Moving to Iowa from Sri Lanka
What to Expect
Considering a move from Sri Lanka to Iowa? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Sri Lanka to Iowa, you would find that Iowa is 7.9 times more expensive than Sri Lanka overall. A LKR25,169,825 salary in Sri Lanka would need to be roughly $137,010 in Iowa to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Des Moines averages 60°F vs 87°F in Colombo, making it significantly cooler.
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 Sri Lanka and Iowa.
What does your salary buy?
LKR25,169,825 → $137,010
To maintain the same standard of living in Iowa
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 3.6 times more
Groceries
pay 2.1 times more
Transportation
pay 2.6 times more
Housing
pay 4.5 times more
Childcare
pay 37.3 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.8 times more
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 Sri Lanka to Iowa.
people moved from Sri Lanka to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
88.51,543
Sri Lanka
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Iowa compared to Sri Lanka.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Sri Lanka performs better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs significantly 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
Iowa performs significantly better than Sri Lanka across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Sri Lanka performs better than Iowa across all family life metrics.
Data: The World Factbook
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Colombo | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 88°/77°F (31°/25°C) | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) |
View all months
| Month | Colombo | Des Moines |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C) | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) |
| Feb | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C) | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) |
| Mar | 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C) | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) |
| Apr | 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C) | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) |
| May | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C) | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) |
| Jun | 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C) | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) |
| Jul | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C) | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) |
| Aug | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C) | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) |
| Sep | 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C) | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) |
| Oct | 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C) | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) |
| Nov | 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) |
| Dec | 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.8°C) | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) |
Data:
National Meteorological Centre,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sri Lanka and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Sri Lanka passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States passport holder visiting Sri Lanka
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Iowa than Sri Lanka?
On average Iowa is around 83% pricier than Sri Lanka, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Iowa?
Budget about $34,252 for 3 months in Iowa (based on a LKR25,169,825 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Iowa?
From major Iowa cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Sri Lanka and Iowa are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Iowa compared to Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka performs better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Iowa compared to Sri Lanka?
The average high temperature in Des Moines is 60°F, compared to 87°F in Colombo. Des Moines receives around 36.0 in of rainfall per year, while Colombo gets 99.4 in.
What language do they speak in Iowa?
The official language in Iowa is English. In Sri Lanka, the official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.
