Colombo, Sri Lanka
Editor
March 12, 2023
Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a unique and vibrant city to explore. With its rich culture, diverse cuisine, and stunning natural beauty, Colombo offers something for everyone. The city is home to a number of coworking spaces, making it easy for digital nomads to stay connected and productive. Additionally, Colombo is one of the most affordable cities in the world, with a cost of living that is significantly lower than other major cities. The city also boasts a high quality of life, with a low crime rate and excellent healthcare system. With its tropical climate, Colombo is a great place to enjoy the outdoors, with plenty of beaches, parks, and other outdoor activities. With its vibrant culture, diverse cuisine, and affordable cost of living, Colombo is an ideal destination for digital nomads looking for a unique and exciting place to explore.
Living in Colombo, Sri Lanka: Overview
Overall score | Worksplorer index
-
111%
Quality of life -
18%
Cost of living -
68%
Connectivity -
59%
Weather
40
General
| Currency | LKR |
| Population (in millions) | 2.2 |
| Quality of life (world rank from 1 to 200) | 145 |
| Cost of living compared to Chicago, USA | 40% cheaper |
| Best neighborhood to stay | Kollupitiya, Colombo 3 |
Culture
| Number of museums and galleries | 20 |
| Top selling local beer | Lion |
| Most popular local dish | Kottu |
Travel
| Most popular tourist attraction(s) | Galle Face Green, Viharamahadevi Park, National Museum of Colombo |
| Discount airline | AirAsia |
| Major airline | SriLankan Airlines |
| Largest ride sharing company | PickMe |
| Primary train stations | Colombo Fort Station, Maradana Station, Dematagoda Station |
| Primary airports | Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, Ratmalana Airport, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport |
| Best rental car company | Hertz |
| Used car costs | 2200000 LKR |
Connectivity
| Apple store addresses | Apple Store Colombo is located at No. 41, Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka |
| Internet connection (in Mbps) | 10 Mbps |
| Power socket type | G |
| Supply voltage | 230V |
| Best electronics store | Singer |
| Best internet carrier | Dialog |
| Primary cellular carrier | Dialog |
| Average monthly cost for internet | 1,500 LKR |
Shopping
| The best drug store | Cargills |
| Best restaurant chain | KFC |
| The best grocery store | Keells |
| The most popular fashion brand | Hameedia |
Regulatory
| GDP per capita | $3,845 / year |
| Average annual income | $7000 |
| Sales tax rate | 15% |
| Income tax rate | 24% |
| Tourist visa valid (in days) | 30 |
Financial
| Average mortgage rate | 8.5% |
| Suggested ATM take out | 10,000 LKR |
| Bank that has the most ATM machines | Commercial Bank of Ceylon |
| Average tip in restaurant | 10-15% |
| Pay using credit or debit card | Not very common |
Health
| Emergency Phone Numbers | 110 (police), 119 (fire and rescue), 011-2691111 (ambulance) |
| Polution per square meter | 4,945 |
| Health quality rank (according to WHO) | 73 |
| Main religion | Buddhism |
Quality of life
111%
-
58%
Safety, freedom, rights -
99%
Traffic -
337%
Property to income -
42%
Crime -
72%
Healthcare -
59%
Weather
Salaries
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | LKR 62,432 |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 17.33% |
Childcare
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | LKR 8,286 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | LKR 165,412 |
Cost of living
18%
-
Purchasing Power
16%
-
Rent
7%
-
Food
36%
-
Restaurant
13%
-
Workspace
61%
-
Transport
62%
Rent
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre Per Month | LKR 108,500.04 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre Per Month | LKR 45,255.91 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre Per Month | LKR 205,422.20 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre Per Month | LKR 92,712.00 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend), Sports And Leisure | LKR 1,500.00 |
Food
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | LKR 450.30 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | LKR 235.84 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | LKR 672.46 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | LKR 2,755.88 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | LKR 157.91 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | LKR 2,550.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | LKR 490.92 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | LKR 689.30 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | LKR 1,950.00 |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | LKR 1,484.89 |
| Apples (1kg) | LKR 1,722.16 |
| Oranges (1kg) | LKR 1,381.03 |
| Potato (1kg) | LKR 385.12 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | LKR 316.21 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | LKR 238.75 |
| Tomato (1kg) | LKR 493.50 |
| Banana (1kg) | LKR 290.10 |
| Onion (1kg) | LKR 266.59 |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | LKR 2,178.85 |
Restaurants
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | LKR 600.00 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | LKR 4,750.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | LKR 1,600.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | LKR 450.00 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | LKR 675.00 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | LKR 159.22 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | LKR 73.67 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | LKR 581.73 |
Connectivity
94%
Infrastructure
89/100
Internet speed
92/100
Internet cost
95/100
Pre-paid plan
98/100
Utilities (Monthly)
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | LKR 10,350.56 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | LKR 2.31 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | LKR 3,762.22 |
Sports
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | LKR 3,759.80 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | LKR 1,500.00 |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | LKR 1,000.00 |
Transportation
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | LKR 47.50 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | LKR 1,500.00 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | LKR 440.73 |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | LKR 9,500,000.00 |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | LKR 10,706,109.55 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | LKR 100.00 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | LKR 100.00 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | LKR 180.00 |
