Moving to Sri Lanka from Vietnam
What to Expect
Considering a move from Vietnam to Sri Lanka? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Vietnam to Sri Lanka, you would find that Sri Lanka is 24.5% cheaper than Vietnam overall. A ₫1,900,000,000 salary in Vietnam would need to be roughly LKR18,400,000 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.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Sri Lanka cheaper than Vietnam?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 29.3% more
Groceries
pay 0.5% more
Transportation
pay 4.5% less
Housing
pay 34.7% less
Childcare
pay 93.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 31.7% 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.
What salary do you need in Sri Lanka?
What does your salary buy?
₫1,900,000,000 → LKR18,400,000
To maintain the same standard of living in Sri Lanka
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Sri Lanka compared to Vietnam.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Vietnam generally does better on safety, though Sri Lanka leads in road traffic deaths.
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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sri Lanka leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Vietnam across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Vietnam 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
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Vietnam 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
Vietnam generally does better on family life, though Sri Lanka leads in life expectancy.
Sources: World Bank (2019–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2011–2021), World Health Organization (2024), General Department Of Taxation - Ministry Of Finance (2016), Sri Lanka Inland Revenue Department (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Sri Lanka vs Vietnam
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Ho Chi Minh City | Colombo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/75°F (33°/24°C) | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 94°/79°F (34°/26°C) | 88°/77°F (31°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 91°/77°F (33°/25°C) | 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 90°/76°F (32°/25°C) | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Ho Chi Minh City | Colombo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/74°F (32.0°/23.4°C) | 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C) |
| Feb | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.1°C) | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C) |
| Mar | 92°/77°F (33.6°/24.9°C) | 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C) |
| Apr | 94°/80°F (34.5°/26.4°C) | 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C) |
| May | 95°/80°F (34.9°/26.4°C) | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C) |
| Jun | 92°/78°F (33.5°/25.5°C) | 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C) |
| Jul | 91°/77°F (33.0°/25.2°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C) |
| Aug | 91°/77°F (32.9°/25.1°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C) |
| Sep | 91°/77°F (32.6°/25.0°C) | 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C) |
| Oct | 90°/77°F (32.3°/25.0°C) | 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C) |
| Nov | 90°/77°F (32.4°/24.9°C) | 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) |
| Dec | 89°/75°F (31.6°/23.9°C) | 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.8°C) |
Data:
Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration,
National Meteorological Centre
Can you move from Vietnam to Sri Lanka?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Vietnam 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.
Vietnam passport holder visiting Sri Lanka
Electronic Travel Authorisation
Sri Lanka passport holder visiting Vietnam
Visa Online (e-Visa)Data: 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 Vietnam?
On average Sri Lanka is about 24% less expensive than Vietnam, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Sri Lanka?
Budget about LKR4,600,000 for 3 months in Sri Lanka (based on a ₫1,900,000,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Sri Lanka?
Connectivity is usually fine (Sri Lanka: 8.5 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Sri Lanka offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Sri Lanka safe for expats?
Vietnam generally does better on safety, though Sri Lanka leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Sri Lanka is 3.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in Vietnam.
How is healthcare in Sri Lanka compared to Vietnam?
Vietnam generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Sri Lanka leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 11.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Sri Lanka, compared to 11.1 in Vietnam. Sri Lanka scores 67 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vietnam: 68).
What's the weather like in Sri Lanka compared to Vietnam?
The average high temperature in Colombo is 87°F, compared to 91°F in Ho Chi Minh City. Colombo receives around 99.4 in of rainfall per year, while Ho Chi Minh City gets 65.1 in.
What language do they speak in Sri Lanka?
The official languages in Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. In Vietnam, the official language is Vietnamese.
