If you are looking for a trip to sri Lanka on a budget, this is your must-read “sri lanka budget travel guide”. Many dream of travelling to this paradise from each corner of the world. But the expenses shouldn’t limit the dreams of those travellers. So, let me get you through a complete guide to what you need to know before you start travelling to Sri Lanka on a budget. Please note that the sightseeing activities slightly differ from area to area. So do your research on those current market prices before starting your journey. I will mention the prices in LKR and USD so you can get a clear idea of the expenses.
Is Travelling Sri Lanka on a Budget Possible?
Yes, you can travel on a budget in Sri Lanka. Still, you’ll have to organize the funds well, and this island has a lot to offer. That includes a rich culture, ancient temples, beautiful beaches, mountains and authentic wildlife adventures. So let me cover the areas such as accommodation, travel costs, food and other activities. So you can decide how much you should have in hand for a day. Or maybe for a couple of days if you stay here longer.
How much should you expect to spend per day in Sri Lanka?
First, let’s talk about accommodation. If you are a solo traveller, a couple, or even a bunch of friends looking for an adventure, you can easily find many accommodation options. Starting from hostel dorms, homestays, and budget hotels, you can get many options in each area of the country. The southern area is especially popular for hostels, where you can surf and enjoy the beaches and a little vibrant nightlife. And if you are a solo female traveller, you can find safe, female-friendly stays on a budget.
Usually, a dorm bed in a hostel will cost you around 3000–5000 LKR (US$10.10–16.81), there are even less , and a Basic room for two in a homestay will cost you around 5000–6500 LKR (US$16.81–21.85). A Basic hotel room will be around 7000–13,000 LKR (US$24–44). Besides these, you can also find long-term rental options such as Self-catering apartments and co-living spaces, where you can live with like-minded travellers and many nomads on a budget who prefer to stay and build connections.
What about coffee? Food, snacks and alcohol?
Sri Lanka is not famous for its coffee culture but for its tea culture. But don’t worry; we have excellent ground coffee options and many cafes with your favourite coffee from home recreated here. Usually, a coffee costs around 650–1300 LKR (US$2.20–4.40), which may differ slightly in flavours and brands. With the rise of the Digital nomads visiting this little country, we’ve got many tiny cafes in the corners with freshly baked goodies where it’s around 500–2000 LKR (US$1.70–6.80) for a sandwich, and the roadside shops will have it for less than that in the local market.
To treat your taste buds to authentic local flavours, Sri Lankan rice and curry will cost around 650–1500 LKR (US$2.20–5.05). It’s a perfect, fulfilling lunch if you travel in Sri Lanka on a budget. The same goes for dinner; you may find many local shops where you pay less than Rs 1000 (US$3.40). Especially the Kottu Rotti that you will eat in Sri Lanka, which will be something you’ll never forget. It will cost around Rs 1000–1600 (US$3.40–5.45). Depending on your budget, dinner for two in a mid-range restaurant will cost you Rs 5000–7200 (US$17.05–24.50), while a fine-dining restaurant will cost you around Rs 15000–23,000 (US$44–78). Simple snacks are available in local shops, supermarkets, and roadside street food stalls if you snack on the road or while chilling at a dorm. And trust me, that’s mostly for less than a dollar.
Is Alcohol is cheap here?
It’s not cheap compared to the other SEA countries, but a local beer can costcosts less than 500 LKR ($2). There are Wine stores with a green colour name board in every little town, where you can buy alcohol on your way. Many Supermarkets also have a little bar in town areas. Restaurants also sell alcohol, and the prices will be slightly higher than what you buy from the supermarket.
Should you get a sim if you need regular wifi?
You don’t have to be a travel influencer, but many of us love to share our travels, including myself. So, when travelling to Sri Lanka, how do you manage wifi and phone data on a budget? Apart from buying a sim card at the Sri Lanka airport, you can go to a local shop to buy a local sim, which will be around $5 for the sim. Many operators have tourist plans; you can activate the services for less than $10 -15$ through the phone app. Usually, many cafes will also provide you with free wifi, so posting your morning coffee Instagram story won’t be an issue here.
