Is Sri Lanka expensive to visit? The answer is no.
All year long, people go to Sri Lanka, and one of the best things about the island is how cheap it is.
Sri Lanka has long been known as a cheap place to visit, with prices about the same as those of most Asian countries.
The island welcomes a lot of affordable visitors and backpackers who take use of the excellent lodging options and low cost of living.
But how much does Sri Lanka cost? We’ve compiled a full guide on how cheap, or should we say how expensive, it is so you know what to expect from your trip.
How Much Does Sri Lanka Cost?
Sri Lanka is not pricey when you compare it to any Western location.
You can easily get high-class food, accommodation, and transportation there for a very small amount of money.
Rupees are Sri Lanka’s currency; one British pound equals 296 rupees!
Though this is simply a generalisation, Sri Lanka can surprisingly be costly when compared to the neighbouring nations. One major factor is airfare—many travelers wonder, why are flights to Sri Lanka so expensive?
Although there are inexpensive means of getting about the island, there are certain expenses you cannot avoid.
Should Sri Lanka be the only nation you travel to from South Asia, you could consider yourself lucky to have located a gem with little cost. But, especially with relation to activities and things to do, Sri Lanka is rather more costly than India, Bhutan, and Nepal.
Not inaccurate; many things in Sri Lanka are the same cost as those in surrounding nations; you could easily live on £30 a day. Though Sri Lanka can be more costly than London, there are a few areas with more rates.
Let’s review some of the prices you should watch in Sri Lanka so you can plan your trip well and not spend too much.
You can also join us on a group tour of Sri Lanka that includes all activities, accommodation, meals, and transportation while you’re there. You need to get to Sri Lanka!
Sri Lanka’s food prices
In this country, too, food costs depend on where and what you eat. Local sellers and market stalls will offer you great deals. They will sell real food like stews and rotis for as little as £1.64 to £3.28.
Meals you eat will cost a bit more, about £4.92 to £8.20 per dish. Of course, international food will cost more, but not a lot.
There is a lot of varied cuisine available, particularly around the popular tourist destination of Sri Lanka’s lovely southern coast.
Meals at high-end places in cities and around the capital will cost about the same as in the West, between £12.30 to £24.60.
Sri Lanka’s Drink Prices
When it’s hot and muggy, Sri Lanka boasts various reasonably priced, non-alcoholic beverages that help one stay hydrated.
Large water bottles (1.5 to 2 litres) can be bought for as little as £0.41, which is great because you shouldn’t drink tap water in Sri Lanka, so this is an important cost.
Smoothies are another great way to stay hydrated, but they cost more, between £1.64 and £3.28. They are still much cheaper than in the West, though, and they taste better, too!
The island has very varying alcohol costs.
Your best compromise for a reasonably priced beer is a local brand like Lion Lager. A normal bottle or can will cost about £0.82 to £2.46 in bars and restaurants.
Finding international brands can be challenging since most individuals in the nation abstain from alcohol. Still, there are at least a couple always available. Having to be imported, these will cost more—between £1.64 and £4.10.
Though most mid-range and high-end restaurants have fantastic alternatives, Sri Lankans also drink little alcohol so the cuisine might not be the best in the world. A glass of house wine usually costs around £4.10.
Cocktails are very popular in tourist spots and hotel resorts, and they normally cost between £5.74 to £8.20.
Cost of Getting Around in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s public transportation is pretty good, and the bus is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to get around. It will cost as little as £0.16 for short trips and as much as £4.10 for long ones.
The bus is the cheapest way to get around Sri Lanka, but we can’t promise they’ll show up on time or won’t be packed full of people. This is why tourists on a tight budget like to take them.
Trains are another popular way to get around the island’s interior, though they are more expensive. Some routes are also very well known, like the one from Ella to Kandy, which is used by many content makers.
Short trips on the train will cost about £0.82, and first-class links across the country will cost up to £8.20.
Taxis and tuk-tuks are two other popular ways to get around Sri Lanka, especially in tourist areas. Most tuk-tuk rides are short and cost between £1.64 and £4.10 each. Taxis, on the other hand, require a bit more haggling.
Before getting in a cab, you should talk about how to pay because they usually don’t have meters, and foreign tourists are easy targets for scams.
Before getting in a cab, you should talk about how to pay because they usually don’t have meters, and foreign tourists are easy targets for scams.
Given Sri Lankan rates, you should still weigh the value of the journey even if they would cost more than tuk-tuk rides.
The cost of a Sri Lankan place to stay
Places to stay in Sri Lanka are more costly than those of surrounding nations, hence it will be difficult to locate somewhere that fits the national income level.
People of Sri Lanka are realizing that the travel industry is growing steadily. The cost of island lodging has gone up a few years ago, particularly in Colombo and close to the coast.
