We welcome you to our website, SriLankaPrices.com. Here, we give you more accurate insights into the cost of living in Sri Lanka. The website and figures are updated daily by individuals who really live in Sri Lanka.
On a global context Sri Lanka stands out as one of the cheapest countries to live in with a cost of living of $340 (SLR 110, 517) without including rent. While this is cheap compared to the majority of the countries in the world, for the locals with an average salary of $200 (SLR 64,000) it is quite a stretch.
While Sri Lanka has strived to eradicate poverty within the country, which is an individual living under $1.90 per day according to the World Bank measurements, the inequality in income among the citizens of Sri Lanka varies in great lengths. Geographical differences, access to urbanized areas, and working opportunities are mostly centered around Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. A family of 4 is estimated to live within $1590 currently in 2024. Around 75% of the population in Colombo is well above this followed by the Gampaha, and Kaluthara districts while Kilinochchi, Puttalam, and other rural districts fall way below the line.
Last Update - 29 Jan 2024
| A meal at a mid-range restuarant (2 prsons) | 3000 LKR | ||
| A meal at an expensive restuarant (2 prsons) | 6000 LKR | ||
| A Bread | 300 LKR | ||
| A Pizza | 3000 LKR |
| Milk 1Ltr | 500 LKR | ||
| Minarel Water 1Ltr | 160 LKR | ||
| Minarel Water 5Ltr | 440 LKR | ||
| A Cofee in a restuarant | 400 LKR - 1000 LKR | ||
| A Tea in a restuarant | 400 LKR | ||
| A Fruit Juice in a restuarant | 600LKR - 1000 LKR | ||
| Coke 400ML | 170 LKR | ||
| Pepsi 500ML | 150 LKR | ||
| Redbull 250ML | 900 LKR | ||
| White Wine Bottle | 5000 LKR - 10 000 LKR | ||
| Red Wine Bottle | 5000 LKR - 20 000 LKR | ||
| Soda 1Ltr | 160 LKR | ||
| Local Beer 500ML | 400 LKR | ||
| Imported Beer 325ML (Corona) | 900 LKR | ||
| Local Whiskey 750ML | 2800 LKR - 5000 LKR | ||
| Imported Whiskey 750ML | Starting From 10 000LKR | ||
| Local Vodka 750ML (Eristoff) | 4700 LKR | ||
| Imported Vodka 750ML | Starting From 10 000LKR |
| Milk 1Ltr | 530 LKR | ||
| Rice 1KG | 260 LKR | ||
| Potato 1KG | 700 LKR | ||
| Sugar 1KG | 450 LKR | ||
| Salt 1KG | 235 LKR | ||
| Coconut Oil 1Ltr | 1020 LKR | ||
| Biscuit Pack 100G | 150 LKR | ||
| Tuna fish | 2400 LKR | ||
| Tomato Ketchup 400g | 520 LKR | ||
| Jam 500g | 520 LKR | ||
| Olive oil 1Ltr | 5000 LKR - 11 000 LKR | ||
| Cigarettes Pack | 2500 LKR |
| Minimum Bus Fare | 60 LKR | ||
| Minimum TukTuk Fare | 200 LKR | ||
| Petrol 1Ltr | 360 LKR | ||
| Scooter Rent (per day) | 2400 LKR - 4000 LKR |
| Airport to Colombo City Area | 4500 LKR | ||
| Airport to Negambo | 1300 LKR | ||
| Airport to Galle/Unwatuna | 18 000 LKR | ||
| Airport to Hikkaduwa | 17 500 LKR | ||
| Airport to Mirissa | 21 000 LKR | ||
| Airport to Ella | 27 500 LKR | ||
| Airport to Sigiriya | 19 000 LKR | ||
| Airport to Kandy | 13 500 LKR | ||
| Sigiriya to Ella | 26 000LKR | ||
| Ella to Mirissa | 26 000 LKR |
The pandemic took a big toll on the Sri Lankan economy since it’s powerhouse industry Tourism went down and couldn’t recover for 2 years or so. While the economy is still on its path to recovery the fee Sri Lankans have to pay has also gone high in all aspects. Food, Rent, Utilities, and Transportation costs have gone uphill. Here is a breakdown of the average costs of all these different essentials pre and post-pandemic. Sri Lankans faced major crises over the past years and one of the major ones was the Fuel issue. Fuel prices have shot up fast and even now the transportation cost is around 3 times higher than it used to be. Sri Lanka’s low-cost bus transportation, the one-way fare for the minimum distance used to be Rs. 12 ($0.037) and now it’s Rs.40 ($0.12). For one family unit living under one roof, the average utility prices such as water or electricity have gone up from Rs. 4000 ($12) to Rs. 12000 ($36). Groceries and amenities on average have gone up by 3 or 4 times the price it was before the pandemic.
Sri Lanka has a free education system and a free health system available and accessible to every Sri Lankan. This gives relief on behalf of the average citizen to these government facilities. Nonetheless, the cost of health and education in private institutions and hospitals is very pricey and cannot be accessed by the average Sri Lankan. The inflation has made a huge impact on Sri Lankans and their daily struggle to cover their cost of living. Imported goods have grown nearly impossible to afford for those who earn an average wage of $200 per month. The Sri Lankan government has introduced taxes and a more rigid taxation system from 2023 which affects individuals who earn more than the average income directly. After all even though in a global context Sri Lanka has a low living cost compared to the United States. It is almost unbearable to the average Sri Lankan. It has limited their chances to access a comfortable lifestyle as they did 5 years back.
