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.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 34 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 6.3 per person
  • $ 1.3 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 681* (197960 LKR)

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 71 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 16 per person
  • $ 2.7 per person
  • $ 3.4 per person

Total budget:

$ 1584* (460502 LKR)

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 122 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 21 per person
  • $ 5.6 per person
  • $ 6.7 per person

Total budget:

$ 2613* (759962 LKR)

* 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

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in Sri Lanka in 2024 is 51% 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.

Cities /Sri Lanka View Details
Hatton 12% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Hatton
Weligama 8% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Weligama
Vavuniya 5% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Vavuniya
Colombo 4% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Colombo
Gampola 4% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Gampola
Panadura 4% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Panadura
Trincomalee 2% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Trincomalee
Jaffna 12% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Jaffna

Show all cities (5 more)




Local prices in Sri Lanka by expense type

Sri Lanka: Restaurant budget

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Sri Lanka costs 60% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 3/person
($ 1.7 to $ 5)

84% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 12/person
($ 6.7 to $ 26)

68% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 37
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 6.7/person
($ 5.3 to $ 10)

38% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11
Local beer
Local beer
$ 2.2 for 500ml
($ 1.4 to $ 3.4)

63% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 2.6 for 330ml
($ 1.5 to $ 4)

23% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 2.4/cup
($ 1.4 to $ 4)

51% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 0.7/can
($ 0.5 to $ 1.2)

71% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 0.4/bottle
($ 0.3 to $ 0.5)

81% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Sri Lanka: Hotel and accommodation budget

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Sri Lanka costs 50% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 62/night
($ 19 to $ 392)

62% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 167
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 62/night
($ 14 to $ 457)

59% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 152
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 80/night
($ 14 to $ 620)

64% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 163/night
($ 47 to $ 580)

46% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 304
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 260/night
($ 137 to $ 588)

40% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 435
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 55/month
($ 13 to $ 356)

66% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 162
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 124/month
($ 31 to $ 673)

47% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 235
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 155/month
($ 23 to $ 831)

23% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 203
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 63/month
($ 18 to $ 319)

71% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 220
Family room
Family room
$ 155/month
($ 21 to $ 905)

23% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 201

Sri Lanka: Supermarket food budget

On average, the price of supermarket food in Sri Lanka costs 42% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 1.9)

62% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1
Bread
Bread
$ 0.6/500g
($ 0.4 to $ 1)

83% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5
Rice
Rice
$ 0.8/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 1)

82% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5
Eggs
Eggs
$ 2.2/12 eggs
($ 1.3 to $ 2.6)

39% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Chicken
Chicken
$ 5.1/kg
($ 3.4 to $ 8.4)

56% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12
Apples
Apples
$ 6.8/kg
($ 1.7 to $ 10)

32% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 2.3)

73% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 1/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 1.5)

62% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 0.5
($ 0.3 to $ 0.6)

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

Sri Lanka: Public and private transport budget

On average, the price of transport in Sri Lanka costs 45% less than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 0.3/ticket
($ 0.1 to $ 0.3)

89% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 0.3/km
($ 0.3 to $ 0.5)

80% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7
Petrol
Petrol
$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.5)

40% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 0.4
($ 0.3 to $ 0.5)

88% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6
Car hire
Car hire
$ 66/24hrs
($ 44 to $ 105)

7% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 71

Sri Lanka: Leisure activity budget

On average, budget for leisure activities in Sri Lanka costs 74% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 3.4/ticket
($ 2.3 to $ 5.5)

75% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Tennis
Tennis
$ 5.3/hr
($ 2 to $ 10)

74% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

Sri Lanka: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

On average, shopping budget in Sri Lanka costs 34% less than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 9.1/pack
($ 6.7 to $ 12)

6% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 30
($ 12 to $ 68)

43% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 52
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 20
($ 8.4 to $ 34)

53% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42

Plane ticket budget

Melbourne → Colombo
Melbourne → Colombo
Melbourne → Colombo
$ 936
(fair price: $ 807)
Sydney → Colombo
Sydney → Colombo
Sydney → Colombo
$ 808
(fair price: $ 675)
Toronto → Colombo
Toronto → Colombo
Toronto → Colombo
$ 1470
(fair price: $ 1360)
Manchester → Colombo
Manchester → Colombo
Manchester → Colombo
$ 880
(fair price: $ 749)
London → Colombo
London → Colombo
London → Colombo
$ 1045
(fair price: $ 819)
Dublin → Colombo
Dublin → Colombo
Dublin → Colombo
$ 882
(fair price: $ 755)

Book a flight Flight prices to Sri Lanka




About the information on the cost of living in Sri Lanka

The information about the cost of living in Sri Lanka shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Skyscanner and Hotels.com.

Information about cost of living in Sri Lanka updated on 09-11-2024.

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