Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for Laos
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. The kip has depreciated heavily, so prices in older guides are meaningless. USD and Thai baht circulate widely alongside it.
Rarely - Laos runs on cash, and card acceptance is the exception rather than the rule.
5 travel card options for Laos, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday
Orange Everyday
22k0% with monthly criteria
ubank Spend
Spend account
9k0% international fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Transaction account
6k0% international fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | Rebated if you meet the monthly criteria | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | $0 from ubank, ATM operator fees may apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | $0 from Macquarie | $0 |
Paying for things in Laos
Can you pay by card in Laos?
Very limited. Hotels and a handful of tourist restaurants in Luang Prabang and Vientiane take cards; almost nothing else does.
Cash and ATMs in Laos
ATMs exist in the main towns but often cap withdrawals low and charge per transaction. They are unreliable in smaller places.
Carry substantial cash. Laos is the most cash-dependent country in the region and running short in a small town is a real problem.
Do you tip in Laos?
Not traditional but appreciated in tourist areas. Round up, or leave 10% in a tourist restaurant. Guides and drivers are tipped.
Worth knowing about paying in Laos
USD, Thai baht and kip all circulate. Pay in kip where you can - the exchange rates offered on USD in shops favour the shop.
Before you pay for anything in Laos
Pay in Lao kip or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
How much cash to take overseas
What Laos needs in cash, next to 35 other destinations.
How to avoid ATM fees overseas
Three fees stack on a withdrawal. Two of them are avoidable outright.
What one Australian dollar buys in Laos
₭15400 LAK per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More Laos essentials
Laos visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Laos
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Laos eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Laos travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Laos airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in Laos
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Laos travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Laos
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
Laos money & payments FAQs
Do Australians need a visa for Laos?
Yes. Australians need a tourist visa, available on arrival at the main airports and major land borders for around USD $35 in cash with a passport photo, or as an eVisa applied for online at least three days before you fly. It permits a 30-day stay, extendable once.
Should I get the Laos eVisa or a visa on arrival?
The eVisa costs about the same and removes the airport queue and the need for exact cash and a photo. Apply only at laoevisa.gov.la - private sites charge a substantial markup for the same document. If you are crossing by land, check first that your specific border post issues visas on arrival, because not all do.
How much cash do I need in Laos?
More than you would expect. Laos is the most cash-dependent country in mainland Southeast Asia - cards are accepted in a handful of hotels and tourist restaurants and almost nowhere else, and rural ATMs are unreliable. Carry enough for several days at a time.
Planning Laos?
We will send you the Laos guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.