Expat Life in Sri Lanka, Colombo

I recently visited the wonderful island of Sri Lanka, and found a country full of surprises.

Sri Lanka is situated just south of India, in the Indian Ocean. Once known as the Dominium of Ceylon and often referred to as the tea country, tea plantations abundantly thrive across the island, with spice gardens, banana and coconut palms growing randomly to create a jungle of natural resources.

People, animals and transport seem to co-exist side by side with no animosity towards each other. Dogs wonder aimlessly across or bask in the sun at the side of roads, cows and goats roam around everywhere, even on the beaches (which I found rather amusing) and people are everywhere, whether walking, cycling, using a tuc-tuc, motorbike with 5 astride, in a taxi, bus, car or truck, each takes up a space of the not too wide road. But co-exist they do, there is no anger at being stuck behind a truck, merely a short hooting of the horn to say I am here and would like to pass, politeness abounds and the expression and sounds are all of friendliness, within a country that sorely needs help at redeveloping itself since the tsunami. People are poor and yet happiness is everywhere.... Not just for the child on the hip or the person at their side, but for expats and tourists as well.

Tourists fluctuate towards the resorts and some chance the areas slightly outside of these areas, to experience a quieter less harassed holiday. Small pockets of expats can be found, dotted all over the country. When you bump into these people and chat about life on the island, there is not much to complain about. Yes, sometimes the water gets turned off or the electricity, yes the internet is not as fast as they would like it to be. Isn't that how most people feel in developed countries anyway: The faster it gets the faster we want it. In this little piece of paradise, expats are not too concerned that it takes a little longer to do things here, the people are prepared to wait, not too hasty to move forward too quickly. There was a lot of talk and concern about the elections and safety within the country and there are still road blockades and police / army personnel with guns wandering around keeping peace if necessary. However, with 70% of the population being Buddhists, the lifestyle is peaceful and life simplistic.

From an expat perspective, I could not fault the lifestyle. As said above, yes there are definite things missing, things are slower, it takes a good 4 - 6 hours to get from Colombo to Galle and similarly to anywhere about 200km's apart. I cannot say that the roads are particularly in good condition, but in the 10 days that I visited, I did not see one accident. Hardships could include the lack of being able to get from one part of the island to another quickly, the lack of fast internet connection, perhaps the human waste / refuse, which allows for the influx of flies, the dirt which is left to lie around and lastly the lack of funds to rebuild the country to what it was before the Tsunami.

Having said that, I have to look at all the good things that you find there, the beauty of the natural resources, how the nationals and expats are trying to rebuild the country, the beaches, game parks and mountains. This is truly a beautiful part of the world.

Expat Cost of living summary

The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee LKR

The Exchange rate as at 15 January 2010 was $1 = 114.217 Rupees

I am going to break the Cost of living down according to some of the basket items:

Alcohol and Tobacco: Alcohol at Bar, Beer, Cigarettes, Locally Produced Spirit, Whiskey, Wine

Cigarettes (20s) - $3.14 to $9

Domestic Beer(500ml) - $2.50

Imported Beer (330ml) - $5.80

Wine at a bar - $6 a glass

Wine at a shop - $15 (750ml bottle)

Hotels tend to increase the prices of alcohol as it is the one way that they can make a profit. There are many small hotels and restaurants which create a competitive edge to where you can stay.

Clothing: Business Suits, Casual Clothing, Children's Clothing and footwear, Coats and hats, Evening Wear, Shoe Repairs, Underwear

Casual Long Sleeved Shirt (Men) - $12

Casual Long Sleeved Trousers (Men) - $20

Shorts (Men) - $11

T-Shirt (Men) - $6

Casual Blouse (Women) - $7

Casual Skirt (Women) - $12

Children's Jeans (Boys) - $5

Children's Jeans (Girls) - $3.50

Children's Shirt(Boys) - $5

Children's Shirt(Girls) - $4

Clothes are extremely cheap, in Colombo a person can get most of the name branded clothing at fairly reasonable prices in Factory shops.

Communication: Home Telephone Rental and Call Charges, Internet Connection and service provider fees, Mobile / Cellular Phone Contract and Calls

Monthly phone rental - $4.36

Phone call rate - $0.05 for a local call

Internet line connection fee - $104 (buy all equipment with installation)

Internet service provider fee - $17 (1 geg free thereafter)

Monthly mobile contract fee - $2.18 (for the year)

Mobile / cellular call rate - 90% of phones are prepaid,

Mobile Phone 100 Minutes Call - $38

- $0.012 - $0.05 sms peak times

Due to so many of the nationals working overseas to send money home, the communication costs are extremely low and there are often special deals or no cost is involved in the actual call.

