As with any country, Sri Lanka can be put under the scope of a backpacker or a tourist who wants more comfort and great experiences in the itinerary. And the journey could be a lot more enjoyable if you know the costs involved beforehand. Food & transportation are comparatively cheaper in Sri Lanka. One can travel from the Southernmost point of the country to the northernmost point of the country under 10$ choosing to take the bus or the train. The costs may multiply by a few times if you decide to rent a private vehicle for travel. If you are in the mood to spend a fortune, you can always take a local plane service.

So there are always different tiers of expenses you could plan for. In short, if you choose to limit your travelling to the public transport and decide to use a taxi when necessary, Sri Lanka can be very cheap. So to answer the question, is Sri Lanka cheap? It absolutely is.

Cheap to live areas and expensive places to look out for in Sri Lanka

At famous tourist zones such as Sigiriya, Pinnawala, Galle, Kandy, Trincomalee, Jaffna and such, tourists will be charged about 50% more than what a local would get charged for services like transportation and entrance fees. Even then, it remains very cheap. For example, travelling about 10 Kilometers in a tuk will not exceed 3$. If you take the bus, that could drop to around 0.2$.

Prices by Region in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka can easily be divided into 5 divisions from a tourist’s perspective. They are Jaffna & the eastern areas, the Colombo area, Down South, the cultural triangle and the rest of the country. Essentials, housing, food and transportation are priced differently across these zones. Refer the list below to grasp an idea on what to expect when it comes to pricing & costs.

The Cultural Triangle I – Cheap areas

Cost Rating – $

Includes – Sacred City of Anuradhapura, the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, the Ancient City of Dambulla

Food and accommodation are cheap in areas all across the cultural triangle except for Kandy and Sigiriya. The other locations in the cultural triangle receive much less traffic compared to Sigiriya and Kandy. The ancient cities in the cultural triangle were former royal capitals of Sri Lanka during different time periods. One of the reasons why these cities of extreme cultural significance are maintained in its original pristine form is because the government has very strict regulations on new developments surrounding these sites. Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Dambulla still have an aura of glory and pride, a fact reflected well by the ruins of palaces, great big pillars, tanks and many more man-made wonders. Since the whole of the cultural triangle can be visited within a couple of days, very few tourists occupy hotels and other accommodations for more than a few days. Due to this, tourists can easily find budget hotels and guest houses for cheap prices. Unfortunately, luxurious accommodations may still charge you the same price as in any other area of the country.

The Cultural Triangle II – Expensive areas

Cost Rating – $$$

Includes – The Ancient City of Sigiriya, the Sacred City of Kandy

Sigiriya, fondly named the “eighth wonder of the world” and the sacred city of Kandy garners the bigger portion of the travellers who come to visit the cultural triangle. Kandy being the last royal capital of Sri Lanka is full of activity. When in Kandy, it’s very easy to bump into tourists belonging to all nations across the world in an alley or street corner. Sigiriya lies somewhere away from all the chaos and commotion of cities. But one more similarity both Kandy and Sigiriya have in common, apart from a huge influx of tourists, is the high cost of living.

To fully experience the magnificence of Sigiriya & Kandy, many tourists tend to spend a few days to leisurely explore the places. This has caused the cost of lodging to rise significantly, especially in areas closer to the Dhalada Maligawa (The temple of the Tooth) and in areas closer to the Lion rock (Sigiriya). It’s harder to find hostels in the downtown area, so you will have to choose between hotels, villas and guesthouses. In Kandy, the food & transportation costs are much higher near the Temple of the Tooth than in the outskirts of the Kandy city. Accommodation and lodging in Sigiriya are much higher as well since there is only a finite selection of hotels and guesthouses in the area.

