Moving to Switzerland from Sri Lanka
What to Expect
Considering a move from Sri Lanka to Switzerland? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Sri Lanka to Switzerland, you would find that Switzerland is 15.7 times more expensive than Sri Lanka overall. A LKR24,752,613 salary in Sri Lanka would need to be roughly CHF217,182 in Switzerland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bern averages 55°F vs 87°F in Colombo, making it significantly cooler.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Sri Lanka and Switzerland.
What does your salary buy?
LKR24,752,613 → CHF217,182
To maintain the same standard of living in Switzerland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 8.1 times more
Groceries
pay 3.3 times more
Transportation
pay 7.5 times more
Housing
pay 6.5 times more
Childcare
pay 75.7 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 4.5 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 Switzerland.
people moved from Sri Lanka to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Switzerland compared to Sri Lanka.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland performs significantly better than Sri Lanka across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Sri Lanka generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sri Lanka generally does better on environment, though Switzerland leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Switzerland 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Switzerland generally does better on employment & economy, though Sri Lanka leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Switzerland performs significantly better than Sri Lanka across all family life metrics.
Data: Sri Lanka Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Colombo | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 88°/77°F (31°/25°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Colombo | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C) | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) |
| Feb | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C) | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) |
| Apr | 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C) | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) |
| May | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C) | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) |
| Jul | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C) | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) |
| Aug | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C) | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) |
| Sep | 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C) | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) |
| Oct | 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C) | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) |
| Nov | 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) |
| Dec | 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.8°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) |
Data:
National Meteorological Centre,
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Sri Lanka and Switzerland. To live, work, or study long-term in Switzerland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Switzerland's immigration authority.
Sri Lanka passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa Required
Switzerland 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 Switzerland than Sri Lanka?
On average Switzerland is around 271% pricier than Sri Lanka, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Switzerland?
Budget about CHF54,296 for 3 months in Switzerland (based on a LKR24,752,613 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Switzerland?
Connectivity is usually fine (Switzerland: 47.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Switzerland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Switzerland safe for expats?
Switzerland performs significantly better than Sri Lanka across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.4 in Sri Lanka.
How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 44.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 11.9 in Sri Lanka. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sri Lanka: 67).
What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Sri Lanka?
The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 87°F in Colombo. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Colombo gets 99.4 in.
What language do they speak in Switzerland?
The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Sri Lanka, the official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.
