Colombo vs Essaouira: cost of living for digital nomads
Colombo, Sri Lanka and Essaouira, Morocco, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Colombo is about 1% cheaper than Essaouira for a month of nomad living ($1,050 vs $1,060).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $420 in Essaouira against $450 in Colombo.
- Both score 7/10 on safety.
- Internet is faster in Essaouira: 70 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
- Colombo is tropical; Essaouira is arid.
Colombo wins 1 of the measured lines; Essaouira wins 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Colombo or Essaouira?
Colombo is cheaper: about $1,050/month against $1,060/month in Essaouira, roughly 1% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Colombo or Essaouira?
Colombo and Essaouira score the same on safety, 7/10 each.
Which has faster internet, Colombo or Essaouira?
Essaouira has faster typical internet: 70 Mbps against 40 Mbps in Colombo.
| Line | Colombo | Essaouira |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,050 | $1,060 |
| Rent | $450 | $420 |
| Food | $300 | $290 |
| Transport | $40 | $30 |
| Coworking | $90 | $80 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 40 | 70 |
| Climate | tropical | arid |
| City size | metro | small |
| Setting | coast | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Colombo November 6, 2026, Essaouira September 11, 2026.