menu facebook twitter instagram pinterest youtube search chevron-down chevron-up
  • About
    • About Kristin
    • Press
    • Contact Me
    • Work With Me
  • Blog
    • Archives
    • Best of the Blog
  • YouTube
  • Solo Female Travel
  • Home
  • Tours
  • Destinations
  • Travel Resources
    • Outdoors 101
    • Itineraries
    • Spiritual Travel
  • SEARCH

Be My Travel Muse

Solo Female Travel

Tips from the Banker: The Real Cost of Travel in Sri Lanka

01/20/2019 by Kristin 48 Comments

How much it really costs to travel in Sri Lanka? I was able to travel in Sri Lanka on $31/day. This article breaks down the accommodation, transportation, food and other costs to help you plan an amazing trip to Sri Lanka on a budget. #SriLanka #SriLankaTravelTips
Pin me!

Sri Lanka is a truly gorgeous country near India with friendly people, sprawling jungles, tons of interesting wildlife, and endless beaches. I spent just shy of three weeks there and found it to be a perfectly feasible budget destination, with cheap transportation options, reasonable food costs, and decent room rates.

Like most countries, Sri Lanka can be seen on a backpacker budget, or one can spend a small fortune there.  The biggest kicker was the price of activities, such as safaris, and admission into the UNESCO World Heritage sites.  With each running about $40-$50 per ticket, this made Sri Lanka more expensive to fully explore.  That said, skipping these activities would have meant missing out on a big reason why Sri Lanka is such a wonderful place to visit.

My daily average came out to $50/day. 

This may come as a surprise since I spent about 8 months in Southeast Asia previously, averaging about $30/day and doing things as cheaply as possible.  Part of that was out of necessity, but mostly, I just saw it as a personal challenge and I wanted to see if it was doable.

Now I know, and I’m simply not as willing to do things so cheaply these days.  I tend to want my own room more, I want to stay in nicer places, I have been moving more quickly lately, which makes the costs add up, and just haven’t been trying as hard to do everything on a shoestring budget.

That said, Sri Lanka can be done on closer to $30 per day on the days that you don’t pay for expensive activities.  Food, transport, and accommodation are relatively cheap.

Table of Contents

  • Accommodation:
  • Transportation:
  • Food and drink:
  • Cheap vs. Expensive places in Sri Lanka:
  • Other incidentals:
  • READ NEXT: A Full Guide to Planning Your Sri Lanka Trip

Accommodation:

trinco blu
A beautiful hotel I stayed in Trincomalee

I didn’t stay in any dorms while in Sri Lanka.  Given I’m a solo traveler, this meant I had to book private rooms and shoulder the cost myself.  I typically spent about $10-$15 per night on a room, but some nights spent a lot more wanting to stay somewhere nice.  Budget accommodation was easier to find in the more touristy towns, such as Galle, than the lesser-visited places such as Dambulla.

Sri Lanka isn’t as much of a backpacker destination, so the options are just not as plentiful as in, say, Thailand, where a $5 dorm room is easy to find, but you can definitely find hostels with reasonable price and great facilities in all major cities.

Hostels in Colombo: $6-$14 (book your hostel in Colombo here)

Hostels in Ella: $6 – $14 (book your hostel in Ella here)

Hostels in Galle: $8-$16 (book your hostel in Galle here)

Hostels in Arugam Bay: $7-$16 (book your hostel in Arugam Bay here)

If, like, me, you’d like to mix in a few nights of nicer accommodation, I recommend Amaya Beach Resort on Passikudah beach. and Trinco Blue in Trincomalee!

Transportation:

kristin addis
On the train in Sri Lanka

There are a lot of varying price options for transport.  It’s not atypical in Sri Lanka to hire a car and driver, which usually runs about $50 per day.  The driver tends to sleep in the car, or your accommodation of choice will have sleeping quarters for the driver.  He covers the associated costs though you tend to cover his food when he’s on the clock. During my first week there, I split this with a friend who was on a much shorter trip. We explored the places the train doesn’t access this way.

Otherwise, buses are a very cheap option at just a few dollars for a 6-hour ride, though they are typically packed until it’s standing room only.  People continue to pile into the point that they get very uncomfortable.  I rarely came across one with air conditioning.  Tickets are sold on board and buses leave when full.

Uber and PickMe are available in major cities – you can even order tuktuks via the apps. They are much cheaper than hailing a tuktuk off the road. A short distance ride can cost less than $0.30.

