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 45% less than in Belgium.

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices Belgium in in Belgium and Belgium by types of expenses:

Local prices in Sri Lanka by expense type

Sri Lanka: Restaurant budget

Lunch

$ 3.6/person
($ 1.9 to $ 7.4)

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84% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 24

3 course dinner

$ 13/person
($ 7.4 to $ 29)

---

72% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 47

McDonald's meal

$ 7.4/person
($ 5.9 to $ 12)

---

37% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 12

Local beer

$ 2.6 for 500ml
($ 1.6 to $ 3.6)

---

51% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 5.3

Imported beer

$ 3.1 for 330ml
($ 1.9 to $ 4.5)

---

29% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.4

Cappuccino

$ 2.8/cup
($ 1.1 to $ 4.5)

---

29% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4.1

Fizzy drink

$ 0.8/can
($ 0.6 to $ 1.3)

---

76% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3.2

Water bottle

$ 0.5/bottle
($ 0.4 to $ 0.7)

---

85% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.9

Sri Lanka: Hotel and accommodation budget

1-star hotel

$ 59/night
($ 31 to $ 280)

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44% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 106

2-star hotel

$ 70/night
($ 16 to $ 513)

---

52% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 145

3-star hotel

$ 93/night
($ 17 to $ 710)

---

40% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 156

4-star hotel

$ 192/night
($ 55 to $ 661)

---

3% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 187

5-star hotel

$ 324/night
($ 165 to $ 709)

---

33% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 245

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 49/month
($ 18 to $ 231)

---

60% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 123

Room with kitchen

$ 147/month
($ 35 to $ 800)

---

25% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 198

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 181/month
($ 26 to $ 972)

---

6% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 194

Cottage or guest house

$ 69/month
($ 23 to $ 293)

---

59% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 170

Family room

$ 184/month
($ 25 to $ 1048)

---

29% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 259

Sri Lanka: Supermarket food budget

Milk

$ 1.9/litre
($ 1.5 to $ 2)

---

39% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 1.3

Bread

$ 1.3/500g
($ 1.1 to $ 2.9)

---

74% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4.9

Rice

$ 0.9/kg
($ 0.7 to $ 1.2)

---

64% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.5

Eggs

$ 2.5/12 eggs
($ 1.5 to $ 2.8)

---

39% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 4

Chicken

$ 5.4/kg
($ 3.5 to $ 8.1)

---

55% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 13

Apples

$ 7.6/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 12)

---

168% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.9

Tomatoes

$ 1.4/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.9)

---

52% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 3

Potatoes

$ 1.2/kg
($ 0.7 to $ 1.8)

---

44% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.1

Water bottle

$ 0.6
($ 0.5 to $ 0.7)

---

41% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 1

Sri Lanka: Public and private transport budget

Bus ticket

$ 0.2/ticket
($ 0.1 to $ 0.4)

---

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

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.4/km
($ 0.4 to $ 0.7)

---

87% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2.9

Petrol

$ 1.4/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.5)

---

28% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 2

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 0.5
($ 0.4 to $ 0.7)

---

92% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 5.9

Car hire

$ 71/24hrs
($ 50 to $ 103)

---

18% more than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 60

Sri Lanka: Leisure activity budget

Cinema

$ 3.6/ticket
($ 2.8 to $ 5.9)

---

75% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 15

Tennis

$ 6.7/hr
($ 3.6 to $ 12)

---

68% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 22

Sri Lanka: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

Cigarettes

$ 12/pack
($ 7.4 to $ 13)

---

6% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 12

Levi's jeans

$ 32
($ 13 to $ 75)

---

70% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 107

Summer dress

$ 23
($ 8.5 to $ 49)

---

53% less than in Belgium Average price in Belgium: $ 47

Plane ticket budget

Melbourne → Colombo

$ 1011
(fair price: $ 869)

London → Colombo

$ 1189
(fair price: $ 939)

Sydney → Colombo

$ 891
(fair price: $ 735)

Manchester → Colombo

$ 957
(fair price: $ 811)

Toronto → Colombo

$ 1592
(fair price: $ 1469)

Montreal → Colombo

$ 1558
(fair price: $ 1479)

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