Kandy is one of the most affordable cities in Sri Lanka for a Western traveller. A baseline of €55 per person per day covers a double room in a well-located 3-star hotel, three meals in decent restaurants, tuk-tuk transport and two paid site entries.
Accommodation covers every band. A family guesthouse in the hills above the lake costs £22-35/night with local breakfast. A 3-star hotel with lake view (Senani Hotel, Kandy City Hotel) runs £50-90/night. A good 4-star (Earl's Regency, Mahaweli Reach, OZO Kandy) costs £90-160/night. Standout boutique hotels (Theva Residency, Helga's Folly — fascinating kitsch institution) start at £130-220/night. During Esala Perahera, multiply these prices by 3 to 4.
Dining is very affordable. A meal in a Sinhalese canteen (rice and curry, kottu roti, hoppers) costs £1.50-3.50 per person. Lunch in a decent tourist restaurant (Kandy Muslim Hotel, Devon Restaurant) runs £4-7. Dinner in a good hotel restaurant costs £13-22/person. Sinhalese cuisine buffets at Mahaweli Reach (Thursday-Saturday evenings) are £27/person and make an excellent introduction to local food.
Entry fees remain modest. Temple of the Tooth: 1,500 LKR (£4). Peradeniya Botanical Garden: 1,500 LKR (£4). Kandyan dance show: 1,500 LKR (£4). Audience Hall museum: 500 LKR (£1.30). Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage: 3,000 LKR (£8).
Transport is also cheap. Tuk-tuk in town: 200-500 LKR (£0.50-1.30) for central rides, systematic haggling or use of the PickMe app. Kandy-Ella train: 1,500 LKR in 1st class observation (£4) — book 30 days ahead via 12go.asia. Kandy-Nuwara Eliya train: 2 hours, 800 LKR in 1st class (£2).
Read also
- Sri Lanka — Full country guide: entry rules, budget, when to visit, itineraries.
- Sigiriya, the Lion Rock — UNESCO fifth-century rock fortress, 2h30 north.
- Nuwara Eliya, Little England — Pedro and Mackwoods tea plantations, 2h30 south via the mythical train.
- Ella, the backpacker village — Mythical Kandy-Ella train, one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world.