Education: Creche / Pre-School Fees, High School / College Fees, Primary School Fees, Tertiary Study Fees

Annual Creche fee - $4.36 per month

Annual Primary school fee - $260 - $436 per month

Annual High School fee - $260 - $436 per month

Annual 1st Year Tertiary / University fee - $260 to $436 per month (dependent on which

private school they go to)

Private schooling is the most expensive on the island for expat children to attend, however the rates in comparison to other countries are reasonable. Expats that I came across spoke highly of the education system in the country and were happy with the private education that their children were receiving.

Furniture and Appliances: DVD Player, Fridge Freezer, Iron, Kettle, Toaster, microwave, Light Bulbs, Television, Vacuum Cleaner, Washing Machine

DVD Player - $87

Fridge / Freezer - $489 (LG / Whirlpool - 4 year guarantee)

Iron - $12 cheap to $35 top of the range

Kettle - $20 cheap to $37 top of the range

Microwave - $191

TV 21 inch - $244 (2 year guarantee)

Washing Machine LG - $570

Discounts can be negotiated with stores on all items

Groceries bought in a grocery store: Baby Consumables, Baked Goods, Baking, Canned Foods, Cheese, Cleaning Products, Dairy, Fresh Fruits, Fresh Vegetables, Fruit Juices, Frozen, Meat, Oil & Vinegars, Pet Food, Pre-Prepared Meals, Sauces, Seafood, Snacks, Soft Drinks, Spices & Herbs

Powdered baby formula (400g) - $7

Plain biscuits (100g) - $0.20

Loaf white bread (200g) - $0.70

Cake Flour (1kg) - $2.80

Baked Beans (415g) - $1.92

Tuna (185g) - $2.75

Cheese: Cheddar (250g) - $6.63

Crisps: Pringles (139g) - $2.50

Autowash clothing powder (750g) - $1.57

Dishwash liquid (500g) - $0.87

Clothing Softener (2l) - $5.40

Breakfast Cereal (250g) - $2.45

Butter (227g) - $2.18

Milk (1l) - $1.40

Eggs (12) - $1.80

Orange Juice (1l) - $2.80

Frozen Mixed Vegetables (1kg) - $6.20

Cooking oil (1l) - $3.22

Olive oil (500ml) - $8.28

Can of cola (355ml) - $1.00

Local Fizzy Soft Drink (1l) - $1.30

Local Natural Mineral Water (5l) - $1.08

Tea Bags (200g) - $1.85

Instant Coffee (100g) - $6.75

Local Ground Coffee (200g) - $3.66

Salt (400g) - $0.26

Pepper (400g) - $0.35

Prices were obtained from local grocery stores, there are no big department stores to shop in.

Healthcare: General Practitioner Consultation rates, Hospital Private Ward Daily, Rate, Non-Prescription Medicine, Private Medical Insurance / Medical Aid Contributions

GP Private rate visit with meds - $3.50

Hospital Private ward rates - $28 per day

Dentistry - Tooth extraction - $4.35

Most expats use Bupa or the Sri Lankan Equivalent

Household: House / Flat Mortgage, House / Flat Rental, Household Electricity Consumption, Household Gas / Fuel Consumption, Household Water Consumption, Local Property Rates / Taxes / Levies

Rent 2 bed Apartment City Centre - $700

Rent 2 bed Apartment outside of City Centre - $600

Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage per - $80 to $90 per month for an average

household, this is expensive when taking household

air conditioning into account

Gas / Fuel - 12 ? kg bottle - $14

Local property Rates - 8 to 10% of value of property

Expats cannot buy a property directly, this has to be done via a Lawyer who owns the property. Mortgage for locals is 4/5%. This is where most expats find the costs creep in, running the air conditioners is extremely expensive as well as the cost of water.

Miscellaneous: Domestic Help, Dry Cleaning, Linen, Office Supplies, Newspapers and Magazines, Postage Stamps

Domestic Rates - full time per person - $80 average

1 Black inkjet printer cartridge - $14

1 Color inkjet printer cartridge - $21

500 sheets printer paper - $5.23

Local Daily Newspaper - $0.17

International Daily Newspaper - $0.45

International Magazine - $20

International Airmail Stamps - $0.22

Domestic Stamps - $0.12

Domestic help is cheap and most employees either live on the property or close by. Office supplies are reasonable, with CD's and DVD's freely available on the street where most locals buy them.

