Genki Logo
Genki offers international health insurance tailored for digital nomads, expats, and long-term travelers, providing worldwide coverage and flexibility.

Worldwide coverage, simple plans.

Affiliate disclosure

Bentota, Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
#891 ,

Nomad Score: 63%

💰 Cost & Affordability

💸 Cost of Living
81% Weight: 150
Generally affordable living costs compared to Western standards, with low prices for food, transport, and services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
74% Weight: 80
Reasonably priced guesthouses and apartments, though beachfront properties can be pricier.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85% Weight: 40
Local markets and street food are very affordable; imported goods cost more but still reasonable.
🚌 Transportation Cost
87% Weight: 20
Public transport and tuk-tuks are cheap and widely available.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
72% Weight: 15
Affordable local entertainment options, but limited variety compared to big cities.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
63% Weight: 10
Gyms available but fewer in number; membership fees are moderate.
💱 Currency Stability
51% Weight: 30
Sri Lankan Rupee has experienced volatility; some inflation concerns persist.

💻 Digital Nomad Essentials

🚀 Internet Speed
67% Weight: 100
Average speeds around 10-20 Mbps; stable but not high-speed fiber everywhere.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
38% Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces; most nomads work from cafes or accommodations.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
79% Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, though connection quality varies.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
65% Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not widespread.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
42% Weight: 100
Emerging destination but still niche compared to Colombo or Galle.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
84% Weight: 25
Easy to purchase prepaid SIM cards with data plans.

🌟 Quality of Life

⚖️ Work-Life Balance
84% Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with beach access supports good balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
71% Weight: 15
Coastal environment is generally clean but occasional pollution and waste management issues.
🧼 Cleanliness
56% Weight: 10
Public areas can be littered; cleanliness varies widely.
🗨️ Language Barrier
68% Weight: 30
English widely spoken in tourist areas; some language challenges in local interactions.
💨 Air Quality
73% Weight: 15
Generally good air quality due to coastal location and low industrial activity.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Friendly
65% Weight: 25
Good for families seeking nature and quiet; limited child-focused amenities.

🏥 Healthcare

🏥 Healthcare Quality
54% Weight: 20
Basic healthcare available; for serious issues, travel to Colombo recommended.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
80% Weight: 25
Medical services are affordable compared to Western countries.
🏥 Healthcare
58% Weight: 20
Limited advanced healthcare facilities locally; adequate for minor ailments.

🌿 Climate & Environment

☀️ Weather
89% Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; some monsoon season rain.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
50% Weight: 10
Moderate risk from monsoons and occasional flooding; tsunami risk low but present.
🏞️ Green Spaces
76% Weight: 10
Abundant natural greenery and beach access.
❄️ Air Conditioning
62% Weight: 15
AC common in hotels and some cafes but not universal.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
31% Weight: 10
Tropical climate with little seasonal variation.
🔊 Noise Pollution
60% Weight: 10
Moderate noise from traffic and tuk-tuks; quieter in residential areas.

🎭 Culture & Entertainment

🎭 Culture
87% Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with festivals, temples, and local traditions.
🌃 Nightlife
40% Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly low-key beach bars.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
91% Weight: 15
Excellent access to beaches, water sports, and nature excursions.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
55% Weight: 10
Some opportunities to learn Sinhala or Tamil but limited formal classes.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
78% Weight: 10
Good availability of cultural and nature tours.
🎳 Indoors Fun
43% Weight: 10
Few indoor entertainment options; mostly focused on outdoor activities.

🍎 Food & Fitness

🍽️ Food Scene
83% Weight: 25
Diverse local cuisine with fresh seafood and Sri Lankan specialties.
🧠 Yoga Studios
69% Weight: 10
Several yoga studios and retreats available.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
58% Weight: 15
Limited gyms and fitness centers.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
77% Weight: 15
Abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood.

💼 Work Environment

🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
64% Weight: 20
GMT+5:30; convenient for Asia and Europe but less so for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
39% Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
41% Weight: 20
Local job market limited; mostly reliant on remote work from abroad.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
37% Weight: 20
Small freelance community; mostly informal.
🏢 Coworking Quality
35% Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces; quality varies.

📈 Business & Economy

🚀 Startup Scene
28% Weight: 15
Minimal startup ecosystem in Bentota.
💳 Local Payment Services
56% Weight: 10
Mobile payments growing but cash still dominant.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40% Weight: 15
Limited adoption and regulatory clarity.

🚆 Transportation

✈️ Airport Connectivity
47% Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is Bandaranaike International Airport (~90 km away).
🚇 Public Transit
59% Weight: 20
Basic bus services available; no metro or train connections nearby.
🚶 Walkability
68% Weight: 20
Walkable in town center and beach areas.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
52% Weight: 15
Ride-sharing apps limited; tuk-tuks dominate.
🚲 Cycling
61% Weight: 10
Cycling possible but limited dedicated infrastructure.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
63% Weight: 15
Buses and trains connect to major cities but can be slow.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
75% Weight: 10
Scooter rentals widely available and affordable.

📡 Connectivity

📱 Mobile Network Coverage
70% Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage in town and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
78% Weight: 20
VPNs generally work well without restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
60% Weight: 15
Occasional power outages but mostly stable.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55% Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi; mostly in cafes and hotels.

⚖️ Legal & Administrative

🛂 Visa Ease
73% Weight: 40
Tourist visa on arrival available; some bureaucratic hurdles.
📊 Tax Friendliness
45% Weight: 30
Sri Lanka has moderate tax rates; no special digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
62% Weight: 15
Generally free but occasional government scrutiny.
🏛️ Political Stability
50% Weight: 20
Some political unrest in recent years; improving but still fragile.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
43% Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners; requires documentation and local presence.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
40% Weight: 10
Bureaucratic and time-consuming process.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
20% Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa as of 2025.

🌍 Digital Nomad Community

🌍 Nomad Friendly
51% Weight: 50
Emerging destination but lacks infrastructure tailored to nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
32% Weight: 25
Few organized events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
40% Weight: 20
Small online nomad community presence.

🛡️ Safety & Tolerance

🛡️ Safety
70% Weight: 100
Generally safe for tourists; petty crime exists but low violent crime.
♀️ Female Friendly
60% Weight: 50
Moderate; cultural norms require some caution but generally welcoming.
✊ Racial Tolerance
72% Weight: 50
Ethnically diverse society with reasonable tolerance.

Feedback Thank You!

Thank you!

Your feedback has been submitted successfully.