So here is what you should consider for a day’s expenses.
- A dorm bed in a hostel: 3000–5000 LKR (US$10.10–16.81)
- A room in a homestay: 5000–6500 LKR (US$16.81–21.85)
- Basic hotel room: 7000–13,000 LKR (US$24–44).
- A coffee: 650–1300 LKR (US$2.20–4.40)
- A decent breakfast: 500–2000 LKR (US$1.70–6.80)
- Lunch (Sri Lankan): 650–1500 LKR (US$2.20–5.05)
- Dinner: Starting from 1500 LKR – 15000 LKR (LKR (US$5.05-50), depending on your choice of the restaurant.
- Beer: 500 LKR (US$ 2)
- Transportation for a day trip in a bus: 2000 LKR(US$7)
- Snacks: US$5
Transportation costs in Sri Lanka
This is an important area you must consider in our sri lanka budget travel guide. Sri Lanka has a good public transportation service. It’s not the best, but it’s cheaper than getting taxis and private drivers. Trains are the best if you travel long distances as they are a less time-consuming way of travelling across the country. And if you love mountains, you can get the train ride from Kandy to Ella, which is known to be one of the most beautiful train rides in Sri Lanka. When reserved early, the train tickets are higher and can go up to 7000 LKR in some lines. But generally, getting into a third-class compartment will cost a couple of dollars.
There are three categories of long-distance buses: super luxury, standard AC, and regular. If you wanna get to the southern area and explore cities such as Galle, Matara or Thissamaharahama, and you can spare LKR 1000, get that highway bus! The main bus stand in Colombo sometimes has buses running through the southern Express highway, but if you get to Makubura multi-modal centre, there will be a bus leaving every 3o minutes. This bus will travel nonstop and is more comfortable than regular buses.
Regular buses are also fun; you’ll experience it as a sri Lankan bus culture when travelling long distances. There are no actual bus schedules, except a few timetables for main routes in the Expressway; buses either arrive late or only depart when they are completely loaded. On most routes, there will be a bus every few minutes, so you’ll have a way to get to the location, even if it’s getting a little late. For a one-way trip, the majority cost a few dollars.
Ride-hailing options? And how do you find budget-friendly tuks?
Sri Lanka has a few local taxi apps, and your usual Uber is available in major cities. Those are easy to book on a phone app and less expensive than regular trucks on the streets. However, when finding a tuk through an app is hard, always look for a metered taxi, where you pay per kilometre. Mostly around 100 LKR, so it won’t cost you more than $10 to travel a little more than 10 km.
Budget travelling tips for travellers in Sri Lanka
- Sleep in local homestays and hostels; there are many safe and clean places around every corner of the country.
- Try to use public transport whenever possible and find other travellers to share the rides if travelling to the same destination.
- Regarding activities, try to find group tours rather than private ones; going on a shared safari is cheaper than a private safari in many national parks.
- Book your train tickets before visiting on your own, as the agent rates are incredibly high if you find it once you arrive in the country.
- Stay with locals and eat like a local. You’ll experience the authentic food taste here and enjoy the locals’ hospitality.
- Try to find Uber or pick me taxis before looking for regular taxis and tour operators through your hotel or the hostel.
- A valid international licence will save a lot if you can ride a scooter. Like many SEA countries, Sri Lanka also uses scooters, and you can rent per day on a budget of less than $10, saving you money to spend on taxis.
This country has a lot to offer, and even if you travel solo, you’ll find many budget options for sightseeing and activities. And shared excursions will be a great way of finding travel buddies and enjoying the trip without breaking your bank.
That’s it; you can now plan your budget trip to beautiful Sri Lanka. I’m sure you are now well aware of budget travelling in Sri Lanka, so plan ahead and enjoy the trip to paradise!