Personal Care: Cosmetics, Haircare, Moisturiser / Sun Block, Nappies, Pain Relief Tablets, Toilet Paper, Toothpaste, Soap / Shampoo / Conditioner

Body lotion (400ml) Vaseline Intensive car - $4.53

Toilet paper 1 ply per roll - $0.50

Toothpaste (200g) - $1.92

Shampoo (200ml) - $2.40

Some of the items that can be purchased can be expensive, like creams, sunblocks and cosmetic creams. Name brand products are the most expensive.

Recreation and Culture: Books, Camera Film, Cinema Ticket, DVD and CD's, Sports goods, Theatre Ticket

Books paper back - $10

Cinema ticket - $0.50

DVD / CD Imported - $2

Cricket ticket - $0.50 to $8

Theatre Ticket - only in Colombo - $30

Hard cover books are expensive in the country, but paper back books are of a similar cost to the US and UK. Cinema tickets are cheap due to the availability of cheap DVD replicas which can be bought on street corners. International cricket tickets are also kept cheap for the local population.

Restaurants / Meals out / Hotels: Business Dinner, Dinner at Restaurant (non fast food), Hotel Rates, Take Away Drinks & Snacks (fast Food)

Business Dinner excl Alcohol - $22 per person

Dinner / lunch at local restaurant - $8 per person

McDonalds Big Mac - $4.10

Hotel Rates 3* - $8 to $50 pppn

Hotel Rates 4* - $80 to $120 pppn

Hotel Rates 5* - $140 pppn upwards

Take away - Can of cola x 1 - $0.70

Medium pizza - $3.50

Hamburger - $2.00

Coffee - pot x 3 cups - $1.40

As in most countries how much you pay for a meal is dependent on where you go, the local restaurants have great local meals, as well as international flavours, we found a fabulous vegetarian restaurant in Galle, well worth a visit and all prices were fairly cheap. Some restaurants do take advantage of the tourist population and serve sub standard meals. However, most restaurants were good with their portions and meal plans.

Transport: Hire Purchase / Lease of Vehicle, Petrol / Diesel, Public Transport, Service Maintenance, Tyres, Vehicle Insurance, Vehicle Purchase

Hire / Lease car - Sedan Toyota Corolla - $37.14 per day for 1 week

Hire / Lease car - Toyota RAV4 - $46.71 per day for 1 week

Petrol unleaded per litre - $1.23

Diesel per litre - $0.64

Bus Ticket (one way) - $1.00

Taxi Ride - per km - $0.50

Tuc Tuc - 10 km ride - $6.00

Train Ticket 2nd class - $1.57

If you are visiting I would suggest you use the local taxis and tuc-tucs, driving can be a head-ache and unpleasant experience if you are not used to the local norms. However, speeds do not go over 80km on the bigger roads and overall a safe place to drive.

The above detail are some of the items form the basis of the cost of living indexes for each basket group in the Xpatulator calculators, these costs are then used with their indexes and exchange rates to calculate the cost of living in different locations.

For more information on Sri Lanka read more at www.xpatulator.com/outside.cfm.

Steven is Chief Instigator at Xpatulator.com a website that provides cost of living index information and calculates what you need to earn to compensate for cost of living, hardship, and exchange rate differences.

Comparison of Prepaid Cell Phones

I was talking with a friend the other day and the subject of prepaid cell phones came up during the course of the conversation. Comparison of prepaid cell phones can be an intimidating process if you go about doing it the wrong way - and there is indeed a wrong way!

What is the wrong way, you ask? Trying to investigate every single website that features prepaid phones would be my number one candidate. It is good, when looking into prepaid cell phone comparison, to try isolating your search to sites that compare four or more prepaid cell phone plans.

In this way, you can do side by side comparisons, which I have always found to be the best method. I like to write up a list of features that I find essential, along with a few options that I would like to see as part of my package, and then I go online and start shopping!

If you are like me and you love spreadsheet programs, that is another great way to compare prepaid phones, then I recommend that you set that up and do your online research.

What are some features that you would like to have? If you have four cellular providers, you should have a wide variety of plans. Do you want a low price per minute? Are you a text message person? (Probably, if you are a teen!)

Prepaid cell phone comparison should not be a terribly difficult process, after all, and it really boils down to what you want out of a prepaid cell phone plan. For most of us, low price per minute would be number one, closely followed by text messaging, and in some cases having a camera feature on the phone is desirable, particularly for the younger cell phone users.

For the older people, comparison of prepaid cell phones is even simpler. Most of us want the cellular equivalent to a tin can and a string - you know, like kids used to play? You would take two clean tin cans, punch a hole in the bottom of one, thread a piece of string at least 6 feet long through the bottom, then tie a knot at each end to keep the string connected to the can. Then you walk at least six feet apart, keep the string taut, and talk!

