Known as the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”, Sri Lanka offers an unforgettable experience for travellers. But with tourism booming, exploring this paradise on a tight budget isn’t always straightforward. During our three-week trip in January 2026 (peak season), we set out to spend no more than £30 per person per day, all in, whilst looking to experience all on offer. In this guide, Sri Lanka on a budget: a guide for travellers, we share what we did and tips to help you achieve this too.
Our route across Sri Lanka
During our three weeks in Sri Lanka we stayed in the following destinations:
- Negombo
- Sigiriya
- Ella
- Hiriketiya
- Goyambokka
- Weligama
- Pitiwella / day tripping to Galle
- Narigama / day tripping to Hikkaduwa
Between all locations (excluding Ella to Hiriketiya) we took a public bus to keep costs minimal.
Budget friendly accommodation across Sri Lanka
Our favourite stays tended not to be hostels, which were infact considerably more expensive, but rather quiter, slightly off-the-beaten-track places. In no particular order, below I will share our top five best budget friendly stays. Bear in mind, as a couple, we chose a double room each time and used mobile pricing on booking.com to get cheaper rates.
- Sigiri Paradise Tree House, Sigiriya:
A family-run stay that gives visitors a taste of rural life along with an absolutely delicious breakfast. A one night stay here costed us 4,833 LKR (£11). You could spend a bit more to stay in a treehouse.
- Onilwe Resort, Weligama:
Set away from the lively streets of Weligama and a 20 minute walk from Weligama Beach. Onilwe Resort’s slight remoteness offers high value. Think large rooms, a comfortable bed, breakfast included and a per night stay of 3,800 LKR (£9). An absolute bargain.
- Reggae Bar & Restaurant, Pitiwella:
Situated on a peaceful beach front, Reggae Bar & Restaurant has a revered food menu, happy hour cocktails and a chilled-out vibe. Galle is just a 15 minute bus journey away. A one night stay here costed us 6,025 LKR (£14).
- The Citadel Guesthouse, Narigama:
In the heart of Narigama lies The Citadel Guesthouse. This cosy accommodation has a fantastic location, and very affordable rates. A one night stay here costed us 3,390 LKR (£8).
- Verdant Hill Villa, Goyambokka:
This beauty boasts a beautiful room, a nicely sized swimming pool, a 5-10 minute walk from Silent Beach and fantastic staff. A one night stay here costed us 7,980 LKR (£19). We stayed for two nights and wished we could have stayed for longer.
Budget friendly restaurants across Sri Lanka
As a budget traveller, finding restaurants that are affordable can be a minefield. In no particular order, below I will share our top five best budget friendly restaurants.
- Coconut Grove, Sigiriya:
A family-run restaurant set under a towering cocount grove. Tables are set under palm leaf huts. The kottu is delicious.
- Matey Hut, Ella:
Believe the hype if you hear it. Matey Hut has a varied menu and an even quicker service. You will find patrons queueing up the road for this one. Some may say it should charge far more, others say it’s a fantastic business strategy.
- Lemon Grass Cafe, Hiriketiya:
Set just off the main strip, Lemon Grass Cafe offers five home-made curries for 1,000 LKR. This is enough to fill up two people. We heard some people had to queue for a while, and were disappointed by their food choice. Our experience, totally the opposite.
- Blue Horizon Seafood Restaurant, Hiriketiya:
Looking for seafood? Look no further than Blue Horizon Seafood Restaurant. The devilled fish was heavenly and considerably cheaper than other eateries.
- Sunny’s Beach Restaurant, Pitiwella:
The roadside entry to Sunny’s is not so obvious, but this is because it’s a beachfront restaurant. The menu is tasty and the price even tastier.
How to take public buses in Sri Lanka
Most travellers will opt to navigate the country by private or shared taxi / bus. Both are common, convenient and comfortable, though are expensive for those watching the purse strings. If you are happy to travel like a local, I am here to tell you that public buses are affordable and easy, and if time is on your side, a totally reasonable alternative.
Taking a public bus is easy. First locate the blue bus stop sign (or ask a local where to stand), then flag the bus down as it approaches. Once onboard you’ll pay for your journey via the ticket conductor who will print your ticket out. Buses are regular, and speedy, though can be pretty busy. As a tourist the ticket conductor will most likely tell you when to get off too, which helps a lot.
If you are travelling with larger luggage, you can place it at the front of the bus by the driver, else there are small luggage racks above head. The bonus to taking a public bus as opposed to a shared private bus is there are no sneaky extra charges for luggage.
Public transport route: Sigiriya to Ella
This was by far our longest and most challenging journey by public bus. While the cost savings were significant, in hindsight we may have chosen a shared taxi if time had been limited. We also suspect a faster route was possible had we taken better local advice.
Our journey from Sigiriya to Ella cost a total of 3,730 LKR for two people, required four separate public buses, and took approximately nine hours door to door. This was in comparison to paying 8,000 LKR per person for a shared taxi (a quote we spotted when we were in Ella)! Learning this made us feel far better about the tiring route we chose.
Our route was:
- Sigiriya to Kandy (1,900 LKR for two people)
- Kandy to Welimada (900 LKR for two people) – this bus goes through Nuwara Eliya
- Welimada to Badulla (330 LKR for two people)
- Badulla to Ella (600 LKR for two people)
Apparently, a bus from Sigiriya directly to Badulla, then onto Ella existed. So we felt a bit miffed that we were told with confidence that we could take a direct public bus from Kandy to Ella, which, at the time we were there, didn’t seem to be the case.
Public transport route: Hiriketiya to Goyambokka (Tangalle)
We bucked the trend by leaving the party vibes of Hiriketiya to go eastward. Hearing that Goyambokka’s Silent Beachwas a ‘must visit’ spot, we booked two nights for some R&R. Totally worth the trip.
We walked to Dodampahala Junction, Hiriketiya and hailed down the bus headed toward Tangalle. We told the ticket conductor we wanted to go to Silent Beach, Goyambokka. He charged us 200 LKR total for two people and the journey took about 40 minutes.
Public transport route: Goyambokka to Weligama
Next we headed to Weligama, a surfer’s paradise. We flagged down the public bus that headed towards Galle. It took about 1.5 hours to get to Weligama bus stand and costed us 400 LKR total for two people. An alternative bus would go to Matara, where you would need to then catch another bus onwards to Weligama. We opted for efficiency.
Public transport route: Weligama to Pitiwella (near Galle)
We wanted to be near to Galle, but also wanted peace. Staying in Pitiwella helped us achieve the best of both. To get to Pitiwella from Weligama, we took the Colombo-bound bus. It costed us 1,000 LKR total for two people and took about one hour. The cost seemed quite inflated versus the other public buses we took, so we wondered if we were charged for our luggage on this leg.
To get from Pitiwella to Galle, the journey took about 15 minutes and costed 150 LKR total for two people.
Public transport route: Pitiwella to Narigama (near Hikkaduwa)
We chose to stay in Narigama, about a 15-20 minute walk from Hikkaduwa. This offered slightly lower pricing both on food and accomodation. A bus from Pitiwella to Narigama costed 180 LKR for two people and took about 30 minutes.
Public transport route: Narigama (near Hikkaduwa) to Colombo
Our final leg took us from Narigama to Colombo. The bus costed 980 LKR for two people and took about 3.5 hours.
Did we achieve our £30pp per day target?
We netted out on a £36 per person per day spend. Inclusive of accommodation, food, transport (including our flight to the country) and activities. Largely our overspends on a daily level came down to alcohol. Overall, if you keep drinking to a minimum, £30 per day as a target is totally achievable.
