As of November 12, 2026, the cheaper of the two for travelers is Sri Lanka: a mid-range day costs about $59 there, against $273 in the other (Bhutan), a gap of 361.8%. Over the past year the one that moved more in the US-dollar traveler's favor is Sri Lanka (+9.4% after inflation, against +4.0%). The lower US advisory belongs to Bhutan (Level 1, against Level 2).
| Measure | Bhutan | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day | $273 | $59 |
| Lean day | $146 | $26 |
| Comfortable day | $537 | $137 |
| Real change, 12 months | +4.0% | +9.4% |
| Exchange rate alone, 12 months | +5.8% | +9.8% |
| Versus 5-year average | +13.2% | +7.4% |
| US advisory | Level 1 · Normal precautions | Level 2 · Increased caution |
| Ease of travel | 3.4 · Workable | 3.6 · Workable |
| Index score | 52 | 73 |
| Best months | Mar, Apr, May, Oct, Nov | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar |
| Shoulder months | Sep, Dec | Apr, Sep, Nov |
The better figure in each row is in bold. Costs are modeled estimates per person, excluding international flights.
A Himalayan kingdom that prices tourism by design: a daily fee keeps visitor numbers low.
The catchMost visitors pay a Sustainable Development Fee of $100 per night on top of everything else, which sets a high floor under any budget.
Beaches, tea country, safari and ruins inside one small island.
The catchRecovering from a 2022 sovereign default: prices have risen quickly and foreigner pricing at national sites is steep.
Source: Trip Arbitrage (triparbitrage.com), reading of November 12, 2026. How this is calculated.