For more on comparison cell phones and get the best tracfone deals and more go to Prepaidcellphonesinc dot com.

Cheap Cellular Phone Service

If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting. Everybody talks about stretching a dollar and saving a little more than they already do. Cell phone is the first thing which squeezes most of our earnings. Most people think that excess expenditure comes to an end with buying the right handset. But this is not true. Choosing a suitable and affordable cheap cellular phone service plan can be very difficult. There are numerous cell phone service companies which offer specialized plans for people with all kinds of needs. But not all these plans are cheap and budget friendly. A little bit of research and comparison study can get you choose the ideal cheap cellular phone service.

Some people use prepaid cell phone plans to reduce and maintain cost. These are similar to the calling cards where you pay an amount for the service. You can make and receive calls until the amount is exhausted. Prepaid plans are for those who have very limited usage of the cell phone. Also if your children trouble you for a cell phone, it is a good idea to put them on a prepaid plan so that you can have a check on their usage. You will not be bound to the same service company and can switch over to another one with ease when on a prepaid plan. Though prepaid service plans look ideal as a cheap cellular phone service, there are certain draw backs to this. Extra options like data services and text messaging are not very economical in a prepaid service plan.

Cheap cellular phone service is not a difficult target. Depending on your cell phone needs and requirements you can choose from a wide variety of budget friendly plans. Corporate plans allow employees of the same company to speak and communicate free of cost. These plans come with very economical national and international roaming rates which make it suitable for traveling businessmen. When on an official tour, you will be in need of contacting colleagues back home. These corporate plans will make calling work place friends and colleagues cheap and affordable even from long distances. Even while you are in town, you can speak to your colleagues for cheaper rates using this cheap cellular phone service.

Cell phone service companies also offer family plans where you can add family members and friends and converse with them free of cost. You can add as many members as you want and converse with them irrespective of the physical distance between them. Next time when you have that long, personal call with your friend across thousand miles, you need not keep checking your watch. It is very easy nowadays to find the perfect cheap cellular phone service plan.

P.J.Smith and here with the latest tips in saving money and better products in phone srvice. With years of research on telecom and phone services I have created reports for the average person to save money and get the best from thier phone services. See my reports and start getting the best insider information on beating the big phone companies at thier own game. http://www.freewirelessphoneservice.com

Sincerely Yours,

PJ Smith,
Phone And Video Telephone Expert

Discover More Phone Services

With the changes in electronics and telecommunications over the last decade, it is difficult to keep abreast of the latest, greatest technology. Long distance companies and phone services are constantly changing, and so are their offerings. If you are still using traditional phone services and have had the same phone company for the last twenty years, and you haven't checked out the latest offerings, you probably will be able to save some big dollars off your monthly phone bill.

With the de-regulation of the telecommunications industry many new long distance carriers that you may have not heard of entered the phone services market. While larger, better known carriers may charge 10¢ or more per minute of long distance, there are companies that charge only 2.7¢ to 3¢ per minute.

Bundled plans which include both local and long distance services, from lesser known providers, can also provide significant savings to you. You can easily compare phone services and rates online. Even if you want to stay with your current phone provider, call them to see if there are cheaper plans that you may take advantage of.

If you travel domestically or internationally, you may want to consider lower cost calling cards, which can easily be used by young and old alike. Phone charges can quickly add up when traveling, and prepaid phone cards can represent significant savings from your current phone company. Some calling cards offer current rates of 3.9¢ per minute - quite a savings from traditional long distance call phone services that are charged to your home.

Need to compare your current cellular phone plan against other plans? Utilize phone services websites to shop and compare, and to look for deals. Many people are using their cellular phones as their primary and only phone, so it pays to compare plans. Also check out your current Internet charges for dial-up or DSL services. You will be amazed at the savings you might be able to find by comparing rates and plans. On-line rate calculators and websites that consolidate phone service information really help you easily make side by side comparisons for all kinds of services. Advanced features like conference calls, T1 lines, and voice messaging are also phone services that can be shopped and compared.

When you do find lower rate plans, make sure to check for any hidden charges and fees that may be incurred by switching. Some local phone companies charge you a Primary Interexchange Carrier (PIC) fee for switching your local or long distance plan. The new company usually picks this charge up, but is important to confirm this before you switch. Read the fine print on all contracts and deals so you aren't surprised later by phone services charges you didn't know about.

There are so many phone services offered today that it really pays to compare their rates and services. Several websites make it easy to find pricing information and make comparisons. It makes sense to periodically check out the newest services available, and the lowest prices as well. The savings can all be yours.

Cathy Seiler writes Phone Services [http://www.phoneservicesguide.info] articles for her [http://www.phoneservicesguide.info] website.

