Colombo is one of the cheapest capitals in Asia for a Western traveller, but still pricier than Sri Lanka's interior towns. A baseline of €60 per person per day covers a double room in a 4-star hotel, two meals in decent restaurants, Uber transport and one or two paid entries.
Accommodation covers every band. A bed in a family guesthouse or decent hostel costs £17-30 per night. A 4-star chain hotel (Cinnamon Grand, Cinnamon Lakeside, Hilton) runs £70-130/night depending on season. Seafront palaces (Galle Face Hotel, Shangri-La Colombo, Mandarin Oriental) start at £220-350/night. The value on 4-5 star hospitality is among the best in Asia.
Dining offers a vast range. A street food meal (kottu roti, hoppers, rice and curry) costs £1.50-3 at Galle Face Green or Pettah. Lunch in a good local restaurant (Upali's, Greenlands) runs £5-9 per person. Dinner at a good address (Nuga Gama, The Mango Tree) costs £22-35/person with drinks. Ministry of Crab is in a category of its own: £55-90/person for giant crab — booking two weeks ahead essential.
Local transport is very cheap. Uber/PickMe: £1-3 for a city ride, £7-10 to the airport. Tuk-tuks: £0.50-2 per ride with haggling. Fort-Mount Lavinia suburban train: £0.15 a ticket. A return airport private taxi runs £22-28.
Entry fees are modest: National Museum £5, Gangaramaya Temple £1.50, Geoffrey Bawa House £7. Most major sights are free (Galle Face Green, Pettah, Fort).
Read also
- Sri Lanka — Full country guide: entry rules, budget, when to visit, itineraries.
- Sigiriya, the Lion Rock — Fifth-century UNESCO rock fortress, four hours from Colombo by road.
- Kandy, last royal capital — Temple of the Tooth and sacred lake at the heart of the mountains.
- Galle, the Dutch Fort — UNESCO walled town and southern capital, two hours by train from Colombo.