Punakha vs Weligama: cost of living for digital nomads
Punakha, Bhutan 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
- Punakha is about 12% cheaper than Weligama for a month of nomad living ($925 vs $1,050).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $330 in Punakha against $400 in Weligama.
- Punakha scores higher on safety (9/10 vs 8/10).
- Punakha is temperate; Weligama is tropical.
Punakha wins 6 of the measured lines; Weligama wins 1.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Punakha or Weligama?
Punakha is cheaper: about $925/month against $1,050/month in Weligama, roughly 12% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Punakha or Weligama?
Punakha scores higher on safety: 9/10 against 8/10 for Weligama.
Which has faster internet, Punakha or Weligama?
Punakha and Weligama have about the same typical internet speed, 40 Mbps.
| Line | Punakha | Weligama |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $925 | $1,050 |
| Rent | $330 | $400 |
| Food | $290 | $300 |
| Transport | $30 | $50 |
| Coworking | $60 | $90 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 40 | 40 |
| Climate | temperate | tropical |
| City size | small | small |
| Setting | mountain | coast |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 4/10 | 8/10 |
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): Punakha September 11, 2026, Weligama August 30, 2026.