Choosing a Cell Phone Plan For Your Child

If you are the parent of a teen or a pre-teen, chances are you have been faced with this question: Should I allow my child to have a cell phone? If you've already determined that cell phone ownership would be a wise idea for your son or daughter, the next question you'll confront is: Which cell phone plan would be best for the younger member or members of the family?

As you might expect, there are a number of factors to consider when selecting cell phone service for your child:

A Lone-Ranger Plan. This stand-alone plan allows your teen to have his or her own private cell phone account. For the most part, that means keeping usage and per-minute fees under control. Your teen will talk less-and you will save more money in the long run.

The Add-On. With this type of plan, phone service for your child is added onto your own cell phone account. This means that you'll need to share minutes with your child-along with sharing the responsibility of phone ownership.

The Pre-Paid Version. With this plan, you'll pay for your child's cell phone minutes in advance. When the minutes have been used up, the service ends. While this may be the most economical option, it can also be the most frustrating-especially if your teen loses service during an emergency or another inopportune time.

A Local Unlimited Program. If your teen will be making only local calls, this plan may be your best bet, since local calling minutes are unlimited. However, your teen will have to pay costly long-distance fees with this type of plan.

Making Your Decision

Talk with your teenager about how the cell phone will be used. If you both agree that your child will primarily be calling local friends and relatives, you'll probably want to opt for a local unlimited plan. If you feel that your teen is not yet responsible enough to keep track of minutes, a prepaid program may be the most appropriate choice.

Also, be sure to do some comparison shopping before making your final choice. This means comparing policies involving anytime minutes, weekend minutes, general monthly charges, long distance fees, and peak minutes. You may also need to ask detailed questions, such as what the charges for text messages are; what the fees for Internet access might be: and whether you can alter the plan during the time when the contract is in force.

In addition, you may want to talk to other parents about their experiences with various cell phone plans. If you find a number of couples complaining about a particular provider, you may want to take your business elsewhere. After all, you don't want your teen to be stranded on the highway with a cell phone that keeps flashing a "no service" warning.

The Final Analysis

In the end, you may discover that a family plan works best. This is because such a plan enables you to divvy up minutes to members of your brood. Such a plan also instills family cooperation, encouraging better communication between parents and children and between brothers and sisters. Shared minute plans can offer similar benefits.

If you find that the plan you select meets your family's needs-if the members of your household seldom complain about service-chances are you've found the appropriate plan. And that should make each member of the family happy!

Go to Telecom Beacon for more helpful cellular guides and great cell phone deals.

Simple Freedom Prepaid Cell Phone Rates - Cards Services

When shopping for cell phone service, the first and best place to start is the internet. Use one of the search engines and do some serious comparison shopping. One that came to my attention recently was Simple Freedom prepaid cell phones.
This prepaid cell phone service charges just 15 cents per minute regardless of time of day, local or long distance; this is a distinct advantage over a conventional cell phone deal that charges more for daytime (or peak) rates.
A prepaid cell phone is a natural fit for kids and can be an excellent tool to teach your teen how to budget. Want to keep your teen's cell phone time down to a reasonable minimum? Then purchase only so many minutes per month - let's say 200 - and when those minutes are gone, no more minutes until the next month.
My sister pays for about 200 minutes per month for her daughter, and if the kid uses up her minutes before the month is out, she has to buy her own minutes. Needless to say, she is becoming very responsible about keeping track of her cell phone time!
A prepaid cell phone is especially useful for those who don't spend a lot of time talking but who may just want an emergency phone - in case of a breakdown on the highway, or calling for a ride when away from home. At 15 cents per minute, a Simple Freedom prepaid cell phone is still a better deal than a public pay phone!
When travelling, a prepaid cell phone is an excellent communications resource. Before you travel, check with your provider regarding nationwide coverage and be aware of areas where your cell phone may not work.
The advantage that prepaid cell phones have over conventional plans (with regard to travel) is that a conventional plan can be much more costly and runs for a month or more, whereas a prepaid plan is pay as you go - so you only pay for as many minutes as you really need - or use.
One disadvantage of prepaid cell phones is that some models are indeed cheap - as in poorly made, with bad batteries. That being said, however, it is also true that the greater majority of prepaid cell phones are of excellent quality.
The question to ask yourself is, simply, are Simple Freedom prepaid cell phones the right fit for my needs? Does Alltell have a prepaid plan that is right for me? Best advice? Research this topic! Get the facts before you make a decision. But be of good cheer; prepaid cell phones are not necessarily a lifetime commitment, but can be an excellent communications tool for you.
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