VanBasket Sri Lanka

Food Prices in Sri Lanka — August 2026

Updated: 1 August 2026

Current Index

vs World Average

-32%

Official (IMF + World Bank)

Real grocery prices

Price per unit in your currency

Prices known for 4 of 10 items — help fill the rest

Milk 1 L

open data

$1.65

-7% World (base = 100)
Eggs 12 pcs

open data

$1.72

-50% World (base = 100)
Chicken 1 kg

open data

$4.77

-19% World (base = 100)
Rice 1 kg

open data

$2.30

+2% World (base = 100)
Bread 500 g loaf
Water 1.5 L bottle
Cheese 1 kg
Tomatoes 1 kg
Potatoes 1 kg
Beer 0.5 L bottle

Monthly basket, 1 person

Directional: 4 milk + 2 eggs + 4 chicken + 4 rice

$38.32

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Every traveller price is reviewed by hand; the row shows how many reports from the last 90 days back the figure.

Data: WhereNext (CC BY 4.0, January 2026)

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Reports are reviewed by hand — only what an editor confirms reaches the site.

What this means for vanlife

Food in Sri Lanka is very cheap — 32% below the world average. An excellent destination for budget van travel: the same grocery basket costs around $204 per month (vs $300 world average).

Index History

Index:

Based on World Bank ICP 2021, adjusted with IMF CPI

Compare with Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

World (base = 100)

100

If you spend 100 at home:

100

Select home and destination countries to compare food costs

Similar Countries

Uzbekistan 68 -32%

Pakistan 69 -31%

Tanzania 70 -30%

Ukraine 70 -30%

Argentina 70 -30%

More countries in Asia

India 58.2 -41.8%

Nepal 61 -39%

Tajikistan 62 -38%

Myanmar 63 -37%

Bangladesh 65 -35%

Kyrgyzstan 65 -35%

FAQ

Is food expensive in Sri Lanka?

No, food in Sri Lanka is cheap. The VanBasket Index is 68 (world average = 100), meaning food is 32% below the global average — great for budget travel.

How much should I budget for food in Sri Lanka per month?

If the world average monthly food spend is $300, in Sri Lanka you can expect to spend around $204. This is based on the VanBasket Index of 68 (world = 100).

How does Sri Lanka compare to similar countries?

Sri Lanka has a VanBasket Index of 68. Similar or nearby countries: Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tanzania.

How often is the food price data for Sri Lanka updated?

The index is updated monthly using IMF Consumer Price Index data. The baseline is from World Bank ICP 2021.

About the data: The VanBasket Index is based on World Bank ICP 2021 food price level data, adjusted monthly using IMF CPI. World average = 100. Index > 100 means food is more expensive than the global average. API for developers →

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