Travel budget and cost of living in Nuwara Eliya (Sri Lanka) how much does a trip cost?

Nuwara Eliya travel budget

Nuwara Eliya: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Nuwara Eliya

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Nuwara Eliya for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Nuwara Eliya compared to United States in 2025

On average, the cost of living in Nuwara Eliya in 2025 is 50% less than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Nuwara Eliya in 2025 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Nuwara Eliya by expense type

Restaurant budget in Nuwara Eliya

Lunch

$ 3.8/person
($ 2 to $ 9.6)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 22

3 course dinner

$ 15/person
($ 9.6 to $ 40)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 41

McDonald's meal

$ 8.8/person
($ 6.5 to $ 12)

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25% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 2.3 for 500ml
($ 1.7 to $ 3.8)

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64% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.5

Imported beer

$ 3 for 330ml
($ 2 to $ 4.6)

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20% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.8

Cappuccino

$ 2.9/cup
($ 1.7 to $ 4.6)

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48% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.6

Fizzy drink

$ 0.8/can
($ 0.6 to $ 2)

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69% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Water bottle

$ 0.5/bottle
($ 0.3 to $ 0.6)

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80% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.2

Hotel and accommodation budget in Nuwara Eliya

1-star hotel

$ 31/night
($ 28 to $ 32)

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82% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 174

2-star hotel

$ 88/night
($ 13 to $ 805)

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46% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 166

3-star hotel

$ 100/night
($ 11 to $ 667)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 245

4-star hotel

$ 210/night
($ 19 to $ 848)

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39% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 344

5-star hotel

$ 268/night
($ 91 to $ 656)

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52% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 562

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 51/month
($ 18 to $ 124)

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71% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 176

Room with kitchen

$ 183/month
($ 14 to $ 1329)

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30% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 262

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 227/month
($ 17 to $ 1374)

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3% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 223

Cottage or guest house

$ 79/month
($ 16 to $ 582)

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68% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 253

Family room

$ 212/month
($ 14 to $ 1427)

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2% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 217

Supermarket food budget in Nuwara Eliya

Milk

$ 2/litre
($ 1.7 to $ 2.1)

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73% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 0.7/500g
($ 0.6 to $ 1.5)

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83% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9

Rice

$ 0.9/kg
($ 0.8 to $ 1.2)

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81% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.9

Eggs

$ 2.5/12 eggs
($ 1.7 to $ 3)

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36% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Chicken

$ 5.4/kg
($ 3.6 to $ 10)

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57% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 8/kg
($ 2 to $ 12)

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40% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.7

Tomatoes

$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.7)

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75% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Potatoes

$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.7 to $ 2)

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59% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.2

Water bottle

$ 0.7
($ 0.5 to $ 0.8)

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72% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4

Public and private transport budget in Nuwara Eliya

Bus ticket

$ 0.1/ticket
( $ 0.1)

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94% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.7

Taxi (per km)

$ 0.3/km
($ 0.3 to $ 0.7)

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79% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9

Petrol

$ 1.4/litre
($ 1.2 to $ 1.6)

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39% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 0.5
($ 0.3 to $ 0.6)

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88% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4

Leisure activity budget in Nuwara Eliya

Cinema

$ 3.8/ticket
($ 3.1 to $ 6.4)

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74% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 16

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Nuwara Eliya

Cigarettes

$ 12/pack
($ 7.6 to $ 14)

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3% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 11

Levi's jeans

$ 34
($ 16 to $ 78)

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41% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 57

Summer dress

$ 26
($ 14 to $ 51)

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45% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 47

Plane ticket budget

Melbourne → Colombo

$ 996
(fair price: $ 856)

London → Colombo

$ 1172
(fair price: $ 926)

Sydney → Colombo

$ 878
(fair price: $ 724)

Manchester → Colombo

$ 943
(fair price: $ 799)

Toronto → Colombo

$ 1569
(fair price: $ 1448)

Edinburgh → Colombo

$ 1011
(fair price: $ 856)