Kandy, Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
#880
,
Nomad Score:
61%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
87%
Weight: 150
Kandy is quite affordable compared to global standards, with low prices for daily expenses and services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
79%
Weight: 80
Accommodation is reasonably priced, especially guesthouses and long-term rentals, though options are limited compared to bigger cities.
🍎 Food & Groceries
88%
Weight: 40
Local food and groceries are very affordable, with fresh produce widely available at low cost.
🚌 Transportation Cost
91%
Weight: 20
Public transport and tuk-tuks are cheap and widely used; fuel prices are moderate.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
73%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are limited but inexpensive, including cultural shows and local events.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
62%
Weight: 10
Gyms exist but are fewer and less modern; membership fees are low but quality varies.
💱 Currency Stability
54%
Weight: 30
Sri Lankan Rupee has experienced volatility recently, impacting purchasing power.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
67%
Weight: 100
Internet is generally stable with speeds around 10-20 Mbps in urban areas, but can be inconsistent.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
35%
Weight: 40
Very limited coworking spaces; most nomads rely on cafes or hotels for work.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
71%
Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi, though speeds and reliability vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
58%
Weight: 30
Some cafes cater to digital nomads but lack dedicated workspaces or power outlets.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
32%
Weight: 100
Kandy is not a major digital nomad hub; most nomads prefer Colombo or coastal cities.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
80%
Weight: 30
Relaxed lifestyle with opportunities for cultural immersion and nature activities.
🌳 Environmental Quality
76%
Weight: 15
Surrounded by greenery and hills, air quality is generally good except during occasional burning seasons.
🧼 Cleanliness
59%
Weight: 10
Public areas can be littered; cleanliness varies widely.
🗨️ Language Barrier
63%
Weight: 30
English is widely spoken in tourist areas but less so in local neighborhoods.
💨 Air Quality
74%
Weight: 15
Generally good due to greenery, though occasional pollution spikes occur.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
57%
Weight: 20
Basic healthcare available; for advanced care, travel to Colombo is often necessary.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
85%
Weight: 25
Healthcare costs are low compared to Western countries.
🏥 Healthcare
61%
Weight: 20
Adequate for minor issues; limited specialist services locally.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
78%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; rainy season from April to September.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
60%
Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional flooding during monsoon.
🏞️ Green Spaces
90%
Weight: 10
Abundant parks, botanical gardens, and surrounding hills provide excellent green spaces.
❄️ Air Conditioning
54%
Weight: 15
Air conditioning is not standard in many accommodations; fans are more common.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
31%
Weight: 10
Tropical climate with minimal seasonal variation.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
89%
Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with temples, festivals, and traditional arts.
🌃 Nightlife
37%
Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly low-key bars and cafes.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
92%
Weight: 15
Excellent access to mountains, lakes, and hiking trails.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
50%
Weight: 10
Few formal language schools; informal opportunities to learn Sinhala or Tamil.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
83%
Weight: 10
Many cultural tours, temple visits, and nature excursions available.
🎳 Indoors Fun
45%
Weight: 10
Limited indoor entertainment options like cinemas or malls.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
77%
Weight: 25
Strong local cuisine with many affordable eateries; limited international options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
56%
Weight: 10
Few yoga studios; some guesthouses offer yoga classes.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
58%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and outdoor fitness options available.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
74%
Weight: 15
Fresh fruits and vegetables are abundant; vegetarian options common.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
65%
Weight: 20
GMT+5:30 is moderately convenient for Europe and Asia, less so for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
30%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events for digital nomads or entrepreneurs.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
28%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
31%
Weight: 20
Freelance community is small and informal.
🏢 Coworking Quality
32%
Weight: 30
Few coworking spaces; those available are basic and lack amenities.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
25%
Weight: 15
Minimal startup ecosystem in Kandy compared to Colombo.
💳 Local Payment Services
60%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and e-wallets exist but adoption is moderate.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
40%
Weight: 15
Growing interest but limited infrastructure and regulation.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
38%
Weight: 30
Nearest international airport is Bandaranaike International Airport, about 3 hours away.
🚇 Public Transit
59%
Weight: 20
Buses and tuk-tuks are common but public transit infrastructure is basic.
🚶 Walkability
64%
Weight: 20
City center is walkable but sidewalks can be uneven and traffic chaotic.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
47%
Weight: 15
Ride-sharing apps like PickMe operate but coverage and reliability vary.
🚲 Cycling
42%
Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; hilly terrain can be challenging.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
70%
Weight: 15
Train and bus services connect Kandy to other cities; scenic train routes popular.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
63%
Weight: 10
Scooter rentals available but less common than in coastal cities.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
75%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage in urban areas; rural coverage less reliable.
🔒 VPN Reliability
78%
Weight: 20
VPN services work well with minimal restrictions.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
60%
Weight: 15
Occasional power outages occur, but generally stable in city.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
55%
Weight: 10
Limited public WiFi; mostly available in cafes and hotels.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
68%
Weight: 40
Tourist visas are easy to obtain; longer stays require extensions.
📊 Tax Friendliness
43%
Weight: 30
Complex tax system; no special digital nomad tax benefits.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
70%
Weight: 15
Generally free but occasional political sensitivities exist.
🏛️ Political Stability
55%
Weight: 20
Some political unrest in recent years but currently stable.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
49%
Weight: 15
Challenging for foreigners; requires local documentation and presence.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
42%
Weight: 10
Bureaucratic and time-consuming process for foreigners.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No dedicated digital nomad visa available as of 2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
45%
Weight: 50
Somewhat friendly but lacks infrastructure and community support.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
23%
Weight: 25
Very few or no regular digital nomad meetups or events.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
37%
Weight: 20
Limited online presence for Kandy digital nomads compared to other cities.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
72%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
60%
Weight: 50
Moderately female-friendly; cultural norms require some caution.
✊ Racial Tolerance
71%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant society, though some ethnic tensions exist historically.