Price comparison
The same 29 everyday buys in Thailand and Sri Lanka, from a coffee to an airport taxi: what locals pay, what tourist spots charge, and where your money goes further.
The numbers that decide a trip, in one table. Money in USD, the local price underneath.
What locals pay in Thailand and Sri Lanka, item by item. Shown in USD at one daily rate so the two sides compare, with the local price underneath. Differences under 3% count as about the same.
17 of the 29 items cost less in Sri Lanka.
Bottled, convenience store
Thailand: ≈ $0.21 – $0.45 ฿7 – ฿15 Sri Lanka: ≈ $0.15 – $0.30 Rs 50–100 Cafe or street vendor
Thailand: ≈ $1.20 – $2.40 ฿40 – ฿80 Sri Lanka: ≈ $1.20 – $2.60 Rs 400–850 Draft, at bar or restaurant
Thailand: ≈ $1.80 – $3.60 ฿60 – ฿120 Sri Lanka: ≈ $1.80 – $3.60 Rs 600–1,200 Tourist area, main course
Thailand: ≈ $4.50 – $12 ฿150 – ฿400 Sri Lanka: ≈ $8 – $18 Rs 2,500–6,000 Local market or stand
Thailand: ≈ $1.20 – $2.40 ฿40 – ฿80 Sri Lanka: ≈ $0.91 – $2 Rs 300–650 Mixed drink, bar
Thailand: ≈ $4.50 – $8.90 ฿150 – ฿300 Sri Lanka: ≈ $4.50 – $9.10 Rs 1,500–3,000 House wine, restaurant
Thailand: ≈ $18 – $30 ฿600 – ฿1,000 Sri Lanka: ≈ $18 – $36 Rs 6,000–12,000 Cafe or street stall
Thailand: ≈ $1.20 – $2.10 ฿40 – ฿70 Sri Lanka: ≈ $0.76 – $1.80 Rs 250–600 Standard route
Thailand: ≈ $9 – $15 ฿300 – ฿500 Sri Lanka: ≈ $15 – $27 Rs 5,000–9,000 Metered or typical fare
Thailand: ≈ $1 – $1.30 ฿35 – ฿45 Sri Lanka: ≈ $0.21 – $0.39 Rs 70–130 Single ride
Thailand: ≈ $0.51 – $1.90 ฿17 – ฿65 Sri Lanka: ≈ $0.09 – $0.45 Rs 30–150 Grab / Bolt / Uber
Thailand: ≈ $1.50 – $6 ฿50 – ฿200 Sri Lanka: ≈ $0.61 – $6.10 Rs 200–2,000 Tourist shop
Thailand: ≈ $0.75 – $2.40 ฿25 – ฿80 Sri Lanka: ≈ $0.61 – $1.50 Rs 200–500 Tourist shop
Thailand: ≈ $3 – $6 ฿100 – ฿200 Sri Lanka: ≈ $4.50 – $7.60 Rs 1,500–2,500 Ceramics, textiles, etc.
Thailand: ≈ $6 – $15 ฿200 – ฿500 Sri Lanka: ≈ $1.50 – $11 Rs 500–3,500 Data package
Thailand: ≈ $9 – $21 ฿299 – ฿699 Sri Lanka: ≈ $1.50 – $4.50 Rs 500–1,500 Pharmacy or shop
Thailand: ≈ $4.50 – $8.90 ฿150 – ฿300 Sri Lanka: ≈ $4.50 – $15 Rs 1,500–5,000 Supermarket
Thailand: ≈ $0.30 – $0.60 ฿10 – ฿20 Sri Lanka: ≈ $0.24 – $0.45 Rs 80–150 Pack of 20
Thailand: ≈ $3 – $4.20 ฿100 – ฿140 Sri Lanka: ≈ $5.40 – $6.10 Rs 1,800–2,000 Pack of 20 tablets
Thailand: ≈ $0.75 – $1.50 ฿25 – ฿50 Sri Lanka: ≈ $0.18 – $0.30 Rs 60–100 Spray or lotion
Thailand: ≈ $1 – $4.80 ฿35 – ฿160 Sri Lanka: ≈ $0.91 – $2.40 Rs 300–800 Local barbershop
Thailand: ≈ $3 – $6 ฿100 – ฿200 Sri Lanka: ≈ $4.50 – $11 Rs 1,500–3,500 Laundry service
Thailand: ≈ $1.20 – $3 ฿40 – ฿100 Sri Lanka: ≈ $0.45 – $1.50 Rs 150–500 Standard full-body massage
Thailand: ≈ $6 – $12 ฿200 – ฿400 Sri Lanka: ≈ $9 – $33 Rs 3,000–11,000 Basic cut, salon
Thailand: ≈ $6 – $12 ฿200 – ฿400 Sri Lanka: ≈ $4.50 – $12 Rs 1,500–4,000 Entrance ticket
Thailand: ≈ $3 – $8.90 ฿100 – ฿300 Sri Lanka: ≈ $4.50 – $12 Rs 1,500–4,000 Organized excursion
Thailand: ≈ $36 – $75 ฿1,200 – ฿2,500 Sri Lanka: ≈ $17 – $37 Rs 5,600–12,200 Organized excursion 6-8h
Thailand: ≈ $39 – $89 ฿1,300 – ฿3,000 Sri Lanka: ≈ $24 – $54 Rs 8,000–18,000 Local cuisine cooking class
Thailand: ≈ $27 – $48 ฿900 – ฿1,600 Sri Lanka: ≈ $18 – $32 Rs 6,000–10,500 Tourist prices are about 3.0× the fair price in Thailand and 2.9× in Sri Lanka, close to even.
Thailand 15th highest of 60
Sri Lanka 16th highest of 60
What is expected in each country, so you neither stiff anyone nor overpay.
Thailand Round up the bill or leave 20-50 THB in restaurants. Massage therapists expect 50-100 THB tip.
Sri Lanka Tip 10% in restaurants if no service charge is added. Drivers and guides expect 500-1000 LKR per day; hotel porters appreciate 200-500 LKR per bag.
Yes. In Sri Lanka you pay about 21% less than in Thailand at fair prices. TruePrice Index: Thailand 70, Sri Lanka 55 (100 is the median of the 60 countries I track). 17 of the 29 items cost less in Sri Lanka. One catch: a tourist day at fair prices (two meals, a coffee, water, a beer, two transit rides and a short taxi ride) costs less in Thailand, about $19 against $20.
A week is cheaper in Thailand: about $130 at fair prices, against $140 in Sri Lanka. That covers two meals, a coffee, water, a beer, two transit rides and a short taxi ride a day. Flights and accommodation are not included. At tourist-trap prices the same week runs about $535 in Thailand and $340 in Sri Lanka.
Food and drinks cost about the same in Thailand and Sri Lanka. A restaurant meal costs $4.50 – $12 in Thailand and $8 – $18 in Sri Lanka, street food $1.20 – $2.40 and $0.91 – $2.
Tourist prices are about 3.0× the fair price in Thailand and 2.9× in Sri Lanka, close to even. The biggest gaps in Thailand: restaurant meal (5.6×), city taxi 1 km (5.6×), and laundry (5.4×). The biggest gaps in Sri Lanka: city taxi 1 km (6.0×), private transfer (5.7×), and public transit ticket (5.0×).
Where these numbers come from, and how the comparison works.
How to cite
TruePrice, Thailand vs Sri Lanka, October 2026, truepriceapp.com/en/compare/thailand-vs-sri-lanka/
Spotted a price that looks off? Email me at contact@truepriceapp.com and I will check it.
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