Bentota, Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
#891
,
Nomad Score:
63%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
87%
Weight: 150
Generally low cost of living compared to Western countries; affordable food, transport, and services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
79%
Weight: 80
Reasonably priced guesthouses and apartments, though beachfront properties can be pricier.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85%
Weight: 40
Local markets and eateries offer fresh and affordable produce and meals.
🚌 Transportation Cost
90%
Weight: 20
Inexpensive local transport options like tuk-tuks and buses.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
72%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife and entertainment options, but affordable local activities.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
65%
Weight: 10
Few gyms available; memberships are moderately priced but options are limited.
💱 Currency Stability
53%
Weight: 30
Sri Lankan Rupee has experienced volatility recently, affecting purchasing power.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
68%
Weight: 100
Decent speeds in town centers; occasional interruptions and slower speeds in outskirts.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
34%
Weight: 40
Very limited coworking spaces; most nomads rely on cafes or accommodation setups.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
71%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, though reliability varies.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
60%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not widespread.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
42%
Weight: 100
Emerging destination but still not a major hub for digital nomads.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
80%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with access to beaches and nature supports good balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
75%
Weight: 15
Generally good environment with coastal air, though some waste management issues.
🧼 Cleanliness
58%
Weight: 10
Public areas can be littered; cleanliness varies widely.
🗨️ Language Barrier
60%
Weight: 30
English is widely spoken in tourist areas but less so in rural parts.
💨 Air Quality
70%
Weight: 15
Good air quality due to coastal location and low industrial activity.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
55%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare available; for serious issues, travel to Colombo or abroad recommended.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
80%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
57%
Weight: 20
Limited advanced medical facilities locally; adequate for minor issues.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
89%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; some monsoon season rain.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
40%
Weight: 10
Risk of monsoon flooding and occasional cyclones; tsunami risk low but present.
🏞️ Green Spaces
78%
Weight: 10
Abundant natural greenery and nearby forests; beaches provide open spaces.
❄️ Air Conditioning
65%
Weight: 15
Many accommodations have AC but not universal; fans common.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
32%
Weight: 10
Tropical climate with minimal seasonal variation.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
83%
Weight: 20
Rich Sri Lankan culture with festivals, temples, and local traditions.
🌃 Nightlife
45%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly low-key bars and beach parties.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
91%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to beaches, water sports, wildlife parks, and nature trails.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools; informal learning possible through locals.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
79%
Weight: 10
Good availability of cultural tours, boat trips, and wildlife excursions.
🎳 Indoors Fun
40%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; mostly small cafes and guesthouses.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
84%
Weight: 25
Diverse and flavorful Sri Lankan cuisine widely available.
🧠 Yoga Studios
62%
Weight: 10
Several yoga centers and retreats, though not abundant.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
55%
Weight: 15
Limited gyms and fitness centers; outdoor activities more common.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
77%
Weight: 15
Fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood widely available.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
60%
Weight: 20
GMT+5:30; moderate overlap with Europe and Asia but less with Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
38%
Weight: 25
Few formal networking events; small expat and nomad community.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
40%
Weight: 20
Limited local remote job market; mostly reliant on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
45%
Weight: 20
Small freelance community; growing but not well established.
🏢 Coworking Quality
30%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces; those available are basic.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
25%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup ecosystem in Bentota itself.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and cards accepted but cash still dominant.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Limited adoption and regulatory clarity in Sri Lanka.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
50%
Weight: 30
Nearest major airport is Bandaranaike International Airport (~2 hours away).
🚇 Public Transit
45%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit; mainly buses with infrequent schedules.
🚶 Walkability
65%
Weight: 20
Walkable in town center but limited sidewalks in some areas.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
55%
Weight: 15
Ride-hailing apps like PickMe available but less prevalent than tuk-tuks.
🚲 Cycling
50%
Weight: 10
Some cycling possible but roads can be busy and lack dedicated lanes.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
60%
Weight: 15
Train and bus services connect to major cities but can be slow.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
70%
Weight: 10
Scooter rentals widely available and affordable.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
75%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage in town and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
70%
Weight: 20
VPNs generally work well; occasional slowdowns.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
60%
Weight: 15
Occasional power outages; many places have backup generators.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi; mostly available in cafes and hotels.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
68%
Weight: 40
Tourist visa on arrival available; visa extensions possible but bureaucratic.
📊 Tax Friendliness
50%
Weight: 30
No specific digital nomad tax incentives; standard tax rules apply.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
70%
Weight: 15
Generally respected but some political sensitivities exist.
🏛️ Political Stability
55%
Weight: 20
Recent political unrest has occurred; situation improving but still fragile.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
40%
Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners; requires documentation and local presence.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
45%
Weight: 10
Bureaucratic and time-consuming process for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa as of 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
50%
Weight: 50
Emerging destination but lacks infrastructure tailored for nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
30%
Weight: 25
Few organized events or meetups for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
40%
Weight: 20
Small online presence; limited social media groups.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
72%
Weight: 100
Generally safe for tourists; petty crime exists but violent crime rare.
♀️ Female Friendly
60%
Weight: 50
Moderate; cultural norms require some caution but generally safe.
✊ Racial Tolerance
70%
Weight: 50
Ethnically diverse society with generally tolerant attitudes towards foreigners.