A trip to Sri Lanka costs roughly US$25–45 a day per person on a backpacker budget, US$65–110 mid-range, and US$160 or more for comfort and luxury, not counting flights. The biggest swing factors are where you sleep and whether you hire a car with a driver. As a worked example, a mid-range week for two people with a driver comes to about US$1,600–2,050 in total.
Updated November 2026. Prices below were checked in October and November 2026. The rupee was about Rs. 333 to US$1 on 5 November 2026 (Central Bank of Sri Lanka), and the dollar figures here use that rate. Prices in Sri Lanka move with fuel costs and the exchange rate, so treat them as a guide.
Daily budgets at a glance
| Travel style | Per person, per day | What it gets you |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | Rs. 8,000–15,000 (US$25–45) | Dorm bed or simple guesthouse, local rice and curry, buses and third-class trains, one paid sight every few days |
| Mid-range | Rs. 21,000–36,000 (US$65–110) | Private double room in a good guesthouse or small hotel, café meals, tuk-tuks or a shared driver, most of the big sights |
| Comfort and luxury | Rs. 54,000+ (US$160+) | Boutique hotels and resorts, a private driver every day, restaurant dinners, safaris and guided visits |
These ranges are our estimates, built from the prices in this guide and in line with other recent 2026 traveller budgets. They assume two people sharing a room. Solo travellers pay more per person for rooms and drivers.
Getting in: the ETA
Every visitor needs an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival. Since 25 May 2026, it has been free for 30 days for citizens of 40 countries, including the UK, the US, India, Australia, Canada, China, Germany and Japan. Everyone else pays US$50 online. The free scheme was gazetted to run until 24 November 2026, so if you travel after that, check the official fee before you apply.
Apply only on the official immigration site. Look-alike agent sites add their own fee even when the ETA itself is free. Our Sri Lanka ETA guide has the full country list and step-by-step instructions.
Accommodation costs
Where you sleep is usually the biggest daily cost. Typical 2026 prices per room, per night:
| Type | Typical price per night |
|---|---|
| Hostel dorm bed | US$5–10 (Rs. 1,700–3,300) |
| Simple guesthouse or homestay, private room | From about US$10, up to around Rs. 10,700 (US$32) |
| Boutique hotel or good mid-range hotel | Rs. 21,400–28,500 (US$65–85) |
| Luxury resort or villa | From about US$125, often much more |
A few things push prices up:
- Season. December to March is the busy dry season on the south and west coasts, and the best rooms go early. See the best time to visit Sri Lanka.
- Location. Ella, Galle Fort and the popular south coast beaches cost more than towns most tourists pass through.
- Taxes. Many hotels quote prices before VAT and service charge, so check whether the rate you see is the final price.
Food and drink costs
Eating is cheap if you eat where Sri Lankans eat, and closer to Western prices in tourist cafés.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Rice and curry, kottu or hoppers at a local place | US$1.50–5 (Rs. 500–1,700) |
| Café meal in a tourist area (noodles, burger, sandwich) | Rs. 1,200–4,000 (US$4–12) |
| Dinner at a tourist restaurant | US$10–15 per person |
| Latte in a café | Rs. 700–1,000 (US$2–3) |
| Large Lion or Tiger beer at a beach bar | Rs. 1,000–1,500 (US$3–4.50) |
Some cafés add a 10% service charge to the bill. Lunch is the best-value meal: many local places serve rice and curry at midday only. Not sure what to order? Our guide to Sri Lankan food covers the dishes worth trying.
Transport costs
Public transport in Sri Lanka is very cheap. Private transport is where the money goes.
Trains
Rail closure note (November 2026). After Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025, the hill country line is open only between Nanu Oya, Ella and Badulla. Trains between Colombo, Kandy and Nanu Oya are suspended while the line is repaired, so you'll need a road transfer for that part of the trip. Our Kandy to Ella train guide has the latest status and workarounds.
- Nanu Oya to Ella: around Rs. 220 (under US$1) in unreserved third class.
- Colombo to Galle on the coastal line, which is running normally: around Rs. 240 in third class.
- Reserved seats: roughly Rs. 1,000–2,000 in second class and Rs. 1,500–3,000 in first class, depending on the route. They open 30 days ahead on the official Sri Lanka Railways booking site.
Third-party sites resell reserved tickets at a heavy mark-up, so book on the official site or at the station where you can.
Buses and tuk-tuks
- Local buses cost tens of rupees for a short ride in town. An air-conditioned bus from Negombo to Colombo is about Rs. 310 (US$1).
- Tuk-tuks booked through the PickMe app show the fare before you ride. As an example, the roughly 20 km ride from the airport to Negombo has cost about Rs. 750 (US$2.25).
- Street tuk-tuks without a meter can quote much higher. Agree the price before you get in, or check the app price first so you know what's fair.