If you are backpacking in Sri Lanka, there are still quite affordable lodging options in the nation, particularly homestays and motels. These lodging options range in price from £8.20 to £12.30 per night, and they are even less costly during a slow season.
Mid-range hotels and guesthouses with more comfort and better facilities start at around £24.60 per night and go up to £123.00 or more per night. If you are staying with a friend or a couple, this is a great bargain since most rooms feature twin or double beds.
At around £123.00 per night, luxury boutique hotels in popular locations such as Galle and Kandy are far more costly. Still, the personnel will take wonderful care of you and the degree of comfort and relaxation is well worth the additional cost.
To underline, £123.00 is a nominal fee for a high-end hotel where you will be pampered like a king or queen.
Costs of Things to Do in Sri Lanka
Given so many things to see and do in Sri Lanka, visitors will struggle to become bored.
Though certain things are worth paying for, even if they are a little more costly than in other southern Asian countries, there are plenty of free things to do such hiking trails and beaches.
Sigiriya Rock is among the most well-known sites on the island, yet it costs £29.52 to get, about equivalent to a day trip from London.
It costs between £73.80 and £123.00 to go on safari in the national parks in the south of Sri Lanka. Still, the trip is definitely worth the expense since you may view incredible species up close.
Temples sometimes demand fees. The most often visited Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic runs roughly £5.33.
One economical approach to spend a few hours is visiting a tea plantation. Tours of the estate and speciality sampling can run as little as £0.82.
On the southern shore, surfing courses, scuba diving, and cooking classes are all rather popular. Although these events cost more than those in other neighbouring nations, if you search about you can still discover decent offers.
A good rule of thumb is to look for a surf school that charges between £8.20 to £20.50 per lesson and one that charges between £32.80 to £49.20 per dive (but make sure the company is trustworthy!). then culinary courses for less than £28.70.
Therefore, there are many wonderful things you can do in Sri Lanka that don’t cost much even if we mentioned it costs more than the neighbouring countries.
Should your trip budget be limited, you can still enjoy the island for a fair cost.
To view the main tourist attractions on the island, though, you will pay some taxes.
How much are flights to Sri Lanka?
Where you leave from and the early date you book your trip may greatly affect the cost of flying to Sri Lanka. Many travellers wonder, “Why are flights to Sri Lanka so expensive?” The answer lies in various factors, including fuel costs, airline demand, and seasonal pricing.
To ensure you get the best deal, look at more than one airline, travel times, and possible layover spots. Low Cost Vibes will help you find the finest discounts.
Another way to save a lot of money is to travel around the edges of the busy season. This strategy not only reduces costs but also addresses the concern of why flights to Sri Lanka can be pricey during peak months. It may also make the island less crowded.
Low-cost round-trip fares from places in Asia like Singapore, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur range from about £164 to £328.
For economy class prices, flying from mainland Europe and the UK will cost between $500 to $750 each way (£400 to £600), and depending on your departure airport, there may be stopovers. Often exceeding £800, direct flights during the busiest travel season could be substantially more.
From bigger airports, there will be more airline options to choose from, which will help eliminate stopovers. If you can get to London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol via public transport, two of the biggest airports in Europe are worth investigating.
If you travel from the US, prices are higher once again; during the peak travel seasons, they reach a staggering $1500 or more.
Although jet travel to Sri Lanka is not inexpensive, once you’re there, you won’t have to worry too much about how you spend the remaining journey.
Frequent Questions
Here are some “Is Sri Lanka Expensive To Visit?” related inquiries along with our answers.
A lunch in Sri Lanka runs about what?
A lunch in Sri Lanka will cost between £1.64 and £ 3.28 for street food items; nevertheless, if you wish to eat in a high-end restaurant, the cost might be as high as £30.
In Sri Lanka, daily expenses call for how much money?
Visiting pay for meals and accommodation, visitors visiting Sri Lanka must budget an average of about £24.60 daily. Though most days will be far less, well-known tourist destinations can stretch the budget envelope.
One week travel to Sri Lanka runs how much?
A one-week trip to Sri Lanka will cost around £246 to £984 (not including flights), depending on accommodation, meals, activities, and transportation.
In Sri Lanka, how much is one beer?
For a standard-sized bottle or can, a beer usually runs £0.82 to £2.46. The brand and place on the island affect the pricing.
Last Thoughts
Is Sri Lanka Expensive To Visit? Sri Lanka is a good place for budget tourists to visit because there is a lot of cheap food, accommodation, and transportation on the island.
Sri Lanka is usually more expensive than some of its neighbours, but this is mostly because of the import taxes that come with being an island country.
The biggest difference in how much you spend in Sri Lanka compared to other places is on activities. Many temples and other famous tourist spots cost more than £20.50.
If you plan, you can easily see Sri Lanka on a budget and still enjoy this beautiful island.
If you’d rather not plan everything, why not join one of the tours? All you have to do is let us know your plan!
