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 20.0% more expensive than Vietnam overall. A ₫1,970,055,297 salary in Vietnam would need to be roughly LKR23,159,260 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 ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
What does your salary buy?
₫1,970,055,297 → LKR23,159,260
To maintain the same standard of living in Sri Lanka
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 60.8% more
Groceries
pay 39.7% more
Transportation
pay 3.9% more
Housing
pay 1.5% less
Childcare
pay 89.6% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.5 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.
Get free moving quotes to Sri Lanka
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
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.
Data: General Department Of Taxation - Ministry Of Finance, 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 | Hanoi | Colombo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 71°/62°F (22°/16°C) | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 88°/75°F (31°/24°C) | 88°/77°F (31°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/78°F (32°/26°C) | 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 79°/66°F (26°/19°C) | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Hanoi | Colombo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68°/58°F (20.0°/14.6°C) | 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C) |
| Feb | 70°/61°F (21.3°/16.2°C) | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C) |
| Mar | 74°/66°F (23.5°/18.7°C) | 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C) |
| Apr | 82°/71°F (27.7°/21.9°C) | 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C) |
| May | 89°/76°F (31.7°/24.5°C) | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C) |
| Jun | 93°/79°F (33.8°/26.3°C) | 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C) |
| Jul | 92°/80°F (33.3°/26.5°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C) |
| Aug | 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.8°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C) |
| Sep | 89°/76°F (31.6°/24.7°C) | 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C) |
| Oct | 85°/72°F (29.6°/22.4°C) | 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C) |
| Nov | 79°/67°F (26.3°/19.2°C) | 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) |
| Dec | 72°/60°F (22.1°/15.4°C) | 87°/73°F (30.3°/22.8°C) |
Data:
Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration,
National Meteorological Centre
Visitor Visa Requirements
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 8% less expensive than Vietnam, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Sri Lanka?
Budget about LKR5,789,815 for 3 months in Sri Lanka (based on a ₫1,970,055,297 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: 10.1 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 3.4 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 11.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Sri Lanka, compared to 8.3 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 82°F in Hanoi. Colombo receives around 99.4 in of rainfall per year, while Hanoi gets 64.1 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.