Galle and Down South

Cost Rating – $$$

Includes – Galle Fort, Hambantota, Koggala, Unawatuna, Matara, Hikkaduwa, Point Dondra

The Down South area is famous for its serene atmosphere and majestic beaches. Much of the Down South receives a steady stream of tourists. This has naturally driven the cost of living for tourists far higher than what it used to be a few years ago. Sharing beds in a hostel fashion can be found for under 15$ in areas near the busy hotspots. A single guesthouse room could cost as much as 25$. As you travel away from the busiest spots, the costs reduce drastically. The most visible hotels & restaurants inside the Galle Fort, Koggala and other areas are very expensive even for tourists. So if you plan on having a good meal, speak with the locals. They always know where the best & cheaper places are.

There is a variety of adventurous activities to go for when in the area. Surfing, deep sea diving, parasailing, hot air balloon rides & wreck diving are the most popular activities to try in Down South. Sports & adventure activities generally are expensive but worth the money if you love to enjoy the adrenaline boost.

Jaffna, Trincomalee, Mutur

Cost Rating – $

The Northern & Eastern areas were once under the full control of the terrorist organization LTTE. The areas were open to the public soon after the country was liberated from the grip of the LTTE. Since then, these areas were a honeypot for local and foreign investments. Massive new construction projects were commenced and the once forgotten Jaffna had a huge reception of local travellers. A few years later, foreign tourists add Jaffna as a must-visit to their itinerary, as the beaches and forests in these areas remain unspoilt. The historical significance of Jaffna, which goes back a few thousand years, only adds to the list of reasons why anyone should visit the place.

The tourism industry is still new & fresh in Jaffna and in the Eastern provinces. This is often thought to be the primary reason why the food, accommodation & transport costs are very low. There are not as many hotels as you’d find in other areas of the country, but the ones available charge very reasonable prices. Meals, fruits & fresh produce are also priced very reasonably. Even activities such as wreck diving and deep sea diving are cheaper compared to locations such as Hikkaduwa or Dodanduwa.

Colombo & surrounding areas

Cost rating – $$

Being the commercial capital of Sri Lanka, one might expect Colombo to be very expensive. Fortunately, Colombo is very affordable if you know where to stay and dine. Many locals across the country move to Colombo in large numbers every year for education, jobs or to start new businesses. This has resulted in the emergence of affordable accommodation options and food outlets targeting these students and the work crowd. You can easily find rooms to stay in all areas of Colombo at any time of the year.

If you prefer fine dining and luxury accommodation, there are plenty of options for that as well. Since Colombo is a collection of so many micro-cultures, there’s no end to the food choices you will be privy to once you are happy to loosen your wallet. Malay, Arabic, Turkish, Indian, Chinese, English, American, French, Dutch and other styles of cuisine are available for great prices around the capital.

When you are in Colombo, make sure you have Uber and PickMe (The local Uber) installed on your phone. These companies offer promotions every now and then which is a great way to reduce your travel costs. Even when there’s no promotion, it’s best to use Uber & PickMe so that no local scammer can swindle you out of your money when travelling using taxis or cabs.

Other regions in the country

Cost rating – $

The rest of Sri Lanka has such tourist attractions as Saradiel Village, Ambuluwawa, Ella and others, spread across large areas and the expenses are high only in the areas closer to these attractions. As you move away from those landmarks, the costs return to normal and you will pay for food, transport & lodging the same amount a local would pay. The day to day expenses in these places are very affordable. Local restaurants and budget hotels are a delight for many tourists as the expenses are only a fraction of what it would cost in an active tourist zone. Public transport charges ridiculously low prices for travelling. However, it is important to note that it will be very hard to see other tourists if you are not in the tourist zone. Travel in groups or have a tour guide so that you don’t get lost or face any distasteful situation.

It’s also worthy to note that the serenity of these areas is far removed from the regular hustle and bustle of the busy cities. This is also a large part of the Sri Lankan experience and it will definitely make you appreciate your time in the country.

What activities can be expensive in Sri Lanka?

Even if a tourist chooses to be modest on average expenses, there is one major expense which is hard to avoid in Sri Lanka. That is the entrance tickets to exotic places such as Pinnawala, any museum, Sigiriya, Saradiel Village and etc. It also relates to the fees on activities such as Safaris, Whale watching, white water rafting, deep sea diving, hot air balloon rides and so on. The average entrance ticket is around 10$ and the fees for activities range from 40$ – 250$ depending on what activity you sign up for. The exotic places & experiences may seem to be too expensive at first glance, but these are the stuff that makes Sri Lanka what it is. You do not want to miss out on those experiences as some of these are unique to Sri Lanka which makes them even more special than it already is.

