Colombo is the 17th cheapest in the 2020 Backpacker Index of 137 World cities

Everyone hears that some countries of the world are “cheap” to visit while others are “expensive”, but most people have a hard time quantifying this in a precise method. For this very reason, Price of Travel launched its Backpackers Index for a number of for cities all over the world in 2010, and, now in its 10^th year, recently released its findings for 2020.

Grabbing top spot was Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam with a daily backpacker calculated rate of US$ 19.49. Zurich at  $ 127.84 per day was the most expensive ‘cheapest’ city. Singapore raking in $ 56.44 ranked 81, whilst Colombo jostled with the cheapest-of-cheapest cities to take 17^th spot – costing the backpacker a princely sum of $ 26.14 per day.

Alpha Travel Insurance using data from Price of Travel recently revealed which cities in the world are the most affordable for backpacking based on the cost, per day, that includes:-

• A dorm bed at a good and least expensive hostel in a good location with good reviews, or half the price of a double hotel room in places where there are no hostels,
• 2 public transportation rides per day.
• Average cost per day of seeing/visiting a major attraction in the city.
• 3 ‘budget’ meals per day. (based on a minimum meal price plus 20%).
• As ‘entertainment’ -3 low-priced, local beers each day. Non –drinkers to have dessert and coffee or price of entry to a local music performance instead.

For Colombo, the daily breakdown of costs worked out as follows:-

All of the prices listed below are based on data that is researched and calculated as of January, 2020, and the exchange rates update automatically every day.

• Best cheapest hostel: Rs.1,269 / night.
• Transportation: Rs 300
• Meals: 1,488
• Drinks / Entertainment: 1,200
• Attractions: 500
• Daily Backpacker Index: LKRs. 4,757 = US$ 26.14

And, here’s how the Backpacker Index described Colombo:-

“Colombo is one of those overcrowded and mostly charmless Asian capital cities that people often spend a day in on their way in / out of the country, and that’s about all it’s good for. If you are determined you can find plenty of interesting temples and such, but most people are better off staying only a day or so. Prices of the more scenic and interesting Sri Lankan cities are similar so this is a good guide for budget planning. The country still lacks hostels and good budget hotels, so sleeping here isn’t as cheap as in Southeast Asia although most everything else is”.

Hospitality Sri Lanka.

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