Colombo Prices & Travel Costs

Last Updated: Jan 2024

Colombo is Sri Lanka’s capital and home to its largest international airport, but that doesn’t mean you should plan on spending any real time here. There are no checklist attractions and the city is short on charm as well so it’s better to spend most of your Sri Lanka time elsewhere. With that in mind, the prices listed here for food and drinks and transportation are valid for the whole country.

Colombo City Featured Image

Travel Costs to Colombo

Population 750,000
Area 5,600.000
Timezone UTC+5.5
Currency Sri Lankan rupee
Airports Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)
BACKPACKER INDEX: US$34.2
1 USD = 305.4200 LKR
134 World cities ranked cheapest to most expensive: Backpacker Index for 2024

Accommodation Costs in Colombo

Colombo Hotel Seasons

Colombo Hotel Prices

Rating Price(USD)
starstarstarstarstar8.19 - 15.39
starstarstarstarstar16.20 - 30.04
starstarstarstarstar17.48 - 33.64
starstarstarstarstar23.45 - 76.30
starstarstarstarstar68.63 - 81.99

Colombo Hostels Prices

Type Price(USD)
Hostel Bed3.93 - 9.80

Colombo Attractions Prices

Location Description Type Price(USD)
Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist TempleThis temple also displays artifacts and is the most popular sight in central Colombo.
adults (foreigners)
0.00

Colombo Food and Drink Prices

Food Type Description Price(USD)
Budget breakfastMost hotels include a simple breakfast of fruit, coffee or tea plus eggs and toast. If not it will be available at an extra charge.2.19 - 4.91
Budget lunchMost Sri Lankans eat rice & curry for breakfast and lunch every day so it's very cheap in restaurants. 2.29 - 4.91
Budget dinnerSit-down dinners in Sri Lanka can be very cheap, or quite expensive at the high-end hotels. There aren't many independent restaurants yet.4.91 - 9.82
Beer (.7 liter bottle)Lion Beer is quite good and cheap in most places, but alcohol is hard to find in some parts of Sri Lanka.2.62 - 3.60

Colombo Transport Prices

Type Price(USD)
Taxi from airport to city center7.37 - 10.48
Bus from airport to city center0.39
3km tuk-tuk ride in Colombo0.49 - 0.60
Uber ride from airport to city center5.89
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When to visit Colombo

Temperature and rainfall

Month High F Low F Precip (inches)
January88722.3
February88732.9
March89755.0
April89769.7
May887815.4
June87787.3
July86774.8
August86774.7
September86779.7
October867514.4
November867416.3
December87736.9

Colombo Weather advice

Sunrise and sunset

21 Mar6:14am6:21pm
21 Jun5:57am6:28pm
21 Sep6:00am6:07pm
21 Dec6:17am6:00pm

Where to go before and after