The cost of living in Sri Lanka (2023)

FAQs

How much money do you need to live comfortably in Sri Lanka? ›

A family of four estimated monthly costs are 1,595.5$ (491,481.3Rs) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 448.2$ (138,054.5Rs) without rent. Cost of living in Sri Lanka is, on average, 54.5% lower than in United States. Rent in Sri Lanka is, on average, 86.0% lower than in United States.

Pakistan tops the list of the cheapest countries in the world, with a cost of living index of $294. Sri Lanka and Nepal come in second and third on the list, with cost of living indexes of $316 and $385 respectively.

Summary of cost of living in Colombo, Sri Lanka: A family of four estimated monthly costs are 1,710.6$ (524,953.4Rs) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 477.3$ (146,466.8Rs) without rent. Colombo is 64.4% less expensive than New York (without rent).

Sri Lanka ranked 195th out of 197 countries by cost of living and the 99th best country to live in. The average salary after taxes in Sri Lanka is $154, which is enough to cover living expenses for 0.4 months. Discover best places to live in Sri Lanka.

The Dream Home Visa Program is a retirement program that permits foreigners to retiree and reside in Sri Lanka.

Therefore, $100 USD would be equivalent to around 36,500 LKR.

Along with the lack of country-wide wi-fi, there is a general lack of infrastructure. This isn't a big deal if you're just visiting, but could be extremely annoying if you plan on living in Sri Lanka long term. Power outages are common. Other than the Colombo-Galle Highway, roads are in poor condition.

Typical monthly expenses ranging from rent, utilities to food and transportation. $432 a month or 5000 $184 a year. Assuming an average annual inflation rate of 3%. or return on balance of 8%. and an average life expectancy 25 years after, in order to retire in Sri Lanka, you need at least $77,700 and to not run out.

Exercise a high degree of caution

Pay close attention to your personal security and the current health situation. Monitor the media for new and existing risks. Exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka due to the threat of public demonstrations, shortages of some imported medicines and the risk of terrorism.

Forgot to mention the price for bottled water. 0.5 l approx. LKR 30, 1 l approx. LKR 50.

Can a foreigner live in Sri Lanka? ›

The cost of living in Sri Lanka is relatively low, so many expats enjoy a comfortable and luxurious lifestyle here. However, it is not so easy to immigrate to the country for permanent residence. Foreigners are attracted by the fact that there are very affordable prices for buying real estate.

Sri Lanka Annual Household Income per Capita reached 1,422.182 USD in Jun 2019, compared with the previous value of 1,385.427 USD in Jun 2016. Sri Lanka Annual Household Income per Capita data is updated yearly, available from Jun 1981 to Jun 2019, with an averaged value of 577.877 USD.

Sri Lanka ranks among the top 10, Friendliest countries in the world: 2022 Readers' Choice Awards by Condé Nast traveler. From children to the elderly, the people of Sri Lanka are known for their love of visitors, and genuine desire to help.

In a tourist restaurant (Lankan or other food) or Serendib itself, count on 1100-1400 including a few local beers. Wine in Lanka is imported so outrageously more expensive than the rest. Lunches are less than dinner of course due to quantity and ingredients.

Conditions of the Sri Lanka ETA for US citizens

US nationals with the Tourist ETA can enter Sri Lanka twice, whereas Americans traveling on business are allowed multiple entries. Both permits allow for a maximum stay of a month (30 days) for each visit.

This is required for the purchase of land. Get the appropriate land permits: Foreigners are prohibited in Sri Lanka from holding certain types of land, such as agricultural property. As a result, it is critical to check that the land being purchased is eligible for foreign ownership.

1 USD = 308.034007 LKR Jul 02, 2023 03:54 UTC

The currency converter below is easy to use and the currency rates are updated frequently.

US dollars aren't accepted in Sri Lanka, but you can sometimes pay with them at the airport, hotels, resorts, or shops and restaurants in major tourist areas.

How much US dollar can carry to Sri Lanka? ›

Foreign currencies more than US$ 15000 or equivalent. If you intend to take back US$ 5000 or more, please declare the entire amount Srilankan ruppees not more than 20000 only for Srilankan citizens.

