Colombo vs Kathmandu: cost of living for digital nomads
Colombo, Sri Lanka and Kathmandu, Nepal, 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
- Kathmandu is about 16% cheaper than Colombo for a month of nomad living ($880 vs $1,050).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $350 in Kathmandu against $450 in Colombo.
- Both score 7/10 on safety.
- Internet is faster in Colombo: 40 Mbps typical against 25 Mbps.
- Colombo is tropical; Kathmandu is temperate.
Colombo wins 3 of the measured lines; Kathmandu wins 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Colombo or Kathmandu?
Kathmandu is cheaper: about $880/month against $1,050/month in Colombo, roughly 16% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Colombo or Kathmandu?
Colombo and Kathmandu score the same on safety, 7/10 each.
Which has faster internet, Colombo or Kathmandu?
Colombo has faster typical internet: 40 Mbps against 25 Mbps in Kathmandu.
| Line | Colombo | Kathmandu |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,050 | $880 |
| Rent | $450 | $350 |
| Food | $300 | $220 |
| Transport | $40 | $50 |
| Coworking | $90 | $90 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 40 | 25 |
| Climate | tropical | temperate |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | coast | mountain |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 6/10 |
Kathmandu
Budget Himalayan base; power and internet can be patchy.
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, Kathmandu November 1, 2026.