Travel budget and cost of living in Sri Lanka how much does a trip cost?

Travel budget in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: calculate your travel budget

Sri Lanka: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Sri Lanka for 2 people.

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).

Cost of living in Sri Lanka in 2024

Cost of living: Sri Lanka VS United States

On average, the cost of living in Sri Lanka in 2024 is 54% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in Sri Lanka by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Sri Lanka compared to the national average.

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Local prices in Sri Lanka by expense type

Sri Lanka: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 3/person
($ 1.7 to $ 5)

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84% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

3 course dinner

$ 11/person
($ 5 to $ 20)

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73% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 39

McDonald's meal

$ 6.8/person
($ 5 to $ 8.4)

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38% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Local beer

$ 2 for 500ml
($ 1.4 to $ 3.3)

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66% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6

Imported beer

$ 2.6 for 330ml
($ 1.5 to $ 4.1)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 2.3/cup
($ 1.4 to $ 4.1)

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55% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1

Fizzy drink

$ 0.8/can
($ 0.4 to $ 1.2)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Water bottle

$ 0.3/bottle
($ 0.3 to $ 0.5)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Sri Lanka: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 52/night
($ 19 to $ 291)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 168

2-star hotel

$ 58/night
($ 13 to $ 403)

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63% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 157

3-star hotel

$ 76/night
($ 14 to $ 603)

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67% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 229

4-star hotel

$ 164/night
($ 49 to $ 582)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 306

5-star hotel

$ 273/night
($ 149 to $ 612)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 483

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 48/month
($ 13 to $ 274)

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71% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 165

Room with kitchen

$ 118/month
($ 32 to $ 634)

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51% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 241

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 149/month
($ 22 to $ 814)

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29% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 212

Cottage or guest house

$ 63/month
($ 19 to $ 280)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 224

Family room

$ 145/month
($ 22 to $ 854)

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32% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 215

Sri Lanka: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.6/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.8)

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50% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 0.6/500g
($ 0.4 to $ 1.4)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Rice

$ 0.8/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 1)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.6

Eggs

$ 2.1/12 eggs
($ 1.2 to $ 2.6)

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42% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7

Chicken

$ 5/kg
($ 3 to $ 7.4)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 6.4/kg
($ 1.7 to $ 11)

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22% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Tomatoes

$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 2.7)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Potatoes

$ 1.1/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 1.7)

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63% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3

Water bottle

$ 0.5
($ 0.3 to $ 0.6)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Sri Lanka: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 0.2/ticket
($ 0.1 to $ 0.3)

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93% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.3/km
($ 0.3 to $ 0.5)

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80% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.5)

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37% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 0.4
($ 0.3 to $ 0.6)

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89% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Car hire

$ 64/24hrs
($ 45 to $ 99)

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16% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 55

Sri Lanka: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 3.3/ticket
($ 2.4 to $ 5.4)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 5.6/hr
($ 2 to $ 8.4)

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76% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 24

Sri Lanka: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 7.4/pack
($ 5.9 to $ 11)

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26% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 28
($ 12 to $ 51)

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49% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 19
($ 8.4 to $ 33)

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58% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 45

Plane ticket budget

Melbourne → Colombo

$ 991
(fair price: $ 831)

Sydney → Colombo

$ 854
(fair price: $ 710)

London → Colombo

$ 959
(fair price: $ 765)

Toronto → Colombo

$ 1471
(fair price: $ 1315)

Manchester → Colombo

$ 931
(fair price: $ 812)

Dublin → Colombo

$ 890
(fair price: $ 777)

Book a flight Flight prices to Sri Lanka