MigrantoAverage salary in Sri Lanka
What people take home per month and earn per year, by industry and against other countries
Wages in Sri Lanka
86% of gross pay stays in hand after income tax and employee contributions
Per employee, all industries
Take-home / mo
LKR 48,900
Gross / yr
LKR 682,000
Salaries in Sri Lanka by industry
Take-home pay by industry against the national average
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Key facts
Salaries in Sri Lanka in numbers
Industries pay unusually far apart
Agriculture & fishing sits at the bottom on LKR 14,600 a month, 7.6× below the best-paid industry, where a typical country stretches 3.1×. Which industry you land in matters more here than in most places.
Mining & quarrying is paid unusually poorly in Sri Lanka
Here it sits at -61% against the national average, where the same industry usually sits at +24%.
Next door, the Maldives pays 5.8× more
LKR 285,000 a month in the Maldives against LKR 48,900 here, the widest gap to any neighbouring country.
21% of the world median wage
Take-home averages LKR 48,900 a month, against LKR 238,000 in the middle country worldwide.
IT & communication pays the most
It averages LKR 111,000 a month, 127% above the national average of LKR 48,900.
Public-sector work pays above average
Public administration, education and health together average LKR 58,800 a month, 20% above the national average.
How salaries in Sri Lanka compare
Neighbours, region and the world on the same take-home figure
Industries against the world
Where this country pays an industry more, or less, than that industry is usually paid
Pays more than usual here
- IT & communication+127% here, usually +47%
- Energy & utilities+80% here, usually +36%
- Real estate+44% here, usually +5%
Pays less than usual here
- Mining & quarrying-61% here, usually +24%
- Agriculture & fishing-70% here, usually -38%
- Public administration+8% here, usually +24%
“Usually” is what the same industry pays above or below the national average in a typical country
Data source: Mean monthly earnings 2023 (ILOSTAT), adjusted to 2024 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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What you could earn in Sri Lanka
Tell us what you do and what you earn today — we'll estimate what someone with your background could earn in Sri Lanka, what your living costs might be, and what you could save
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- How it compares with today
Take-home in Sri Lanka
LKR 44,300/mo
vs LKR 399,000 in your country
Cost of living
LKR 31,900
vs LKR 266,000 in your country
Potential savings
LKR 12,400
more than in your country
Standard of living
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Sri Lanka?
The average salary in Sri Lanka is LKR 56,800 a month before tax, or LKR 48,900 take-home after tax and social contributions. Over a year that's LKR 682,000 before tax and LKR 586,000 after.
What is the average salary in Sri Lanka in US dollars?
The average salary in Sri Lanka in US dollars is about $2,052 a year before tax, or $147 a month after tax.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Sri Lanka?
The highest-paying jobs in Sri Lanka are in IT, energy, and finance. Take-home pay in these industries averages around LKR 111,000 a month (about LKR 1,540,000 gross a year), roughly 127% above the national average.
What is a good salary in Sri Lanka?
A good salary in Sri Lanka is generally one above the national average — more than LKR 48,900 take-home a month, or LKR 682,000 gross a year. But a lot depends on your spending, where you live, and your financial goals.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Sri Lanka?
A typical person in Sri Lanka spends about LKR 67,500 a month, while the average take-home pay is LKR 48,900. How much you need to live comfortably depends on the city, your family situation, and how you usually spend. See the cost of living in Sri Lanka for the full picture.
What are the lowest-paying jobs in Sri Lanka?
Agriculture is the lowest-paying industry in Sri Lanka. Pay there averages around LKR 14,600 a month take-home (about LKR 203,000 gross a year). For comparison, the highest-paying industries pay about 7.6 times more.
Is Sri Lanka a high-salary country?
No. By average after-tax pay, Sri Lanka is ahead of 10% of countries worldwide and ranks 25th out of 30 countries in Asia.
Where to live?
Score countries, regions and cities by what matters to you
Living in Sri Lanka
See the full country overview