A UN report in September 2022 highlighted that impunity of Sri Lankan officials for human rights violations and economic crimes in the country are reasons of its economic crisis. Sri Lanka ranks 102 in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

Sri Lanka is well known for its rich Buddhist culture as well as other religions. Being a religious country, Sri Lanka has many places with religious and historic significance, which attract tourists from all over the world.

The country ran short of fuel for essential services such as buses, trains and medical vehicles because it did not have enough reserves of foreign currency to import any more. The fuel shortage caused petrol and diesel prices to rise dramatically.

Ecuador. If you're looking for a country where you can retire outside the US comfortably with $800 per month and experience one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world, then Ecuador might be for you. The go-to city for US retirees in Ecuador is Cuenca, which also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Chart and table of Sri Lanka life expectancy from 1950 to 2023. United Nations projections are also included through the year 2100. The current life expectancy for Sri Lanka in 2023 is 77.56 years, a 0.22% increase from 2022.

While meal prices in Sri Lanka can vary, the average cost of food in Sri Lanka is LKR1,871 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Sri Lanka should cost around LKR748 per person.

Courses or boosters usually advised: Tetanus. Other vaccines to consider: Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Rabies; Typhoid. Selectively advised vaccines - only for those individuals at highest risk: Japanese Encephalitis.

In his statement the Minister confirmed that Kenya, Oman, Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Egypt will be removed from the red list at 4am on Wednesday 22 September.

Sri Lankans tend to be noticeably hospitable and welcoming when having guests visit their homes. It is common practice to remove one's shoes before entering someone's home.

Can you drink Sri Lanka tap water? ›

Water and food

Avoid drinking tap water in Sri Lanka. Although it's generally chlorinated and safe to drink, the unfamiliar micro-organisms it contains (compared with what you're used to at home) can easily precipitate a stomach upset.

Most people in Sri Lanka drink their tea with milk and sugar. Faluda is another popular drink served cold and mixed with syrup, ice cream, jelly pieces and basil seeds. Fruit juices are a favourite way to beat the heat and Arrach is considered the unofficial distilled national drink by many.

Food prices rise sharply in Sri Lanka, cup of tea costs Rs 100; two men collapse and die waiting in queue for petrol.

Government of Sri Lanka allows foreign national to arrange marriage ceremony and registration in Sri Lanka. In this regard please ensure that applicant should have the documents listed below. The legal requirements for Registration of Marriages of Foreign Nationals in Sri Lanka are very straightforward.

Sri Lanka is a beautiful place to explore, whether in a group or solo. There are a lot of beautiful places and a rich culture to experience, making it an excellent travel destination. However, there have been incidents where some female travelers had a bad experience, whether traveling solo or in a group.

In 2016, there were five thousand millionaires in Sri Lanka. This figure was estimated to reach 13 thousand by 2026. In comparison, the country had 80 ultra high net worth individuals (UHNWI) and 10 centa-millionaires in that year.

Sri Lanka achieved 'Upper Middle Income Country' (UMIC) status in July 2019, as the country's Gross National Income (GNI) increased from USD 3,840 per capita in 2018 to USD 4,060 per capita in 2019. World Bank's (WB) new threshold for UMICs is USD 3,996 – USD 12,375 GNI per capita.

The upper middle class in Sri Lanka consists of educated professionals.

With an average temperature of around 27 - 28°C, Sri Lanka is one of the hottest countries in the world. Sri Lanka's commercial capital, Colombo, experiences average temperatures of 28 - 29°C and, like much of the rest of the country, has little monthly variation in temperature.

Is Sri Lanka expensive for tourists? ›

Generally speaking, you can travel around Sri Lanka on a budget of $25-$50 per day (per person). With a budget of $25 a day, you'll stay in budget hotels, travel with public transport, make the most of the (many) free activities Sri Lanka has to offer, and eat (delicious) local food.

Weather: During the months of December to April, most of the island country experiences a beautiful hot and dry climate. With ample sunshine, clear blue skies and lush green landscapes, this period is considered to the best climate to visit Sri Lanka in.

