ColombovsKathmandu
📶
Kathmandu has 2x faster internet
50 Mbps avg download speed
🌡️
Tropical Wet vs Subtropical climate
Different weather patterns year-round
🛂
Sri Lanka offers a digital nomad visa
Long-stay visa for remote workers
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Colombo
Kathmandu
Total Budget
$900/mo
$700/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$400/mo
$350/mo ✓
Coworking
$160/mo
$70/mo ✓
Meal Out
$3
$2 ✓
Coffee
$2.5
$2 ✓
Kathmandu is $200/mo cheaper (29% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇱🇰 Colombo
📶 Internet22 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+5
🗣️ Englishhigh
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East1h
🇬🇧 London6h
🇩🇪 Berlin7h
🌍 Kathmandu
📶 Internet50-100 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+6
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London5h
🇩🇪 Berlin6h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Colombo
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp27°C
Rainy Days290/year
Best months: February
Kathmandu
ClimateSubtropical
Avg Temp18°C
Rainy Days177/year
Best months: April, January, February, December
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
26°11°
Apr
28°20°
Jul
27°23°
Oct
26°19°
ColomboKathmandu
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇱🇰Colombo
🌍Kathmandu
💰
Monthly Budget
$900
$700
Winner📶
Internet Speed
22 Mbps
50 Mbps
Winner🛡️
Safety
3/5
3.5/5
Winner⭐
Nomad Score
3.7/10
3.7/10
🍽️
Food Scene
8/10
8/10
🎉
Nightlife
7/10
6/10
🚶
Walkability
6/10
5/10
👥
Community
medium
medium
0
Colombo wins
vs
3
Kathmandu wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Kathmandu
$200/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
💻Developer
Either works
Both have adequate internet for development work
🦋Social Butterfly
Either works
Similar social opportunities
🛡️Safety-First
Kathmandu
Significantly higher safety rating
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
🇱🇰Colombo
Pros
- +Cost of living still affordable compared to many other Asian capitals
- +Strong food scene with local restaurants, street food and international options
- +Modern coworking spaces and a growing remote worker community
- +Excellent hub to explore the rest of Sri Lanka by train or bus
Cons
- −Hot and humid climate all year with very few truly cool hours
- −Heavy monsoon rains can slow down traffic and outdoor plans
- −Busy roads and constant honking along main streets
- −Sidewalks often broken, blocked or simply missing
🌍Kathmandu
Pros
- +Extremely affordable cost of living - one of the cheapest capitals in Asia
- +Gateway to Himalayan trekking including Everest Base Camp and Annapurna
- +Rich cultural heritage with seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- +Welcoming and hospitable local population
Cons
- −Severe air pollution especially during dry season - among worst globally
- −Chaotic traffic with poor road safety and no metro system
- −Monsoon season brings flooding and landslides limiting travel
- −Power outages still occur though much improved from past
