Kathmandu vs Weligama: cost of living for digital nomads
Kathmandu, Nepal and Weligama, Sri Lanka, 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 Weligama for a month of nomad living ($880 vs $1,050).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $350 in Kathmandu against $400 in Weligama.
- Weligama scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 7/10).
- Internet is faster in Weligama: 40 Mbps typical against 25 Mbps.
- Kathmandu is temperate; Weligama is tropical.
Kathmandu wins 3 of the measured lines; Weligama wins 3.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Kathmandu or Weligama?
Kathmandu is cheaper: about $880/month against $1,050/month in Weligama, roughly 16% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Kathmandu or Weligama?
Weligama scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 7/10 for Kathmandu.
Which has faster internet, Kathmandu or Weligama?
Weligama has faster typical internet: 40 Mbps against 25 Mbps in Kathmandu.
| Line | Kathmandu | Weligama |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $880 | $1,050 |
| Rent | $350 | $400 |
| Food | $220 | $300 |
| Transport | $50 | $50 |
| Coworking | $90 | $90 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 25 | 40 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | metro | small |
| Setting | mountain | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 6/10 | 8/10 |
Kathmandu
Budget Himalayan base; power and internet can be patchy.
Weligama
Sri Lankan surf-and-nomad town on the south coast — cheap, laid-back, warm year-round.
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): Kathmandu November 1, 2026, Weligama August 30, 2026.