Taking the train was my personal favorite option.  Pricing for the second-class cabin ran anywhere from $1.50 to $4 and was a real delight.  These also sometimes run out of seats, though, meaning you may have to stand or sit on the floor.

Food and drink:

The food is delicious in Sri Lanka, but unfortunately, lunches are often a buffet that has been sitting out for a while.  I was able to get around this by visiting roti stands around lunch time where the food was made fresh.

Typical lunches ran about $3-5, though it’s somewhat common for a driver or tour guide to take you to much more expensive lunch places that run about $20.  You simply have to say you’re not interested in that type of place.

Beer was nice and cheap at around $2-$3 for a large bottle.

Cheap vs. Expensive places in Sri Lanka:

Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka

Dambulla was the most expensive simply because Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya Rock charged a rather ridiculous admission fee of around $30 each for a foreign visitor.  Safaris in the area were also a bit steep at around $60 per person.

Galle, Ella, and Kandy were cheaper given they had more accommodation options and are easier to get around. Besides, most of the activities here involve visiting tea plantations or going on hikes, both of which are cheap or free.

Other incidentals:

I found that the accommodation ranging between $20 and $60 was actually no better than the rooms that cost more like $10-$15.  There really didn’t seem to be much reason to spend over $10 on a room in Sri Lanka, unless one stays at a luxury hotel or apartment for more like $90+.

SIM cards in Sri Lanka are nice and cheap running at about $18 for 10 gigs of 4G (on the Dialog network, which worked very well and can be purchased at the Colombo airport).  Topping up only cost a few dollars as well.

Overall, Sri Lanka can be a cheap place to visit, but the cost of activities can really drive up the price.  Missing out on the UNESCO sites and safaris would have really been unfortunate.  Consider this when planning your trip!

An honest breakdown on the cost of traveling Sri Lanka, from accommodation, transportation, food to other expenses. This article will help you plan the best trip to Sri Lanka! #SriLanka #SriLankaTravelTips
Pin me!

READ NEXT: A Full Guide to Planning Your Sri Lanka Trip

The real cost of travel in Sri Lanka: A cost breakdown of traveling in Sri Lanka, including food, accommodation, transportation, and activities.
181 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
Get the guidebook for solo female travelers!
« The Only Packing List You’ll Ever Need (for the Entire World)
A Comparison of Roy’s Peak vs. Isthmus Peak in Wanaka »

Hello There!

headshot

Welcome to Be My Travel Muse, one of the top female travel blogs in the world, welcoming over 5 million readers annually.

I'm Kristin, and my vision of a better world is one where more women are empowered and living out their dreams. Solo traveling is the best method I've found to become the best, bravest version of me. This site is all about how YOU can have the adventure of a lifetime in an easy, fun, approachable way, so that you can feel empowered, too. Want to learn more about me?

Click here!

Get the Solo Female Travel Guidebook

Popular Posts

I am currently in:

The USA!

Check it out on Instagram Stories!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. A Southern Gypsy says

    01/20/2014 at 9:14 am

    Great and helpful post. The plan is to try to make it there when I’m in SE Asia so it’s nice to see that it’s still affordable even with all the activities and UNESCO sites.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/21/2014 at 8:00 am

      You could pop over from Kuala Lumpur for not too much cash.

      Reply
  2. Ryan says

    01/20/2014 at 9:19 am

    Sometimes a shoestring budget taints a trip or taking a bus 24 hours to save some cash is more detrimental. I’m sure you could have done Sri Lanka within that $30 cap, but it seems like the extra spending went to some amazing activities. I’m about $30 a day, though rarely do I reach it in Thailand. But still, I also haven’t been doing many activities. Sometimes I’m feeling like I’m missing out, others I feel vindicated in my savings, but it’s always best to do what you want and try to keep it within a reasonable range.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/21/2014 at 7:58 am

      Well, in SE Asia for example, I skipped the Gibbon experience in Laos, spend the extra time on busses, and did things like climb Kinabalu in one day because two days cost too much. BUT I never skip out on SCUBA diving. It’s your vacation, your life, and money is supposed to support that, not make it harder or less enjoyable!

      Reply
  3. Rika | Cubicle Throwdown says

    01/20/2014 at 11:57 am

    This is a really informative post!! I’ve never thought about traveling through Sri Lanka. My grandparents lived there for a while when I was a kid and always sent me cool postcards from there. This has sparked an interest…thanks!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/21/2014 at 7:54 am

      I hope you do!