A car with a driver
Most first-time visitors on a short trip hire a car with a driver, especially while the Kandy rail line is closed. In 2026, a standard car with a driver costs about US$55–100 a day (Rs. 18,000–33,000), and a van for larger groups about US$115–150 (October 2026 price comparison).
The price usually covers the car, fuel, the driver and the driver's food and room. Cheaper quotes often leave some of that out. Before you agree, check:
- Whether fuel, highway tolls and parking are included.
- Whether there's a daily kilometre limit. Some local firms include 100 km a day and charge extra per kilometre after that.
- Who pays for the driver's room and meals. If it's you, budget roughly Rs. 4,000 (about US$12) a night, or more where hotels charge for driver rooms.
- Whether VAT is added on top.
Tips aren't included. Guides suggest anywhere from US$5–10 per person per day to US$10–20 per day for a good driver.
Entry fees and safaris
Entry fees for foreign visitors are a big part of the bill, especially in the Cultural Triangle. Fees quoted in dollars are paid in rupees at the gate. Current fees for foreign adults (2026 entrance fee list):
| Sight | Foreign adult |
|---|---|
| Sigiriya Rock | US$35 (about Rs. 11,650) |
| Polonnaruwa ancient city | US$30 |
| Anuradhapura sacred area | US$30 |
| Dambulla Cave Temple | Rs. 3,000 (US$9) |
| Temple of the Tooth, Kandy | Rs. 2,000 (US$6) |
| Pidurangala Rock | Rs. 1,000 (US$3) |
| Galle Fort, Nine Arch Bridge | Free |
Nationals of SAARC countries (including India) pay lower rates at some sites, for example US$20 at Sigiriya.
National park safaris have two parts: the park tickets and the jeep.
- Park tickets and charges (entry, service charge, vehicle permit and 18% VAT) come to about US$45 per person at Yala and about US$27 at Udawalawe, for two adults sharing a jeep.
- Jeep hire is extra: about Rs. 7,000–8,000 (US$21–24) for a half day and Rs. 14,000–17,000 (US$42–51) for a full day, per jeep.
Your hotel near the park can usually arrange both. Ask whether the quote includes the tickets or just the jeep.
Other costs to budget for
- SIM card. Tourist SIMs are sold at the airport. One recent example is a Dialog tourist SIM at about US$5 for 20 GB over 30 days, but packages change often, so compare at the counters.
- Tips. A 10% service charge is often already on restaurant bills. Small tips for guides, drivers and hotel staff are appreciated.
- Temple donations and shoe minders. Keep small notes handy.
- Travel insurance. Not a local cost, but worth having, especially if you plan to surf or hike.
Example: a mid-range week for two
Here's how the numbers add up for two people following our 7-day Sri Lanka itinerary with a driver, staying in good mid-range hotels:
| Item | Cost for two |
|---|---|
| Hotels, 6 nights at US$65–85 | US$390–510 |
| Car and driver, 7 days at US$90–100 (all-inclusive) | US$630–700 |
| Food and drink, US$25–40 each per day | US$350–560 |
| Entry fees and Yala park charges, about US$95 each | US$190 |
| Yala jeep, half day | about US$22 |
| Driver tip | US$35–70 |
| Total, excluding flights | about US$1,600–2,050 |
That works out at roughly US$800–1,000 per person for the week. A backpacker doing a similar route by bus and train, staying in dorms and guesthouses, could spend well under half that, but would need more than seven days because public transport is slower.
Ways to spend less
- Travel by train and bus where you can. A third-class train ticket costs less than a coffee.
- Climb Pidurangala instead of Sigiriya if you're on a tight budget. It costs Rs. 1,000 and has a view of Sigiriya itself.
- Use PickMe for tuk-tuks in towns so you pay a fixed, fair fare.
- Eat rice and curry at lunch at local eateries.
- Travel in April, or from May to September on the east coast, when hotels in the quieter regions are easier to find.
- Share a driver. The daily rate is per car, so two to four people split it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sri Lanka expensive to visit?
No, not by international standards. Local food and public transport are very cheap. The costs that add up are entry fees at the big sights, hotels in popular areas and a private driver.
How much money do I need for 2 weeks in Sri Lanka?
Roughly US$350–650 per person on a backpacker budget, or US$900–1,550 per person mid-range, excluding flights. A private driver for the full two weeks is the biggest extra. See our 2-week itinerary for a route.
Should I pay in rupees or dollars?
Mostly rupees. Many sites and hotels quote foreign prices in US dollars but charge the rupee equivalent at the day's rate. Carry rupee cash for tuk-tuks, buses, small eateries and temples.
How much does a driver cost per day in Sri Lanka?
About US$55–100 a day for a standard car in 2026, usually including fuel and the driver's food and room. Check kilometre limits, tolls and VAT before you agree a price.
Is the ETA still free?
It has been free for 30 days for 40 nationalities since 25 May 2026, with the scheme gazetted until 24 November 2026. Everyone else pays US$50. Check the official site before you apply.
