7 unique and affordable Sri Lanka Airbnbs (2024) (2024)

FAQs

How much does 7 days in Sri Lanka cost? ›

Sri Lanka is known to offer incredible holiday experiences that make people come back again for more. Vibrant nature, timeless ruins, cheap to luxurious accommodations, delicious food and welcoming people are only a few of the things you can expect from your visit to Sri Lanka.

The cost of a meal in Sri Lanka will be as low as $2-4 for street food dishes but can be as high as £30 if you want to eat in high-end restaurants. How much money do I need per day in Sri Lanka? Travellers will need to budget an average of around $30 per day in Sri Lanka to cover accommodation and food costs.

Currency Regulations

Visitors to Sri Lanka bringing in excess of US$ 10,000 should declare the amount to the Customs. All unspent monies, which were converted from foreign currencies declared on arrival, can be re-converted to original currency. You are required to produce encashment receipts or payment bills.

The best time to visit Sri Lanka is from December to April. However, climate can play a major part in deciding your visiting time, especially taking into consideration its very active monsoon seasons. There are two distinct monsoons that hit the country at different times of the year and in different regions.

Food expenses in Sri Lanka can be quite affordable, especially if you opt for budget restaurants where a meal can cost as little as $2 to $5 per person. Mid-range restaurants offer a wider variety of cuisines and typically range from $10 to $20 per person.

There is an ongoing risk of terrorist attack in Sri Lanka. Terrorists may target areas popular with foreigners and/or visited by tourists. Always carry travel and identification documents. Allow additional time to clear security checks, especially at airports.

Is Sri Lanka expensive to visit? Sri Lanka is a reasonably affordable destination to visit. It is in the top 25% of countries in the world for its affordability. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

It's generally safe to travel to Sri Lanka, but events in its recent history are worth bearing in mind. For much of 2022, there were frequent, often violent, protests in Sri Lanka following the country's severe economic crisis. Residents faced shortages of essentials such as fuel, medicine and food.

Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan rupee, meaning that, except in tourist establishments, airports, or hotels, you normally won't be able to use major currencies like the US dollar or British pound to pay your way.

What's the best currency to take to Sri Lanka? ›

The best way of getting your Sri Lankan spending money is to bring sterling notes and swap them for rupees at the airport, where the banks and money exchanges are open 24 hours a day.

The rupee is available in coins (1, 2, 5 and 10) as well as in bank notes (20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000). Cash is still the most important form of payment in the country. You will need cash to pay tuktuk drivers, shop keepers and roadside vendors, preferably small banknotes.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Sri Lanka, particularly Visa and Mastercard. This is true for cities, most towns and other touristed areas. It's illegal in Sri Lanka to make card transactions in a foreign currency so be sure to choose Sri Lankan rupee if given the choice.

Taking cash and cards to Sri Lanka

ATMs are readily available in the larger towns and cities and accept most major western cards, but if you are heading to somewhere more remote please make sure that you take enough cash with you. Do bear in mind that most ATMs will charge around 3% for cash withdrawals.

That said, I think a 7 day Sri Lanka itinerary for the south and another 5 days for the Cultural Triangle is a great start. The best time to visit Sri Lanka's west coast, the south, and the Cultural Triangle is December to April so it makes sense to combine those areas in one trip.

Average amount spent in Sri Lanka: $74 a day!