      Reply
  4. Parul says

    01/20/2014 at 1:38 pm

    We have had to choose between places because of our budget. When entry tickets for one are more than flights for two you really have to think. Will share our trip soon

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/21/2014 at 7:53 am

      True, but then you have to think, when will I be here again? If it’s what you went there to see then, it is what it is, sadly.

      Reply
  5. Sophie Friedman says

    01/20/2014 at 10:55 pm

    Great post, really happy to see this ahead of my trip to SL next week! Did you go to Unawatuna when you were in Galle?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/21/2014 at 7:50 am

      That’s where I stayed. They’re neighbors 🙂 My least favorite place, though. I loved the center the most.

      Reply
  6. Lunaguava says

    01/21/2014 at 5:16 am

    Um, yeah… We did Sri Lanka as a holiday, back in the glorious days when we had paychecks, so didn’t really mind splurging a bit. The UNESCO sites are expensive though – but worth it, as you say. We traveled mostly by bus and train, with the occasional taxi when nothing else was available. I wouldn’t say it was our cheapest holiday (although food was amazing and we hardly spent any money on it), but it was one of the most memorable – we actually wrote a roundup post recently, all from memory. Would be curious to see how much the country has changed since we visited. Great post, congrats! Good luck and safe travels!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/21/2014 at 7:46 am

      When was that? I’d say the food and transport is still cheap but I sincerely can’t comprehend why the UNESCO sites cost so much. it’s so frustrating to see that only foreigners pay those prices too, but that’s the case all over SE Asia as well.

      Reply
  7. Kylie says

    01/21/2014 at 8:22 am

    Sri Lanka just seems absolutely incredible! It is definitely a place on my list. Did you visit Indian while you were over there? I have been curious about going but haven’t made up my mind. Glad you had a great time, I love when you do your tips from a banker it is extremely helpful! and p.s. My pacsafe arrived today and I just purchased my travel insurance through your blog! Hope it helps & happy travels!

    Kylie

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/25/2014 at 8:59 am

      I’ve never been to India but I really want to check it out!

      Reply
      • Kylie says

        01/29/2014 at 12:06 pm

        If you are ever looking for a travel buddy for India let me know 🙂 haha

        Reply
        • Kristin says

          01/29/2014 at 11:42 pm

          Absolutely!

          Reply
  8. Robert says

    06/03/2015 at 11:09 pm

    Interesting post. This information is extremely important, especially for planning a vacation trip to suit any budget. This will be a reference for me. I really want to vacation in Sri Lanka, but the information that I get a little still. and it will become a reference that could facilitate our holiday in Sri Lanka. nice post.

    Reply
  9. Hester says

    06/13/2015 at 8:52 am

    I really like your blog! I’m planning to head over to Sri Lanka this summer, I’ve been all over SEA and am not usually overly worried about warnings (if you dress appropriately and go with your guts everything’s usually fine), however the negative comments about traveling solo a female in SL seem quite numerous.. I was wondering how you experienced traveling solo through the country?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      06/14/2015 at 5:46 am

      Really? What have you heard? I felt totally fine there!

      Reply
  10. Kristin says

    07/25/2015 at 7:15 am

    Glad to see the amount of hostels is growing. That must mean tourism is on the up and up. Have a great time and yes, I think you can keep it under $25/day if you take public transport instead of private and eat at the roti-type of food establishments rather than at expensive restaurants.

    Reply
  11. Tina says

    09/03/2015 at 2:16 pm

    Things have changed in Sri lanka with lots of good clean safe hostels in operation. Mirissa on the southern coast has some lovely hostels hangover hostel is one

    Reply
  12. Edyta says

    01/22/2016 at 11:46 pm

    Hey ! we are going to sri lanka in two weeks ! can you give any contact to your private driver ??

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/24/2016 at 6:41 am

      It was from our Airbnb host but you can find them easily

      Reply
  13. Dev says

    02/14/2016 at 1:49 am

    I am travelling Srilanka this year. Any tips what all to see to get a cultural experience? Thanks

    Reply
  14. Tess says

    03/28/2016 at 3:05 pm

    Great post, thanks! I had a question about traveling solo as a female, I’m going for about $40 a day (with the expensive cultural sites factored in too) . It sounds like you didn’t feel threatened at any time: other than the usual (conservative dress, no traveling at night, keep watch on your stuff, be confident), is there anything else that you think really helped you feel at ease and have a good trip?? For context, I will be alone only in Ella and the Cultural Triangle area (and getting between them on busses and trains). Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/28/2016 at 3:12 pm

      Hold your head up high and act confident, even when you don’t feel confident, and listen to your gut instincts. It’s a friendly place and I didn’t feel threatened there.

