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 2025

Cost of living: Sri Lanka VS Belgium

On average, the cost of living in Sri Lanka in 2025 is 49% less than in Belgium.

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices Belgium in in Belgium and Belgium 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

$ 3.2/person
($ 1.6 to $ 6.9)

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85% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 24

3 course dinner

$ 12/person
($ 7.5 to $ 17)

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75% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 47

McDonald's meal

$ 7.8/person
($ 5.9 to $ 9.8)

---

43% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 14

Local beer

$ 2.3 for 500ml
($ 1.5 to $ 3.2)

---

60% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 5.8

Imported beer

$ 2.9 for 330ml
($ 1.6 to $ 3.9)

---

25% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.3

Cappuccino

$ 2.5/cup
($ 1.2 to $ 3.9)

---

37% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4.2

Fizzy drink

$ 0.7/can
($ 0.5 to $ 1.3)

---

78% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3.3

Water bottle

$ 0.3/bottle
($ 0.3 to $ 0.6)

---

87% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3

Sri Lanka: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 56/night
($ 34 to $ 221)

---

46% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 104

2-star hotel

$ 69/night
($ 16 to $ 500)

---

52% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 144

3-star hotel

$ 92/night
($ 17 to $ 685)

---

40% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 154

4-star hotel

$ 191/night
($ 54 to $ 643)

---

4% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 185

5-star hotel

$ 319/night
($ 163 to $ 692)

---

33% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 242

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 48/month
($ 18 to $ 197)

---

60% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 121

Room with kitchen

$ 145/month
($ 34 to $ 793)

---

26% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 197

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 178/month
($ 26 to $ 954)

---

7% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 192

Cottage or guest house

$ 67/month
($ 24 to $ 275)

---

60% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 168

Family room

$ 182/month
($ 25 to $ 1031)

---

28% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 254

Sri Lanka: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.7/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 2)

---

34% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 1.3

Bread

$ 0.6/500g
($ 0.5 to $ 1)

---

78% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.5

Rice

$ 0.8/kg
($ 0.7 to $ 1.3)

---

65% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.3

Eggs

$ 2/12 eggs
($ 1.2 to $ 2.3)

---

50% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4

Chicken

$ 4.6/kg
($ 3.1 to $ 6.9)

---

62% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 13

Apples

$ 7/kg
($ 2 to $ 9.8)

---

150% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.8

Tomatoes

$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 2.7)

---

58% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3.2

Potatoes

$ 1/kg
($ 0.5 to $ 1.6)

---

54% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.3

Water bottle

$ 0.6
($ 0.3 to $ 0.7)

---

48% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 1

Sri Lanka: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 0.2/ticket
($ 0.1 to $ 0.3)

---

93% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.9

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.3/km
($ 0.2 to $ 0.7)

---

88% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.9

Petrol

$ 1.2/litre
($ 1 to $ 1.4)

---

36% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 1.9

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 0.5
($ 0.3 to $ 0.6)

---

91% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 5.8

Car hire

$ 70/24hrs
($ 49 to $ 101)

---

18% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 59

Sri Lanka: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 3.2/ticket
($ 2.4 to $ 5)

---

78% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 16

Tennis

$ 5.3/hr
($ 3.2 to $ 9.8)

---

75% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 22

Sri Lanka: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 11/pack
($ 8.2 to $ 12)

---

21% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 14

Levi's jeans

$ 27
($ 12 to $ 50)

---

75% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 106

Summer dress

$ 18
($ 6.6 to $ 34)

---

63% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 48

Plane ticket budget

London → Colombo

$ 1130
(fair price: $ 893)

Melbourne → Colombo

$ 977
(fair price: $ 839)

Sydney → Colombo

$ 867
(fair price: $ 711)

Manchester → Colombo

$ 899
(fair price: $ 768)

Montreal → Colombo

$ 1473
(fair price: $ 1388)

Toronto → Colombo

$ 1505
(fair price: $ 1390)

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