Moving to Sri Lanka from Wisconsin
What to Expect
Considering a move from Wisconsin to Sri Lanka? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Wisconsin to Sri Lanka, you would find that Sri Lanka is 59.0% cheaper than Wisconsin. A $75,000 salary in Wisconsin would need to be roughly LKR12,585,848 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 56°F in Madison, 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?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Wisconsin and Sri Lanka.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → LKR12,585,848
To maintain the same standard of living in Sri Lanka
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 63.6% less
Groceries
pay 29.9% less
Transportation
pay 38.5% less
Housing
pay 78.8% less
Childcare
pay 98.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 51.9% 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.
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
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Wisconsin to Sri Lanka.
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
- · · ·
-
14.613
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Sri Lanka compared to Wisconsin.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Wisconsin across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Wisconsin 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
Wisconsin performs better than Sri Lanka across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Wisconsin 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 | Madison | Colombo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 33°/17°F (1°/-8°C) | 88°/73°F (31°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 68°/46°F (20°/8°C) | 88°/77°F (31°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 78°/57°F (25°/14°C) | 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 44°/28°F (7°/-2°C) | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) |
View all months
| Month | Madison | Colombo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°/11°F (-3.1°/-11.6°C) | 88°/72°F (30.9°/22.3°C) |
| Feb | 31°/15°F (-0.5°/-9.4°C) | 88°/73°F (31.2°/22.6°C) |
| Mar | 43°/25°F (6.2°/-4.0°C) | 89°/75°F (31.7°/23.7°C) |
| Apr | 57°/36°F (14.1°/2.1°C) | 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.6°C) |
| May | 68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C) | 88°/78°F (31.1°/25.5°C) |
| Jun | 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.4°C) | 87°/78°F (30.4°/25.5°C) |
| Jul | 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.2°C) |
| Aug | 79°/59°F (26.3°/15.0°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/25.1°C) |
| Sep | 72°/50°F (22.1°/10.1°C) | 86°/77°F (30.2°/24.8°C) |
| Oct | 59°/39°F (14.9°/3.8°C) | 86°/75°F (30.0°/24.0°C) |
| Nov | 44°/28°F (6.7°/-2.1°C) | 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) |
| Dec | 30°/16°F (-1.0°/-8.9°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 Wisconsin?
On average Sri Lanka is about 50% less expensive than Wisconsin, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Sri Lanka?
Budget about LKR3,146,462 for 3 months in Sri Lanka (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Sri Lanka?
From major Sri Lanka cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Wisconsin and Sri Lanka are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Sri Lanka compared to Wisconsin?
Sri Lanka performs significantly better than Wisconsin across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Sri Lanka compared to Wisconsin?
The average high temperature in Colombo is 87°F, compared to 56°F in Madison. Colombo receives around 99.4 in of rainfall per year, while Madison gets 34.5 in.
What language do they speak in Sri Lanka?
The official languages in Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. In Wisconsin, the official language is English.
