Sri Lanka
A solid all-round choice. Ranked 31 of 40, strongest on affordability, softest on safety.
1 of 6 axes rest on data we could not verify yet; unverified inputs score a neutral 50 and are marked "partial data".
Key facts
Visa & residency
Requires a monthly remittance of US$1,500 for the principal applicant (plus US$750 per dependent) into an approved Sri Lankan bank account, along with a US$15,000 fixed deposit.
Long-stay residence visa for retirees, valid two years and renewable, with no paid or unpaid work allowed. The official page states the programme is currently open for extension of existing visa holders only.
Healthcare
Sri Lanka has a free universal public healthcare system with health indicators comparable to more developed regional nations, but the public system faces long waiting lists and quality outside Colombo is limited.
Expats typically rely on private hospitals in Colombo such as Nawaloka, Asiri, and Lanka Hospitals, which offer better facilities and English-speaking staff at higher cost, so comprehensive international health insurance is recommended.
Cost of living
Single person estimated monthly costs are about 166,000 LKR (roughly US$500-550) excluding rent in Colombo.
A one-bedroom apartment in the Colombo city centre averages about 180,000 LKR per month, ranging from roughly 100,000 to 335,000 LKR.
Safety & climate
Sri Lanka ranked 67th in the 2026 Global Peace Index, climbing 14 places from the prior year and placing second in South Asia.
Hot and humid year-round with two monsoon seasons (southwest May-October, northeast December-March); coastal averages of 28-30C, cooler in the central highlands around Nuwara Eliya.
Community & language
No verified data yet
English serves as a recognized link language widely used in business and education, so expats can generally get by in cities, though everyday life outside urban areas leans on Sinhala or Tamil.
Official languages are Sinhala and Tamil; English is a recognized link language and widely used in business and education.
Taxes
The My Dream Home Visa terms state that applicants are bound by Sri Lankan tax rules and are liable to pay relevant taxes, but a specific pension-tax figure was not verified at an official source.
No verified data yet
Compare Sri Lanka with its closest rivals
The three countries whose RetireScore sits nearest.
