City in Central Province, Sri Lanka
Cost of living in Kandy
How much a month costs in Kandy
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $757–1,150 (Rs250,000–380,000).
Prices in Kandy
Typical 2026 ranges in LKR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | LKR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | Rs80,000–160,000 | $242–484 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | Rs50,000–100,000 | $151–303 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | Rs2,500–5,000 | $7.6–15.1 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | Rs12,000–28,000 | $36–85 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | Rs600–1,200 | $1.8–3.6 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | Rs2,500–5,000 | $7.6–15.1 |
| Cappuccino | Rs600–1,100 | $1.8–3.3 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | Rs900–1,600 | $2.7–4.8 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | Rs30–100 | $0.09–0.30 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | Rs600–1,200 | $1.8–3.6 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | Rs6,000–15,000 | $18–45 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | Rs1,400–2,500 | $4.2–7.6 |
Value for money: 87/100
A value score of 87/100 means Kandy gives more quality of life per dollar than 86% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 59/100. It's the 10th most affordable of 18 places we cover in Sri Lanka.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Sri Lanka
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Trincomalee | $636–1,030 | 89/100 |
| Sigiriya | $666–1,090 | 89/100 |
| Hikkaduwa | $666–1,090 | 89/100 |
| Negombo | $666–1,090 | 88/100 |
| Nuwara Eliya | $696–1,120 | 85/100 |
| Weligama | $696–1,150 | 86/100 |
| Arugam Bay | $696–1,150 | 86/100 |
| Jaffna | $696–1,150 | 87/100 |
| Ella | $757–1,150 | 87/100 |
| Kandy | $757–1,150 | 87/100 |
| Unawatuna | $726–1,180 | 84/100 |
| Galle | $757–1,210 | 83/100 |
| Hiriketiya | $757–1,270 | 81/100 |
| Mirissa | $787–1,270 | 80/100 |
| Ahangama | $787–1,270 | 80/100 |
| Tangalle | $817–1,360 | 75/100 |
| Colombo | $908–1,360 | 74/100 |
| Bentota | $908–1,510 | 68/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Kandy
Similar safety, lower cost, in South Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Hampi | India | $291–467 |
| Darjeeling | India | $332–519 |
| Mysore | India | $363–571 |
| Dharamshala | India | $394–674 |
| Pondicherry | India | $415–674 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Kandy?
About $363–545 on a lean budget, $757–1,150 for a comfortable month and $1,510–2,720 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Kandy?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs Rs80,000–160,000 ($242–484) a month in the center and Rs50,000–100,000 ($151–303) outside it.
How much does food cost in Kandy?
A local meal is Rs600–1,200 ($1.8–3.6); a mid-range restaurant is Rs2,500–5,000 ($7.6–15.1) per person.
Is Sri Lanka expensive?
Prices in Sri Lanka are about 27% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Kandy
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Sri Lanka Railways seat reservations
- Sri Lanka Tourism
- PickMe
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.