Colombo on a budget: what travellers and locals actually pay in Colombo. Ranges in LKR with an approximate euro equivalent. Use them to haggle and to spot when you're being overcharged.
Open YourLocalPrice and check a price →| Item or service | Usual price | ≈ euros |
|---|---|---|
| Water 1.5 L (shop)Local shop | 100–150 LKR | 0.29–0.43 € |
| Kottu rotiSimple restaurant | 600–1,200 LKR | 1.71–3.43 € |
| Item or service | Usual price | ≈ euros |
|---|---|---|
| Short tuk-tuk rideWith meter | 300–600 LKR | 0.86–1.71 € |
| PickMe/Uber short rideIn-app price | 250–500 LKR | 0.71–1.43 € |
| Taxi airport → centreIn-app price | 5,000–7,000 LKR | 14–20 € |
Local prices for the cheapest essentials in Colombo, to travel on a budget:
Yes, Colombo is cheap if you pay local prices: water 1.5 l (shop) 100–150 LKR, short tuk-tuk ride 300–600 LKR. Visitors who don't know the prices often pay 2 to 5 times more.
Excluding accommodation, at local prices you can get by in Colombo on about 5.14–15 € (1,800–5,250 LKR) a day for food, water and transport.
At street stalls and simple restaurants in Colombo: Water 1.5 L (shop) (100–150 LKR), Kottu roti (600–1,200 LKR).
In a shop in Colombo, a 1.5 L bottle usually costs 100–150 LKR.
A short ride in Colombo costs 300–600 LKR (with meter). Ask for the meter or agree the price before getting in.
Check the usual price before paying, always agree the price upfront and use the YourLocalPrice checker: type what they're asking and it tells you instantly if it's fair.
Guide prices, updated by the community.
Open YourLocalPrice and check a price →