wad of cash that barely fit into my wallet. For most larger expenditures though, like rent, prices are often in USD, and dollars or Thai baht are accepted. When I first arrived, everything seemed incredibly cheap because I was still converting it to dollars in my mind. $5 for dinner seemed like nothing, especially after coming straight from New York City. Now I’ve finally been here long enough that I don’t need to think of everything in dollars anymore, instead I can look at the menu and say “40,000 for fried rice?! Way too expensive!” or “8000 for a large Beerlao–good deal.”
I’m a millionaire…in kip.
Here’s a (very) approximate look at how much a few things cost in Vientiane:
Meal out: $1-$8 (more at fancier restaurants)
Beerlao: $1-2 Cocktails: $3-5
Bottle service (bottle of Johnnie Walker Black with unlimited soda): $30
Tuk-tuk to and from Buddha park for 6 people (3 hours total): $20
Entrance to Buddha Park: $0.40
SIM card for cell phone: $1
Coffee: $1-3
Manicure and pedicure: $5
One day gym guest pass with one hour massage: $6
Entrance to temples: $0.20-0.50
Tourist t-shirts: $2-5
Fruit juice at a roadside stall: $0.30 Fruit shake: $1-1.50
One dragonfruit: $0.30
Now that I’ve started Lao classes, perhaps my bargaining skills will improve.