      Reply
  15. Marlene says

    04/16/2016 at 4:16 am

    Hi! Loved your post. I’m thinking of traveling to Sri Lanka next September and just started to plan on it. Budget also. So your post is very usuful. Since you wrote it in 2014, if you have some updated information, please let me know. 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      04/23/2016 at 12:24 pm

      I’ll be there again in June! I expect it to be similar, though.

      Reply
  16. Brandon says

    05/27/2016 at 1:27 pm

    Great post! really appreciate the information.

    When traveling to different cities did you know prior to your arrival that there would be rooms for $10-15? Or was it like you showed up a looked/asked around. I definitely want to see as much of the island as possible but i definitely don’t want to get caught paying 90+ at some hotel because I wasnt able to locate a more affordable rate close by ya know?

    and this personal driver will take you literally anywhere for $50 per day (plus food and accommodations)?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      05/27/2016 at 2:34 pm

      Hey Brandon,

      I just showed up and asked. A lot of places aren’t online and you can’t book ahead. I don’t usually plan ahead in Asia unless it’s a major holiday and that’s never been a big problem. Yes on the question about the driver.

      Reply
  17. Jack Point says

    09/21/2017 at 10:57 pm

    I have been wondering about the high costs in Sri Lanka. Tax seems to be the issue.

    http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2017/09/19/features/high-taxes-and-bad-policy-spike-lanka%E2%80%99s-food-prices

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/22/2017 at 1:22 am

      I still think it’s pretty cheap.

      Reply
  18. Olga says

    08/26/2018 at 3:06 pm

    Hi,
    Is $50 a day including safari’s and scuba? I’m also wondering if you found it cheaper to book things like the safari when you got there?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/04/2018 at 1:49 pm

      Sometimes that can cost extra, depending on how many people you can split the safari car with. Yes I always book in person in developing countries. Much cheaper in general.

      Reply
  19. Primal Fernando says

    01/12/2019 at 8:40 am

    I am from sri lanka and the post is also nice and interesting ? well the prices in sri lanka depends on the places and with the people too ? mostly you can do it around 30$ yes ? well i will recommend you all jaffna trincomalee and arugambay for beaches too ?? they are also beautiful like unawatuna ❤️ if you are willing to watch dolphins then you must go to kalpitiya or mirissa ? best places to accomodate in sri lanka are Negombo , colombo , marawila, unawatuna and Galle ❤️ hope you all enjoy sri lanka ? better have a friend in sri lanka that will help a lot ? with prices

    Reply
  20. kumar paulvannan says

    04/09/2019 at 8:25 pm

    Hi, nice blog.
    I want to just go to the Kathirkamam murugan temple from the airport. stay at night and visit the temple next day morning and fly back to Kul. What is the best option. I do not know anyone in Srilanka. any tour company or taxi you recommend?
    thanks

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      04/10/2019 at 4:33 pm

      I actually use Uber there and think it’s great!

      Reply
  21. Margaret says

    06/25/2019 at 10:48 pm

    It should be noted that UNESCO sites all around the world are expensive…the funding goes into their upkeep.
    I have no problem with foreigners paying more…just remember most of the locals would be earning no more than $10 a day.

    Reply
  22. micah bowen says

    11/27/2019 at 12:22 am

    I make it a point to skip at least half the attractions in a country when I visit, that way, next time I come I will have something I haven’t seen before.. Works great, and I save money!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      11/27/2019 at 8:03 am

      That’s one way to do it.

      Reply
  23. Pawna lake camping says

    03/29/2021 at 11:02 am

    Such a great article. Your blog is really beautiful. I really enjoyed reading it. I am sharing this blog with my friends. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  24. Sammy says

    12/13/2021 at 4:18 am

    Hello!
    Lovely post about Sri Lanka vacation, including all the information! I want to make a travel there in coming month and your post gives lot of insight about the travel destination of the country with many things that needs to be consider. This post is really amazing and useful.

    Reply
  25. Himadri says

    02/05/2022 at 1:37 am

    Hey!
    Just wanna say that this is a great blog, I got to know really some useful tips here! Thank you for sharing! I have planned this year to visit a friend there and he’s going to show me around, so I have the perks of a native tour guide.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      02/05/2022 at 8:41 pm

      Awesome! Thanks for the kind words and have the best time!

      Reply

Stay Connected

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Archives
  • Privacy Policy and Disclaimer

© 2023 · Be My Travel Muse. All Rights Reserved

footer-icon

181 shares