Living in Sri Lanka
Asia — Expat guide for moving and living abroad
Country overview
Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Currency
LKR
Continent
Asia
Advertisement
Entry requirements
Check if your passport needs a visa for Sri Lanka.
Check visa requirementsPopular passport access to Sri Lanka
| Passport | Status | Max Stay |
|---|---|---|
| India | Evisa | 30 days |
| United States | E Visa | 30 days |
| United Kingdom | E Visa | 30 days |
| Germany | E Visa | 30 days |
| France | E Visa | 30 days |
| Spain | E Visa | 30 days |
| Australia | E Visa | 30 days |
| Canada | E Visa | 30 days |
| Brazil | E Visa | 30 days |
| China | E Visa | 30 days |
Detailed visa guides for Sri Lanka
Monthly costs
Colombo
Rent (center)
350 USD/mo
Groceries
160 USD/mo
Transport
25 USD/mo
Est. Monthly Total
575 USD/mo
Advertisement
Work permits
-
Resident Guest Visa with Work Permit
Duration: 1 year, renewable
Employer-sponsored
Salary & tax
Income Tax Range
6% – 18%
Social Security (Employee)
0.08%
Annual thresholds in LKR. Tax year Apr-Mar. Recovering from 2022 crisis.
Calculate your net salaryUseful services
Insurance
SafetyWing
Nomad health insurance for your stay in Sri Lanka. Monthly subscription, cancel anytime.
Get a SafetyWing quote →Connectivity
Airalo
Sri Lanka eSIM data plans from $4.50. Activate before you land — no SIM swap.
Get an Airalo eSIM →Privacy
NordVPN
Stay secure on public WiFi in Sri Lanka and access services from home.
Get NordVPN →Language
iTalki
Book 1-on-1 video lessons with native tutors before you move. 150+ languages.
Find a tutor →