Kandy, Sri Lanka
Editor
March 12, 2023
Kandy, the second largest city in Sri Lanka, is an ideal destination for digital nomads. With its stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture, and low cost of living, Kandy is a great place to work and explore. The city is home to a number of co-working spaces, making it easy to stay connected and productive. The average monthly cost of living in Kandy is just $500, making it one of the most affordable cities in the world for digital nomads. The city also offers a variety of activities and attractions, from the Temple of the Tooth Relic to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Kandy is also home to a number of universities, making it a great place to learn and network. With its stunning scenery, vibrant culture, and low cost of living, Kandy is an ideal destination for digital nomads.
Living in Kandy, Sri Lanka: Overview
Overall score | Worksplorer index
-
104%
Quality of life -
69%
Cost of living -
50%
Connectivity -
69%
Weather
48
General
| Currency | LKR |
| Population (in millions) | 0.5 |
| Quality of life (world rank from 1 to 200) | Unranked |
| Cost of living compared to Chicago, USA | 40% cheaper |
| Best neighborhood to stay | Kandy City Center |
Culture
| Number of museums and galleries | 8 |
| Top selling local beer | Lion |
| Most popular local dish | Kottu |
Travel
| Most popular tourist attraction(s) | Temple of the Tooth, Kandy Lake, Royal Botanical Gardens |
| Discount airline | AirAsia |
| Major airline | SriLankan Airlines |
| Largest ride sharing company | PickMe |
| Primary train stations | Kandy Railway Station, Peradeniya Junction, Nanu Oya Railway Station |
| Primary airports | Kandy Airport, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Sigiriya Airport |
| Best rental car company | Hertz |
| Used car costs | Not available |
Connectivity
| Apple store addresses | No. 5, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka |
| Internet connection (in Mbps) | Unknown |
| Power socket type | G |
| Supply voltage | 230V |
| Best electronics store | Abans |
| Best internet carrier | Dialog |
| Primary cellular carrier | Dialog |
| Average monthly cost for internet | Approximately 1,500 LKR (Sri Lankan Rupees) |
Shopping
| The best drug store | Pharmacy |
| Best restaurant chain | KFC |
| The best grocery store | Keells Super |
| The most popular fashion brand | Nolimits |
Regulatory
| GDP per capita | $1,845 / year |
| Average annual income | $14,000 |
| Sales tax rate | 0% |
| Income tax rate | 0% |
| Tourist visa valid (in days) | 90 days is the maximum length of stay for a tourist visa in Kandy |
Financial
| Average mortgage rate | Not available |
| Suggested ATM take out | 2000 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 | 112 (general), 119 (police), 110 (ambulance), 115 (firefighters) |
| Polution per square meter | 845 |
| Health quality rank (according to WHO) | 73 |
| Main religion | Buddhism |
Quality of life
104%
-
60%
Safety, freedom, rights -
99%
Traffic -
273%
Property to income -
40%
Crime -
82%
Healthcare -
69%
Weather
Salaries
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | LKR 61,667 |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate | 18% |
Childcare
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | LKR 5,833 |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | LKR 230,000 |
Cost of living
69%
-
Purchasing Power
0%
-
Rent
6%
-
Food
30%
-
Restaurant
10%
-
Workspace
65%
-
Transport
46%
Rent
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre Per Month | LKR 43,333.33 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre Per Month | LKR 25,000.00 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre Per Month | LKR 103,333.33 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre Per Month | LKR 150,000.00 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend), Sports And Leisure | LKR 600.00 |
Food
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | LKR 389.38 |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | LKR 155.00 |
| Eggs (regular) (12) | LKR 448.95 |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | LKR 3,766.67 |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | LKR 130.00 |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | LKR 2,500.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | LKR 310.00 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | LKR 780.00 |
| Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) | LKR 1,600.00 |
| Chicken Fillets (1kg) | LKR 1,240.00 |
| Apples (1kg) | LKR 900.00 |
| Oranges (1kg) | LKR 850.00 |
| Potato (1kg) | LKR 297.00 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | LKR 283.33 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | LKR 215.56 |
| Tomato (1kg) | LKR 812.50 |
| Banana (1kg) | LKR 240.00 |
| Onion (1kg) | LKR 243.00 |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | LKR 1,740.00 |
Restaurants
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | LKR 450.00 |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | LKR 4,250.00 |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | LKR 2,200.00 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | LKR 465.00 |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | LKR 410.00 |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | LKR 137.50 |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | LKR 76.00 |
| Cappuccino (regular) | LKR 425.00 |
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 4,000.00 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | LKR 2.80 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | LKR 2,000.00 |
Sports
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | LKR 5,666.67 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | LKR 600.00 |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | LKR 1,200.00 |
Transportation
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | LKR 50.00 |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | LKR 2,125.00 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | LKR 327.44 |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | LKR 9,000,000.00 |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | LKR 13,000,000.00 |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | LKR 150.00 |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | LKR 125.00 |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | LKR 120.00 |