Colombo - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Household help is very affordable and available. Many expats employ housekeepers, nannies, and/or drivers. - Mar 2021
Household help is inexpensive. Most people have housekeepers who cook. Some also have drivers and gardeners. Having help seems like such a luxury when coming from the U.S. But it is almost essential here in order to get things done. For example, for letting the garbage men in to pick up the garbage to doing the grocery shopping to maintaining yards that are constantly in grow mode because of all the sun and rain. - Sep 2020
Full-time help (housekeepers, cooks, drivers, nannies, gardeners) are usually paid between $175 and $250 per month. Most expats employ at least one person, full- or part-time. Some expats have several people on staff. - Apr 2020
Household help is available and very inexpensive. We employ a housekeeper full-time and a gardener part-time. Many of our friends that have cars also employ a driver. - Sep 2017
Household help is fabulous! Of course you need to interview well and find someone that fits your needs, but cleaning and cooking can be combined into one or if you want really exclusive cooking, you may take a person for each of these jobs. Additionally, a child minder can be found that meets all your needs, living in or out and can babysit and work weekends - if you pay them right ($200-300/month).
We had a part-time gardener who we paid approximately $50/week (working 2 days a week), and a cook/cleaner who we paid $200 for full time work. Both were men and they were fantastic! Additionally, I hired an English speaking tuk-tuk driver who was awesome and super with the kids, to do the school pick up (our kids were in the French school), and took them to all their activities - back and forth) I paid him and kept him on retainer $225 per month. This way our vehicle was available for either my husband or I to use throughout the day. - Mar 2017
Readily available for approximately Rs. 1000/day. - Sep 2013
Available and cheap. A live in domestic will be about $200 a month; a driver about $250. - Sep 2012
Very cheap, very available, but training may be required in hygiene and how to clean properly. - Dec 2011
Readily available cost is about 200 USD for a nanny/maid and slightly more for a driver. - Feb 2010
I'm told US$100 a month for a cook or maid. - Sep 2008
About US$120-200 a month dependent on experience etc. Most are ready available but should come with references. - Feb 2008
