Moving to Sri Lanka from Minnesota
What to Expect
Considering a move from Minnesota to Sri Lanka? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Minnesota to Sri Lanka, you would find that Sri Lanka is 60.3% cheaper than Minnesota. A $75,000 salary in Minnesota would need to be roughly LKR12,272,687 in Sri Lanka to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Sinhala and Tamil. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Colombo averages 87°F vs 56°F in Saint Paul, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Minnesota and Sri Lanka.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → LKR12,272,687
To maintain the same standard of living in Sri Lanka
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 65.8% less
Groceries
pay 34.7% less
Transportation
pay 39.5% less
Housing
pay 79.3% less
Childcare
pay 97.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 55.7% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Minnesota to Sri Lanka.
Who's moving to Sri Lanka?
Top countries of origin for Sri Lanka's foreign-born residents.
- 10,837
- 5,168
- 2,481
- 1,753
- 1,688
- 1,416
- · · ·
-
14.613
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Sri Lanka compared to Minnesota.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Minnesota performs better than Sri Lanka across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Minnesota performs better than Sri Lanka across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Minnesota performs better than Sri Lanka across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Saint Paul | Colombo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 32°/16°F (0°/-9°C) | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 69°/50°F (21°/10°C) | 88°/77°F (31°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/60°F (26°/16°C) | 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 43°/27°F (6°/-3°C) | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Saint Paul | Colombo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25°/9°F (-4.1°/-12.6°C) | 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C) |
| Feb | 30°/14°F (-1.3°/-9.9°C) | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C) |
| Mar | 42°/26°F (5.5°/-3.6°C) | 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C) |
| Apr | 58°/39°F (14.7°/3.9°C) | 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C) |
| May | 70°/50°F (21.2°/10.0°C) | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C) |
| Jun | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) | 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C) |
| Jul | 83°/65°F (28.5°/18.1°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C) |
| Aug | 81°/62°F (27.1°/16.8°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C) |
| Sep | 72°/53°F (22.2°/11.7°C) | 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C) |
| Oct | 59°/40°F (14.8°/4.7°C) | 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C) |
| Nov | 42°/28°F (5.6°/-2.4°C) | 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) |
| Dec | 28°/14°F (-2.5°/-10.1°C) | 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.8°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
National Meteorological Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Sri Lanka. To live, work, or study long-term in Sri Lanka, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Sri Lanka's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Sri Lanka
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Sri Lanka passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Sri Lanka than Minnesota?
On average Sri Lanka is about 51% less expensive than Minnesota, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Sri Lanka?
Budget about LKR3,068,172 for 3 months in Sri Lanka (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Sri Lanka?
From major Sri Lanka cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Minnesota and Sri Lanka are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Sri Lanka compared to Minnesota?
Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Minnesota across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Sri Lanka compared to Minnesota?
The average high temperature in Colombo is 87°F, compared to 56°F in Saint Paul. Colombo receives around 99.4 in of rainfall per year, while Saint Paul gets 28.5 in.
What language do they speak in Sri Lanka?
The official languages in Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. In Minnesota, the official language is English.
