Posts this week in multiple locations in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. All popular locations for EFL teachers, but the numbers between the two countries tell two quite different stories once you look closely.
The salaries
🇱🇰
Sri Lanka
Rs240,000 – Rs362,255 / mo
£720–£1,087 / $962–$1,452 / €837–€1,264
Average: Rs307,418 (£922 / $1,232 / €1,073)
🇮🇩
Indonesia
Rp14,000,000 – Rp20,000,000 / mo
£686–£980 / $916–$1,309 / €798–€1,140
Average: Rp17,800,000 (£872 / $1,165 / €1,014)
Take-home pay
| |
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka |
🇮🇩 Indonesia |
| Gross average salary |
Rs307,418 (£922 / $1,232 / €1,073) |
Rp17,800,000 (£872 / $1,165 / €1,014) |
| Est. effective tax rate |
6% |
15% |
| Est. net take-home |
Rs288,973 (£867 / $1,158 / €1,008) |
Rp15,130,000 (£741 / $990 / €862) |
Tax rates are simplified estimates for a typical foreign teacher's salary bracket, not precise calculations — actual tax owed depends on progressive brackets, tax treaties, residency status, social insurance contributions, and local practice. Treat as a rough planning figure, not tax advice.
Cost of living
Typical monthly costs — single person, modest lifestyle (local currency, GBP / USD / EUR)
Rent — 1-bed city-centre apartment
🇱🇰
Rs93,333 (£280 / $374 / €326)
🇮🇩
Rp4,673,469 (£229 / $306 / €266)
Food & groceries
🇱🇰
Rs56,667 (£170 / $227 / €198)
🇮🇩
Rp3,122,449 (£153 / $204 / €178)
Local transport
🇱🇰
Rs5,000 (£15 / $20 / €17)
🇮🇩
Rp306,122 (£15 / $20 / €17)
Going out & socialising
🇱🇰
Rs28,333 (£85 / $114 / €99)
🇮🇩
Rp1,714,286 (£84 / $112 / €98)
Estimated monthly total
🇱🇰
Rs183,333 (£550 / $735 / €640)
🇮🇩
Rp9,816,327 (£481 / $643 / €559)
Adjusted for city size: Sri Lanka figures based on Colombo — 100% of the national hub baseline; Indonesia figures averaged across 4 listing cities (BANDUNG, Surabaya, Jakarta, Locations across Indonesia) — 76% of the national hub baseline.
Sri Lanka and Indonesia have broadly similar day-to-day living costs.
Cost-of-living figures are indicative estimates compiled from publicly available sources including Numbeo, Mercer Cost of Living, and the Economist Intelligence Unit Worldwide Cost of Living survey, and are not sourced from TEFL.com listings.
Monthly savings potential
| |
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka |
🇮🇩 Indonesia |
| Est. net monthly salary |
Rs288,973 (£867 / $1,158 / €1,008) |
Rp15,130,000 (£741 / $990 / €862) |
| Est. monthly living costs |
Rs183,333 (£550 / $735 / €640) |
Rp9,816,327 (£481 / $643 / €559) |
| Est. monthly savings |
Rs105,640 (£317 / $423 / €369) |
Rp5,313,673 (£260 / $348 / €303) |
Estimated net salary minus estimated total monthly living costs (rent, food, transport and socialising combined). A negative figure suggests that role/location may need savings brought from home or a lower-cost lifestyle than assumed here — treat as a rough guide, not a budget.
Benefits breakdown
| |
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka |
🇮🇩 Indonesia |
| ⚕Health insurance |
33% |
100% |
| 🪪Visa sponsorship |
33% |
100% |
| 🏖Holiday pay |
33% |
60% |
| 💕Airport pick-up |
0% |
80% |
| 🏠Accommodation |
0% |
60% |
| ✈Flights |
0% |
60% |
| 🎓Professional development |
33% |
20% |
| 📚Training support |
0% |
40% |
| 🏡Settling-in allowance |
33% |
0% |
| 🛂Visa assistance |
33% |
0% |
| 🤝Ongoing support |
0% |
20% |
| 🏷Tax-free |
0% |
20% |
Each percentage is the share of Sri Lanka's (or Indonesia's) included teaching posts whose listing mentioned the benefit. A missing benefit isn't necessarily unavailable, just not stated in that listing.
The verdict
🇱🇰Sri Lanka
For EFL teachers, Sri Lanka means low cost, beautiful island setting. This month's data puts the average teaching salary at Rs307,418 (£922 / $1,232 / €1,073)/mo — drawn from recent job listings. The salary range is broader than Indonesia — there's more variation between the floor and the ceiling.
🇮🇩Indonesia
Indonesia offers tropical lifestyle, growing market. Recent listings put the average at around Rp17,800,000 (£872 / $1,165 / €1,014)/mo across 5 job listing(s). Compared to Sri Lanka, salaries here are more uniform across listings.
Sri Lanka or Indonesia? Either way, today's TEFL market offers real choice — and real opportunities to build a life abroad on a teacher's salary.
Browse Sri Lanka and Indonesia jobs at TEFL.com →
