Colombo, Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
#879
,
Nomad Score:
61%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
71%
Weight: 150
Generally affordable compared to Western cities, with low costs for food and transportation, though imported goods can be pricier.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
68%
Weight: 80
Reasonably priced apartments and guesthouses, but quality and location can affect prices significantly.
🍎 Food & Groceries
79%
Weight: 40
Local food and groceries are inexpensive and fresh; imported items cost more.
🚌 Transportation Cost
84%
Weight: 20
Public transport and tuk-tuks are very affordable; ride-sharing apps are also available at low cost.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
70%
Weight: 15
Affordable entertainment options including cinemas, cultural events, and local outings.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
62%
Weight: 10
Gyms are moderately priced but quality varies; premium gyms are more expensive.
💱 Currency Stability
53%
Weight: 30
Sri Lankan Rupee has experienced volatility recently, impacting purchasing power.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
67%
Weight: 100
Average speeds around 20-30 Mbps in urban areas; fiber connections improving but not widespread.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
55%
Weight: 40
Limited but growing number of coworking spaces mainly in Colombo; not yet widespread.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
73%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, though speeds and reliability can vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
60%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to remote workers but not extensively; power outlets and seating can be limited.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
42%
Weight: 100
Still emerging as a digital nomad destination; relatively low international nomad presence.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
78%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with good opportunities for leisure and cultural activities.
🌳 Environmental Quality
54%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and waste management issues affect environmental quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
48%
Weight: 10
City cleanliness is inconsistent; some areas are well-maintained, others less so.
🗨️ Language Barrier
70%
Weight: 30
English widely spoken in urban areas, especially among younger population and professionals.
💨 Air Quality
45%
Weight: 15
Air pollution can be moderate to high in Colombo due to traffic and industrial activity.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
60%
Weight: 20
Good private healthcare facilities in Colombo; public healthcare is basic.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
75%
Weight: 25
Private healthcare is affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
63%
Weight: 20
Access to quality healthcare is available but limited outside major urban centers.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
87%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; monsoon seasons bring heavy rain but also sunny periods.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
50%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk from monsoons and occasional flooding; low earthquake risk.
🏞️ Green Spaces
58%
Weight: 10
Some parks and green areas in Colombo but limited compared to other cities.
❄️ Air Conditioning
72%
Weight: 15
Widely available in accommodations and public places due to tropical climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
21%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; mostly warm and humid year-round.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
85%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with diverse religious and historical sites.
🌃 Nightlife
56%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is modest with some bars and clubs; not as vibrant as larger global cities.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
79%
Weight: 15
Access to beaches, parks, and nearby natural attractions is good.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
60%
Weight: 10
Opportunities to learn Sinhala and Tamil exist but are limited in formal settings.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
80%
Weight: 10
Abundant cultural tours, historical sites, and local experiences available.
🎳 Indoors Fun
50%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options; cinemas and malls available but not extensive.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
83%
Weight: 25
Vibrant local cuisine with diverse street food and restaurants.
🧠 Yoga Studios
65%
Weight: 10
Several yoga studios and wellness centers available, especially in Colombo.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
60%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and fitness centers available; variety and quality improving.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
74%
Weight: 15
Fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood widely available; healthy eating is accessible.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
68%
Weight: 20
GMT+5:30 is convenient for Asia and Europe but less so for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
52%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events for digital nomads; growing startup community.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
40%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most nomads rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
45%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is nascent with limited local support structures.
🏢 Coworking Quality
50%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but not highly developed or numerous.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
53%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem with government support but still small scale.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and e-wallets are growing but cash remains dominant.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Limited adoption and regulatory uncertainty around cryptocurrencies.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
65%
Weight: 30
Bandaranaike International Airport offers decent connectivity to Asia and Middle East.
🚇 Public Transit
50%
Weight: 20
Public buses and trains available but often crowded and unreliable.
🚶 Walkability
55%
Weight: 20
Some walkable neighborhoods but traffic and infrastructure limit pedestrian comfort.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
70%
Weight: 15
Uber and local ride-sharing apps like PickMe operate widely and affordably.
🚲 Cycling
35%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure and traffic safety concerns.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
68%
Weight: 15
Good bus and train connections to other parts of Sri Lanka; affordable and frequent.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
60%
Weight: 10
Scooter rentals available but less common than in Southeast Asia.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
75%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage in Colombo and urban areas; 5G rollout underway.
🔒 VPN Reliability
78%
Weight: 20
VPN services generally reliable with no major restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
60%
Weight: 15
Occasional power outages occur but generally stable in Colombo.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi limited; mostly available in cafes and hotels.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
67%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are easy to obtain; digital nomad visa not yet available.
📊 Tax Friendliness
50%
Weight: 30
Tax system is complex; no specific benefits for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
65%
Weight: 15
Generally free but some political sensitivities exist.
🏛️ Political Stability
52%
Weight: 20
Recent political unrest has affected stability; situation improving but still fragile.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
50%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic and requires local documentation.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
55%
Weight: 10
Process is improving but still involves paperwork and delays.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa currently available.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
50%
Weight: 50
Moderate friendliness; infrastructure and community still developing.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
35%
Weight: 25
Few organized events or meetups specifically for digital nomads.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
40%
Weight: 20
Limited online groups or forums focused on Colombo digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
60%
Weight: 100
Generally safe in urban areas but petty crime exists; caution advised at night.
♀️ Female Friendly
55%
Weight: 50
Moderate female friendliness; cultural norms require some caution.
✊ Racial Tolerance
65%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant society with diverse ethnic groups, though occasional tensions.