Two other places to look out for are clubs and beach parties. Clubs are usually known for their over-priced drinks & food. It’s even more true for clubs whose target clients are tourists. So make sure you know the average prices before you step into a club or beach parties or festivals. You could easily lose 500$ at these venues if you are not careful.

Are cigarettes and alcohol cheap in Sri Lanka?

Due to high taxes imposed on alcohol as an attempt to reduce liquor consumption, the prices of liquor in Sri Lanka are relatively higher than in countries like the United States, UK or Australia. You can check the alcohol prices in Sri Lanka here.

Cigarettes are also heavily taxed to demotivate smoking in the society. This has caused an increase in the prices of cigarettes. Also, you should note that Sri Lanka doesn’t allow bringing in cigarette packs when coming into the country. So you will have to purchase them from an outlet inside the country if necessary.  For example, the price of one Malboro package in Colombo is around USD 8.

Is food cheap in Sri Lanka?

As for food in Sri Lanka, travellers almost can always find fancy meals priced under 10$. A good local rice & curry will never cost more than 4$. But if any traveller finds oneself in places like the Galle Fort, Nuwara Eliya, Hikkaduwa and such, it’s very possible to run into places that charge outrageous prices for meals. Just an omelette could cost you 8$ if you are in a busy tourist zone. You will have to ask the locals for a cheap place to try food or find the answers through online forums on sites like TripAdvisor.

Do not let these warnings demotivate you. If you talk to locals or walk around the streets, there are literally too many choices. Most places will cost less than 3$ for a thoroughly satisfying meal. The additional costs come up only if you find yourself in the mood for something fancy.

Is Accommodation cheap in Sri Lanka?

If you are looking for a place to spend the night, you should always check on sites like booking.com. You can easily find a dormitory room or a hostel bed for just under 8$ even in the busy tourist zones. If you want a little more comfort & privacy, you can easily find separate rooms for under 20$ or 30$.

For lovers of greater intimacy and luxury, there are numerous private  holiday villas in Sri Lanka that start with 150$/night. There you will experience the ultimate relaxation with your private pool, private cooking crew and beautiful interiors with traditional elements.

Another option would be to rent a room in a guesthouse, which is run by the locals. One huge advantage you may have in checking into these rooms is that the homeowners are pleasant, lovely folk. You could always ask them for anything you want to know and they will help you out with anything they can.

Apart from those options, there are always expensive hotel rooms to look for. A five-star hotel is easy to find in most places and a room may start from 100$. These are great if you are planning to spend a hassle-free vacation. A hotel or villa stay has additional perks such as free rides using the hotel owned fleet of vehicles and quality food prepared by chefs specialized in local & foreign culinary arts.

If you are a backpacker and what you really need for the night is just a mattress and a bathroom to get cleaned up, there are camps at a few popular destinations. A single bed will cost you only about a dollar. These beds are set up in a hostel like fashion. This allows tourists from around the world to mingle and build new relationships. Some of them even team up and head for common destinations together to continue the adventure. There are options for anyone and everyone and the accommodation prices are relatively cheaper at all tiers.

Is living in Sri Lanka cheap?

Living in Sri Lanka can be very rewarding and you can live with all the comforts for the simple price of about 200$ a month. The number tends to increase only as you keep on adding luxuries to your lifestyle.

The government of Sri Lanka provides free healthcare to all and this takes the huge burden of medical bills away from its people. No matter whether it’s a simple vaccination or sending out an ambulance to fetch a patient living 50 kilometres away from the nearest base hospital, it’s all free.

Life in Sri Lanka is easy as rent, utilities & food expenses are very affordable. Here’s a chart where you can compare the prices of items to see if you can afford to live in Sri Lanka.