U.S.-Sri Lanka relations are based on shared democratic values and a rules-based regional and international order. Current U.S policy in Sri Lanka aims to support Sri Lanka's democratic institutions, encourage its economic development, counter terrorism, and promote a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

Tap Water. Please note the tap water in Sri Lanka is not drinking water. It will do you no harm for brushing your teeth, but please only drink bottled water.

In 2019 the population was estimated as being almost 22 million people. According to the data present on IQAir, Sri Lanka presented with a “Moderate” figure for aircleanliness in 2019, with a US AQI figure of 78.

Rice and curry are mainly the staple diet of Sri Lanka, where the curry could be made up of a variety of things like meat, seafood, lentils, vegetables, sambols, mallums, to achcharus.

But apart from the historical thrill that you will experience, Galle will also let you taste Sri Lanka's most expensive dish. It's called Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence. Woah, that's quite a name! But before we go on to decode it, let us understand what this dish is all about.

A few things about Sri Lankan food can be said with certainty: Sri Lankans thoroughly love spices, they love food that explodes with flavor, and many enjoy deep fried, and very tasty, snacks. Whatever you choose to eat in Sri Lanka, your mouth is going to rejoice with happiness.

$432 a month or 5000 $184 a year. Assuming an average annual inflation rate of 3%. or return on balance of 8%. and an average life expectancy 25 years after, in order to retire in Sri Lanka, you need at least $77,700 and to not run out.

Sri Lanka achieved 'Upper Middle Income Country' (UMIC) status in July 2019, as the country's Gross National Income (GNI) increased from USD 3,840 per capita in 2018 to USD 4,060 per capita in 2019. World Bank's (WB) new threshold for UMICs is USD 3,996 – USD 12,375 GNI per capita.

What is the average income in Sri Lanka? ›

In 2019 with an income per capita of 13,620 PPP Dollars or 3,852 (2019) nominal US dollars, Sri Lanka was re-classified as a lower middle income nation with the population around 22 million (2021) by the World Bank from a previous upper middle income status.

Conditions of the Sri Lanka ETA for US citizens

US nationals with the Tourist ETA can enter Sri Lanka twice, whereas Americans traveling on business are allowed multiple entries. Both permits allow for a maximum stay of a month (30 days) for each visit.

3. How safe is Sri Lanka for expats? Sri Lanka is generally a safe country for expats. However, it's important to exercise common-sense precautions, such as avoiding poorly lit areas at night, securing your belongings, and staying informed about local security updates.

The literature defining the middle class by using an absolute approach, defines it as those earning some benchmark income range. For example, Bhalla (2021) defines middle class to be those earning more than US$ 3,658 (in 2020 prices) a year or US$ 10 a day in purchasing power parity terms.

The top 1 percent of Sri Lankans, own 31 percent of total personal wealth in the country, whereas the bottom 50 percent own less than 4 percent of total wealth, so that gives you a snapshot of how unequal the country is.

What is minimum wage in Sri Lanka? Minimum Wages in Sri Lanka remained unchanged at 12500 LKR/Month (40.653 USD/Month) in 2022. The maximum rate of minimum wage for employees was 10000 LKR/Month and minimum was 10000 LKR/Month.

We recommend tipping 10 per cent in cash to servers in restaurants, bars and cafes, and the same for drivers. When it comes to hotel staff, luggage porters are generally tipped USD 0.50 per bag, while we suggest leaving anywhere up to USD 1 per day for cleaners.

76,414 and the median household income per month was Rs. 53,333 in 2019. The real mean household income per month has been reported as Rs. 57,292 based on 2012/13 (adjusted for the inflation of prices using the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI)) showing an increase of approximately 7.8 percent from 2016 to 2019.

The gross salary range for people working in Sri Lanka is typically from 26,547 LKR (minimum salary) to 123,704 LKR (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher). This is the total monthly salary including bonuses.

The main economic sectors of the country are tourism, tea export, apparel, textile, rice production and other agricultural products.

Is Sri Lanka good for living? ›

The largest cities in Sri Lanka are Colombo, Kandy, and Jaffna. Expats love living in Sri Lanka for its beautiful beaches, friendly people, and low cost of living.