Colombo vs Warsaw: cost of living for digital nomads
Colombo, Sri Lanka and Warsaw, Poland, 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 37% cheaper than Warsaw for a month of nomad living ($1,050 vs $1,660).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $450 in Colombo against $750 in Warsaw.
- Warsaw scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Warsaw: 250 Mbps typical against 40 Mbps.
- Colombo is tropical; Warsaw is continental.
Colombo wins 4 of the measured lines; Warsaw wins 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Colombo or Warsaw?
Colombo is cheaper: about $1,050/month against $1,660/month in Warsaw, roughly 37% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Colombo or Warsaw?
Warsaw scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 7/10 for Colombo.
Which has faster internet, Colombo or Warsaw?
Warsaw has faster typical internet: 250 Mbps against 40 Mbps in Colombo.
| Line | Colombo | Warsaw |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,050 | $1,660 |
| Rent | $450 | $750 |
| Food | $300 | $400 |
| Transport | $40 | $40 |
| Coworking | $90 | $130 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 40 | 250 |
| Climate | tropical | continental |
| City size | metro | metro |
| Setting | coast | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
Compare Warsaw with
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, Warsaw September 11, 2026.