Moving to Sri Lanka from New Jersey
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from New Jersey to Sri Lanka — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from New Jersey to Sri Lanka, you would find that Sri Lanka is 65.5% cheaper than New Jersey. A $75,000 salary in New Jersey would need to be roughly LKR9,741,890 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 63°F in Trenton, 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?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from New Jersey to Sri Lanka.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → LKR9,741,890
To maintain the same standard of living in Sri Lanka
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 68.2% less
Groceries
pay 46.0% less
Transportation
pay 43.4% less
Housing
pay 83.1% less
Childcare
pay 98.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 60.9% 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?
How many people actually move from New Jersey to Sri Lanka, based on official data.
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
- · · ·
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14.613
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from New Jersey to Sri Lanka.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Sri Lanka performs significantly better than New Jersey across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
New Jersey 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
New Jersey performs better than Sri Lanka across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
New Jersey 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 | Trenton | Colombo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 44°/27°F (7°/-3°C) | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 71°/51°F (22°/10°C) | 88°/77°F (31°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/36°F (12°/2°C) | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Trenton | Colombo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°/23°F (3.9°/-4.9°C) | 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C) |
| Feb | 42°/26°F (5.7°/-3.4°C) | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C) |
| Mar | 51°/32°F (10.5°/-0.1°C) | 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C) |
| Apr | 61°/41°F (16.3°/5.0°C) | 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C) |
| May | 72°/51°F (22.1°/10.3°C) | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C) |
| Jun | 81°/60°F (27.1°/15.7°C) | 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C) |
| Jul | 85°/66°F (29.6°/18.9°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C) |
| Aug | 84°/64°F (28.7°/17.9°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C) |
| Sep | 76°/56°F (24.5°/13.6°C) | 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C) |
| Oct | 65°/44°F (18.3°/6.8°C) | 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C) |
| Nov | 54°/37°F (12.5°/2.7°C) | 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) |
| Dec | 43°/28°F (6.2°/-2.4°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 New Jersey?
Yes — Sri Lanka is on average about 61% cheaper than New Jersey. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Sri Lanka?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly LKR2,435,472 in Sri Lanka on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Sri Lanka?
Usually fine from major cities in Sri Lanka. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
How is healthcare in Sri Lanka compared to New Jersey?
Sri Lanka performs significantly better than New Jersey across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Sri Lanka compared to New Jersey?
The average high temperature in Colombo is 87°F, compared to 63°F in Trenton. Colombo receives around 99.4 in of rainfall per year, while Trenton gets 46.5 in.
What language do they speak in Sri Lanka?
The official languages in Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. In New Jersey, the official language is English.
